UNDATED (AP) — James Harden scored 37 points and Dwight Howard added 24 and 14 rebounds as Houston outlasted Portland 121-116 in overtime to pull within 2-1 in the NBA first-round series. Chicago beat Washington 100-97 behind Mike Dunleavy’s 35 points, cutting the Wizards’ series lead to 2-1. And Brooklyn has a 2-1 series lead after Joe Johnson scored 29 points in a 102-98 triumph over Toronto.
UNDATED (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks own three-games-to-two leads in their Stanley Cup first-round series. The Blackhawks beat St. Louis 3-2 on Jonathan Toews’ (tayvz) overtime goal, and Ryan Getzlaf returned from a one-game absence to provide a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 6-2 rout of Dallas. Chris Mason stopped 37 shots in Philadelphia’s 2-1 triumph over the New York Rangers, tying that series at two games apiece.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan sophomore Mitch McGary is entering the NBA draft after playing only eight games last season due to a back problem that required surgery. He says he had little choice as he faced a one-year suspension after testing positive for marijuana while sitting out the NCAA tournament.
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut is losing one junior star to the NBA draft, while another is staying with the Huskies. The school has announced that forward DeAndre Daniels has filed the necessary paperwork with the NBA, but that guard Ryan Boatright will return next season. Daniels averaged 13 points and six rebounds for the national champions, while Boatright gave the Huskies 12 points a game.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have put closer Jason Grilli on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique and called up right-hander Jared Hughes. Grilli has already blown three of seven save chances this season and has a 4.50 ERA after becoming an All-Star for the first time all season. Set-up reliever Mark Melancon (meh-LAN’-suhn) is expected to move into Grilli’s spot and close.
