NBA-SCHEDULE
Spurs clinch top seed…Heat back on top
UNDATED (AP) โ They’ve been here before, many times.
The San Antonio Spurs woke up Saturday with the joy of having clinched the NBA’s top record and home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs.
Danny Green shot 7-for-10 from 3-point range while scoring a career-high 33 points in the Spurs’ 112-104 triumph over Phoenix. Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard and Tony Parker each had 18 points for the Spurs, who trailed by 21 in the first half and closed on a 15-6 run to pull out the win.
San Antonio won without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili (jih-NOH’-blee), who both sat out the second game of a back-to-back for rest.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat top the Eastern Conference once again.
LeBron James scored 36 points and the Heat moved a half-game ahead of Indiana by downing the Pacers 98-86. The Pacers never threatened after Miami went on a 16-0 run to open the second half.
The Heat are one game ahead of the Pacers in the loss column and have three games remaining, one more than Indiana.
In other NBA action:
โ Oklahoma clinched the No. 2 seed in the West as Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Russell Westbrook added 24 in a 116-94 rout of New Orleans. The Thunder shot 54 from the field, made 23 of 27 free throws and committed just 11 turnovers.
โ Stephen (STEH’-fehn) Curry recorded a triple-double of 30 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as Golden State thumped the Los Angeles Lakers 112-97 to clinch a playoff spot. The Lakers suffered their team-record 54th loss, topping the previous mark set by the 1957-58 squad in a 72-game season.
โ Paul Millsap had 27 points and 10 rebounds in Atlanta’s 93-88 win at Brooklyn, reducing the Hawks’ magic number to one for clinching an Eastern Conference playoff berth. Jeff Teague (teeg) added 22 points to help the Hawks end the Nets’ franchise-record 15-game home winning streak.
โ Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points and Amare Stoudemire had 24 and 11 rebounds as New York topped Toronto 108-100. Iman (ih-MAHN’) Shumpert scored eight of his 11 in the fourth quarter as the Knicks halted a two-game skid and prevented the Raptors from clinching the Atlantic Division at home.
โ D.J. Augustin scored 24 points and Chicago notched its seventh straight win by downing Detroit 106-98. Taj Gibson had 17 points as the Bulls clinched home-court advantage in the opening playoff round and moved a game ahead of Toronto for third in the East.
โ Corey Brewer scored a career-high 51 points, but Minnesota needed Gorgui Dieng (JOHR’-jee dee-EHNGZ’) short jumper with 4.6 seconds to play to beat Houston 112-110. Dieng finished with 12 points and 20 rebounds.
โ Wesley Matthews had 21 points and Portland stayed in the hunt for home-court advantage in the opening round by posting a 111-99 win at Utah. LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Damian Lillard scored 14 of his 16 points in a key fourth-quarter run.
โ Memphis and Phoenix are tied for the final Western Conference playoff berth after Marc Gasol delivered 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Grizzlies’ 117-95 pounding of Philadelphia. Mike Miller had 19 points for the Grizzlies, who led by 23 heading into the final period after outscoring the 76ers 30-17 in the third quarter.
โ Washington was a 96-86 winner at Orlando as Nene scored 17 points and Bradley Beal added 16. John Wall had 10 points and 12 assists for the Wizards, who used a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away.
โ Avery Bradley scored 22 points and Phil Pressey had a career-high 13 assists as Boston topped Charlotte 106-103 to end a nine-game losing streak. The Bobcats ended a season-high five-game winning streak and dropped to seventh in the East despite Al Jefferson’s 32 points and 10 rebounds.
โ Brandon Knight scored 24 points and Ramon Sessions added 20 as Milwaukee held off the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-116
GOLF-MASTERS
Bubba takes control
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) โ Bubba Watson earned his first Masters jacket two years ago, and he’s in position to win another after catching fire on the back nine at Augusta today.
Watson carded five consecutive birdies, beginning with the par-3 12th hole. The birdie binge led him to a 4-under-par 68 and a 7-under total. He’s three shots ahead of John Senden. who also fired a second-round 68.
Defending champion Adam Scott followed Thursday’s 69 with an even-par 72 to move into a tie with Jordan Spieth (speeth), Jonas Blixt and Thomas Bjorn at 3-under, four shots back. And 54-year-old Fred Couples is in the mix at minus-2 as he bids to become the oldest Masters champion.
Phil Mickelson has missed the cut for only the second time in 22 Masters appearances, and the first since 1997. He shot a 73 on Friday for a 5-over total.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Brewers stretch winning streak
UNDATED (AP) โ The Milwaukee Brewers are enjoying their best start since opening 13-0 in 1987.
The Brewers have a seven-game winning streak and an 8-2 record after Aramis (ah-RAH’-mihs) Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh. Wily (WIH’-lee peh-RAHL’-tah) allowed just four hits in seven innings and blanked the Pirates until Neil Walker hit a two-run homer in the seventh.
