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U.S. Open golf, NHL-NBA playoffs fill weekend sports schedule

Brooks Koepka hits a fairway drive on the 12th hole during practice round at the 121st U.S. Open on Wednesday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
1 of 5 | Brooks Koepka hits a fairway drive on the 12th hole during practice round at the 121st U.S. Open on Wednesday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI | License Photo

June 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Open golf tournament, Stanley Cup Conference Finals and NBA playoffs lead sports action this weekend. MLS and MLB regular season games and Nashville's NASCAR Cup Series debut are among the other planned events.

Torrey Pines Golf Course is the main attraction in the sports world as the site of golf's third major tournament of the season from Thursday through Sunday in San Diego. Jon Rahm opened as the tournament favorite.

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World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau are among the other favorites to contend for the Claret Jug.

Hideki Matsuyama and Phil Mickelson won the first two major titles this season, at the Masters and PGA Championship, respectively. The 156-player field, which cuts down to the Top-60 scores and ties after the second round, is competing for a $2.25 million prize for first place.

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The tournament airs on the Golf Channel and NBC. Second round coverage airs from 12:30 to 6 p.m. EDT Friday on the Golf Channel and 6 to 9 p.m. on NBC.

Russell Henley and Louis Oosthuizen shared the first round lead at 4-under par, when the round was suspended Thursday due to darkness.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Four teams remain in contention for the 2021 Stanley Cup. The Montreal Canadiens host the Vegas Golden Knights in the first Stanley Cup Playoffs Semifinals matchup at 8 p.m. EDT Friday on USA.

That series is tied at 1-1 as it heads into Game 3. The Canadiens host the Golden Knights again for Game 4 at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday on NBCSN.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders are in the other Stanley Cup Playoffs Semifinals matchup. The Islanders host the Lightning in Game 4 of that series at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday on USA.

Both of those series carry through next week and the Stanley Cup Finals will start in the final week of June.

The Lightning and Golden Knights are favored to advance. The Lightning are attempting to repeat as champions, but the Golden Knights are favored to win the title.

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NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs are also down to seven teams and this weekend could feature three Game 7s to determine who will meet in the Western Conference Finals and Eastern Conference Finals.

The Phoenix Suns already punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals. They await the winner of the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers series, which the Clippers lead 3-2.

The Atlanta Hawks start the weekend with a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday on ESPN. The Hawks lead that series 3-2. Game 7, if necessary, will be at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday on TNT.

The Clippers host the Jazz in Game 6 of that series at 10 p.m. EDT Friday on ESPN. Game 7 of that series is at 3:30 p.m. EDT Sunday on ABC if the Jazz win Game 6 and tie the series at 3-3.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks managed to tie their series against the Brooklyn Nets at 3-3 with a win in Game 6 on Thursday in Milwaukee. Game 7 of that series is at 8:30 p.m. EDT Saturday on TNT. The winner faces the Hawks or 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Friday

Golf

U.S. Open: Second round from 12:30 to 6 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel, 6 to 9 p.m. EDT on NBC

MLB

Cardinals at Braves at 7:20 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)

Marlins at Cubs at 8:05 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)

NBA playoffs

Game 6: 76ers at Hawk at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN

Game 6: Jazz at Clippers at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN

NHL playoffs

Game 3: Golden Knights at Canadiens at 8 p.m. EDT on USA

NASCAR

Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at 8 p.m. EDT on FS1

Soccer

Euro 2020: Slovakia vs. Sweden at 9 a.m. EDT on ESPN

Euro 2020: Croatia vs. Czech Republic at noon EST on ESPN

Euro 2020: England vs. Scotland at 3 p.m. EDT on ESPN

MLS: Nashville at New York Red Bulls at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: Vancouver at Salt Lake City at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

Saturday

Golf

U.S. Open: Third round from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT on NBC

NASCAR

Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at 3:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN

Soccer

Euro 2020: Hungary vs. France at 9 a.m. EDT on ESPN

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Euro 2020: Portugal vs. Germany at noon EST on ESPN

Euro 2020: Spain vs. Poland at 3 p.m. EDT on ABC

MLS: Colorado at Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: Chicago at Columbus at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: New England at NYCFC at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: Orlando at Toronto at 7:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: Miami at D.C. United at 8 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: Minnesota at Dallas at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: San Jose at Austin at 9 p.m. EDT on UniMas/TUDN

MLS: Seattle at Los Angeles Galaxy at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: Kansas City at Portland at 10:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN+

MLS: Houston at LAFC at 11 p.m. EDT on UniMas/TUDN

MLB

Athletics at Yankees at 1:05 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)

Phillies at Giants at 4:05 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)

Red Sox at Royals at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)

White Sox at Astros at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox

Reds at Padres at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox

Cardinals at Braves at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox

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Tigers at Angels at 10:07 p.m. EDT on FS1

NHL playoffs

Game 4: Lightning at Islanders at 8 p.m. EDT on USA

NBA playoffs

Game 7: Bucks at Nets at 8:30 p.m. EDT on TNT

Sunday

Golf

U.S. Open: Final round from 10 a.m. to noon EDT on Golf Channel, noon to 8 p.m. EDT on NBC

NBA playoffs

Game 7 (If necessary): Clippers at Jazz at 3:30 p.m. EDT on ABC

Game 7 (If necessary): Hawks at 76ers at 8 p.m. EDT on TNT

MLB

Athletics at Yankees at 1:05 p.m. EDT on TBS (Out of market only)

Reds at Padres at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)

Cardinals at Braves at 7:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN

Soccer

Euro 2020: Italy vs. Wales at noon EDT on ESPN2

Euro 2020: Switzerland vs. Turkey at noon EDT on ESPN

MLS: Philadelphia at Atlanta at 2 p.m. EDT on ESPN

NASCAR

Cup Series Ally 400 at 3:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN

NHL playoffs

Game 4: Golden Knights at Canadiens at 8 p.m. EDT on NBCSN

Jon Rahm wins golf's U.S. Open, first major title

Jon Rahm holds the trophy Sunday after winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI | License Photo

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