UNDATED (AP) β The Cleveland Cavaliers are a step closer to wrapping up the NBA’s Central Division title and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James recorded his first triple-double since rejoining the Cavs, finishing with 20 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 99-94 triumph over Chicago. J.R. Smith hit eight of the Cavaliers’ 16 3-pointers and finished with 24 ponts as Cleveland moved four games ahead of the second-place Bulls in the division with five games remaining.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) β James Harden poured in 41 points and finished with six rebounds and six assists as the Houston Rockets downed the Thunder 115-112 at Oklahoma City. The Rockets won despite another triple-double by Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, who had 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. The outcome puts the Southwest Division-leading Rockets one game ahead of Memphis and leaves the Thunder just a half-game ahead of New Orleans in the battle for the NBA’s final Western Conference playoff berth.
CHICAGO (AP) β Adam Wainwright scattered five hits in six scoreless innings as the St. Louis Cardinals earned a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the first game of the major league season. The Cards roughed up Jon Lester in his Cubs debut, reaching him for three runs and eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings. Matt Holiday sandwiched a pair of RBI singles around Matt Carpenter’s run-scoring single while the Cardinals built a 3-0 lead by the fifth inning.
UNDATED (AP) β The St. Louis Blues have moved into first place in the NHL’s Central Division, one point ahead of Nashville and two in front of Chicago. Olli Jokinen (OH’-lee YOH’-kih-nehn) scored the tiebreaking goal and Jake Allen stopped 38 shots as the Blues beat the Blackhawks 2-1 to move ahead of the Predators in the division standings. Tomas Plekanec (pleh-KAH’-nehts) scored his 200th NHL goal and had two assists as Montreal downed Florida 4-1 to move two points ahead of Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) β It will be Connecticut against Notre Dame in the NCAA women’s basketball title game Tuesday in Tampa. The Huskies remain on track to win their third consecutive championship after Breanna Stewart scored 25 points and Morgan Tuck added 24 to lead an 81-58 rout over Maryland. Jewell Loyd dropped in 22 points but the Irish blew a 12-point lead before Madison Cable hit her only basket of the game to give Notre Dame a 66-65 win over South Carolina.
