MIAMI — LeBron James and the Heat take their quest for a second straight championship to the last possible day, Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The San Antonio Spurs, trying to bounce back from a crushing overtime loss in Game 6, can claim their fifth title by becoming the first road team to win a finals Game 7 since 1978. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. Game starts 9 p.m. Updates after each quarter.

AP Photos.

BKN–NBA FINALS-7TH HEAVEN

MIAMI — Spurs vs. Heat in Game 7 marks just the sixth time the finals have gone the distance since 1978. Here’s a refresher course on the others. By Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski. Early story. Sent.

AP Photos.

— With:

— BKN–NBA Finals-Heat. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. To be sent after game.

— BKN–NBA Finals-Spurs. By Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski. To be sent after game.

— BKN–NBA Finals-Notebook. To be sent before game.

STANLEY CUP

HKN–STANLEY CUP

CHICAGO — The Stanley Cup finals return to Chicago with the Blackhawks and Bruins tied at two games apiece. The only thing for certain ahead of Game 5 on Saturday night is there is very little separating these two teams. Three of the four games have gone to overtime. By Jay Cohen.

AP Photos.

— With:

— BOSTON — HKN–Stanley Cup-Bruins. By Jimmy Golen.

— HKN–Stanley Cup Notebook.

NEW/DEVELOPING

FBN–HERNANDEZ-POLICE

MIAMI — Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is being sued in South Florida by a man claiming Hernandez shot him in the face after an argument at a strip club. The lawsuit comes as police in New England investigate Hernandez’s possible connection to the death of a semipro player. By Legal Affairs Writer Kurt Anderson. Sent. Will be updated.

AP Photos.

GLF–TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

CROMWELL, Conn. — Justin Rose, coming off his U.S. Open victory, headlines the field at the Travelers Championship on a course prime for low scores. Rose has three top-10 finishes in seven starts on this course, but he says he’s tired from the commotion after Merion. By Pat Eaton-Robb.

AP Photos.

NCAA ATHLETES-LAWSUITS

OAKLAND, Calif. — A judge is to hear arguments in a case concerning former college athletes who contend the NCAA is unfairly profiting from their likenesses and images in marketing deals with video games. If this becomes a class-action suit and the athletes prevail, the NCAA could face billions of dollars in liability. By Paul Elias. Hearing at 5 p.m.

AP Photos.

TEN–SWILLIAMS-STEUBENVILLE

Serena Williams has reached out to the family of the victim in the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case after the tennis star was quoted in a Rolling Stone article saying “she shouldn’t have put herself in that position.” Williams is in England preparing for Wimbledon. Sent.

AP Photos.

TEN–HEWITT-COURT SUMMONS

JOHANNESBURG — Former Grand Slam doubles champion Bob Hewitt is to appear in a South African court following allegations he sexually abused young girls he coached decades ago, prosecutors tells the AP. By Gerald Imray. Sent.

AP Photos.

SOC–SOUTH KOREA-US

HARRISON. N.J. — Abby Wambach will have a chance to break Mia Hamm’s national goal-scoring record when the United States plays South Korea in an exhibition game at Red Bull Stadium. By Tom Canavan. Game starts 7:30 p.m.

AP Photos.

ATH–US CHAMPIONSHIPS

DES MOINES, Iowa — Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin, both surging with confidence, begin their bids to capture the 100-meter title with first-round races at the U.S. championships. Carmelita Jeter won’t defend her women’s 100 crown because of a sore quadriceps. By Pat Graham. Women’s race starts 7:25 p.m., men’s race at 7:50 p.m.

AP Photos.

BBC–CWS-NC STATE-NORTH CAROLINA

OMAHA, Neb. — North Carolina State and North Carolina meet for the fifth time this season, this time in an elimination game at the College World Series. The winner would still need two victories over UCLA to reach next week’s finals. By Eric Olson. Game starts 8 p.m.

AP Photos.

CAR–F1-TIRE TEST

PARIS — Mercedes pleads for leniency from the governing body of motorsport, saying it deserves no more than minor punishment for taking part in tire-testing that rival Formula One teams howled was unfair. Immediately at stake was whether Mercedes and Pirelli would be sanctioned. By John Leicester. Sent.

AP Photos.

