Minnesota News Briefs: Playoffs resume for Lynx

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(Minneapolis, MN) -- The Lynx host the Los Angeles Sparks in Game One of the Western Conference finals tonight.

The teams split the four meetings during the regular season, with each team winning both games on their home floor. Tip-off tonight is at 7 p.m. Here is Minnesota's upcoming schedule in the best-of-three Western Conference Finals:

Game One - Los Angeles at Minnesota, Thursday, 7pm

Game Two - Minnesota at Los Angeles, Sunday, 2:30pm

Game Three (if necessary): Los Angeles at Minnesota, Wednesday, 7pm

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The Timberwolves will have a roughly three-hour practice later today at training camp at the Bresnan Center in Mankato. Training camp runs through tomorrow in Mankato. The team will open the exhibition schedule on October 10th at Fargo against Indiana. The regular season opens November 2nd at home versus Sacramento.

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The NBA is cracking down on flopping this season. The league is implementing a new rule aimed at eliminating defenders from falling down after minimal contact. Players guilty of flopping will be subject to a warning, followed by a five-thousand-dollar fine for a second violation. Fines will increase incrementally, with a fifth infraction resulting in a 30-thousand-dollar penalty. Six or more violations will lead to an increased fine and/or suspension.

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Matt Hasselbeck will be under center for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Minnesota. The veteran signal-caller will start in place of the injured Jake Locker, who is out with a shoulder injury. Locker was hurt last in Week Four's loss against Houston. Hasselbeck has thrown for 236 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in relief this season. Rusty Smith will be the backup.

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The Cardinals take their unbeaten record into St. Louis to play the Rams in this week's Thursday night game at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams are coming off a 19-13 win over Seattle that evened their record at 2-2. Arizona has won 10 of the last 11 meetings.

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University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill will have his team on the practice turf today even though there is no Minnesota football game this weekend. The Gophers have a bye this weekend, before hosting Northwestern for homecoming on October 13th. Northwestern is 5-0 and playing Penn State this Saturday.

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The tenth-ranked University of Minnesota volleyball team beat Michigan in four sets last night at the U of M Sports Pavilion. The Golden Gopher victory pushed the season record to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota hosts No. 25 Michigan State Saturday night in Minneapolis.

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