CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — LeBron James scored 31 points, and the Miami Heat completed a first-round sweep of the Charlotte Bobcats with a 109-98 victory Monday night. James scored 19 points after injuring his thigh in the third quarter. He finished the game 10 of 19 from the field.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jim Rutherford is stepping down as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes and the team has promoted Hall of Fame player Ron Francis to replace him. In a series of moves announced Monday, the Hurricanes also hired Mike Vellucci as assistant GM and director of hockey operations and promoted Brian Tatum to assistant general manager.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Mike Scott made five 3-pointers during a 30-6 second-quarter run Monday night, and the Atlanta Hawks fended off a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat top-seeded Indiana 107-97 and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Atlanta can clinch the first-round series Thursday.
ATLANTA (AP) — As they entered the season, the Atlanta Braves were hoping to just hang on through the first month while they waited for Mike Minor and Gavin Floyd to join a depleted rotation. Instead, manager Fredi Gonzalez faces a different problem: How does he make room for another arm in the majors’ best rotation?