ROYAL ASCOT

ASCOT, England — Queen Elizabeth II is the first reigning British monarch with a winning horse in Royal Ascot’s biggest race. The 87-year-old queen claps and smiles broadly in the stands as Estimate becomes the first filly to win the Gold Cup since 1991. Sent.

AP Photos.

WRE–FOXCATCHER-OLYMPIC WRESTLING

DES MOINES, Iowa — The director of the award-winning baseball movie “Moneyball” is now looking at wrestling. Bennett Miller, in the upcoming film “Foxcatcher,” examines the dedication of athletes with almost no promise of tangible award. The project comes with wrestling fighting for its Olympic existence. By Luke Meredith.

AP Photos.

FEATURES

BAD NEWS PARENTS

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. — No parent in this quiet Chicago suburb has jumped a referee or pushed a player. Still, parental behavior prompted park officials to post signs at fields with gentle reminders. “This is a game being played by children.” Some parents, many say, are too involved in the games. By National Writer Martha Irvine. Sent.

AP Photos. AP Video.

BBN–PHILLIES-BUYERS OR SELLERS

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are one of several teams that could be faced with tough decisions when the nonwaiver trade deadline approaches July 31. Will they unload players and look to the future or try to make a run? Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon are two attractive names that could be available. By Rob Maaddi.

AP Photos.

BOX–MARQUEZ-BRADLEY

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley are eager to prove they don’t have to fight Manny Pacquiao to command the boxing world’s attention. The last two men to beat Pacquiao are preparing to face each other Oct. 12 in Las Vegas in a welterweight bout. By Greg Beacham.

AP Photos.

SOCCER

— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC–Confed Cup-Spain-Players Robbed. Spain players say money was stolen from hotel rooms during Confederations Cup. Sent.

— LAUSANNE, Switzerland — OLY–IOC-Brazil. IOC “fully supportive of peaceful protest” in Brazil, confident Olympics will benefit city and country. Sent.

— FORTALEZA, Brazil — SOC–Confed-Cup-Pele-Protests. Pele backs Brazilian protests sweeping country as long as they’re peaceful. Sent.

— BARCELONA, Spain — SOC–Messi Tax Fraud. Lionel Messi, father ordered to appear in court in September as part of inquiry into possible tax fraud. By Joseph Wilson. Sent.

— ISTANBUL — SOC–U20-WCup. U.S. plays Spain on Friday in Under-20 World Cup opener. By Michael Casey.

GOLF

— ROGERS, Ark. — GLF–LPGA Tour. The NW Arkansas Championship starts Friday, with Inbee Park coming off a win at the LPGA Championship. By Kurt Voigt.

— GLENVIEW, Ill. — GLF–Champions Tour. Hall of Famers Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer and Nick Price begin play Friday on Champions tour.

— MUNICH — GLF–European Tour. Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia highlight first round of BMW International Open on European Tour. By Ciaran Fahey.

TENNIS

— EASTBOURNE, England — TEN–Eastbourne. Qualifier Jamie Hampton is first American since Jennifer Capriati in 2003 to reach Eastbourne semifinals. Sent.

— ROSMALEN, Netherlands — TEN–Rosmalen. Stanislas Wawrinka reaches semifinals of Topshelf Open.

OTHER NEWS

— DENVER — BKN–Nuggets-Connelly. Nuggets introduce general manager Tim Connelly.

— SAN JOSE, Calif. — HKN–Sharks-Torres. Sharks sign Raffi Torres to three-year contract that will keep him off the free-agent market. By Josh Dubow

— PHILADELPHIA — HKN–Flyers-Briere. Flyers to buy out final two years of Danny Briere’s contract in salary-cap move. Sent.

CAPSULES

— BBA–AL Capsules

— BBN–NL Capsules.

Thursday’s Time Schedule (EDT)

NBA Finals

San Antonio at Miami, 9 p.m.

Baseball

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 12:35 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m.

Oakland at Texas, 2:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Houston, 2:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

Colorado at Washington, 7:05 p.m.

Boston at Detroit, 7:08 p.m.

N.Y. Mets at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 8:15 p.m.

Seattle at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at San Diego, 10:10 p.m.

Miami at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

WNBA

Chicago at Tulsa, 12:30 p.m.

At Omaha, Neb.

North Carolina vs. N.C. State, 8 p.m.