Elsewhere around the majors:
โ Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner hit a grand slam and had a career-high five RBIs in a 6-5 win over Colorado. Bumgarner was better at the plate than on the mound, where he gave up four runs on nine hits in six innings.
โ Jordan Schafer scored from first base on Justin Upton’s bloop single in the 10th inning to lift Atlanta past Washington 7-6. Upton hit a solo home run in the eighth off Tyler Clippard that tied the score 6-all after the Braves squandered a 4-0 lead.
โ Hyun-Jin Ryu (hee-OON’-jihn ree-OO’) gave up two hits and struck out eight in seven innings of the Dodgers’ 6-0 shutout of Arizona. Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run double and collected five RBIs for Los Angeles.
โ Wellington Castillo clubbed a three-run homer in the 11th inning to send the Chicago Cubs past St. Louis 6-3. Nate Schierholtz (SHEER’-hohlts) had four hits and an RBI for the Cubs, who coughed up a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth
โ Marlon Byrd drove in two runs and Philadelphia ended a four-game skid by whipping Miami 6-3. The Phillies reached reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez for a career-high six earned runs and eight hits in four-plus innings.
โ David Price took a shutout into the ninth and Matt Joyce homered as Tampa Bay beat Cincinnati 2-1. Price allowed just four hits and shut out the Reds until Joey Votto homered to the opposite field with one out in the ninth.
โ Andrew Cashner threw his second career one-hitter and struck out a career-high 11 as San Diego silenced Detroit 6-0. Cashner took a no-hitter into the sixth and retired 14 straight until Rajai (RAH’-zhay) Davis flared a single to center.
โ Hank Conger was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 11th inning after rookie Jeurys Familia intentionally walked the previous two batters, and the Los Angeles Angels got home runs from Mike Trout and J.B. Shuck in a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets.
โ Felix Hernandez was outstanding in Seattle’s 6-4 victory against Oakland, limiting the A’s to two runs and four hits while striking out 11 in 7-plus innings. Hernandez carried a three-hit shutout into the eighth and improved to 3-0.
โ Jonny Gomes (gohmz) and Grady Sizemore homered off CC Sabathia in a four-run sixth inning that pushed Boston past the Yankees 4-2 in New York. Sizemore snapped a 1-1 tie with a three-run blast to help Jon Lester pick up his first win.
โ Dustin McGowan and two relievers combined on a five-hitter as Toronto blanked Baltimore 2-0. The Blue Jays scored a pair of unearned runs in the fourth following a pair of throwing errors by third baseman Jonathan Schoop (skohp).
โ The Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland 9-6 behind Conor Gillaspie’s career-high four RBIs. The Chisox have won the first two games of the series after going 2-17 against the Indians last season.
โ Texas pulled out a 1-0 win over Houston on Robinson Chirinos’ RBI single with two out in the bottom of the 12th. The Astros managed just two hits and lost for the seventh time in nine games.
โ Chris Colabello drove in three runs and Kyle Gibson pitched into the seventh inning of Minnesota’s 10-1 laugher over Kansas City. Josmil Pinto (johs-MEEL’ PEEN’-toh) homered in the Twins’ first home win over the Royals in 10 tries dating to last season.
RED VS. WHITE
Nebraska changes format for traditional spring football game
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) โ There will be no Red vs. White at Nebraska’s spring football game Saturday. It’ll simply be Offense vs. Defense.
Coach Bo Pelini says injuries and a lack of depth at some positions led to his decision to skip the tradition of splitting the players into two squads for a scrimmage under game conditions.
Pelini says the offense-versus-defense is, quote, “the only way we’re going to be able to function and really be able to protect certain guys we want to protect.”
The coach adds, in his words, “It’s really a student-welfare type thing. We want to make sure these guys are able to go out and compete and put on a good show for the fans and have fun. But at the same time we don’t want anyone playing an inordinate amount of reps where somebody gets hurt.”
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-EARLY EXITS
Vols Stokes, Lobos Kirk to NBA
UNDATED (AP) โ Tennessee’s Jarnell Stokes is bypassing his senior season to enter the NBA draft.
The 6-foot-8, 260-pound forward averaged 15.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game to earn first-team all-Southeastern Conference honors this season.
And New Mexico’s 7-foot center Alex Kirk will also forgo his senior season and declare for the draft. The 22-year-old averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and nearly three blocks per game this season for the Lobos.
NFL-BROWNS-MACK
Browns retain Pro Bowl center
CLEVELAND (AP) โ The Browns have matched Jacksonville’s five-year, $42 million offer sheet for Pro Bowl center Alex Mack. The 28-year-old will receive $26 million guaranteed in a deal he can void after two seasons. Also, the Browns are not allowed to trade him.
Mack has not missed a snap in five seasons with the Browns, who drafted him in the first round in 2009.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Avs, Blues blow chances to take over West lead
UNDATED (AP) โ The Anaheim Ducks still lead the NHL’s Western Conference by one point following losses by the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues.
Marty Havlat registered a hat trick in the third period and had an assist in San Jose’s 4-1 win over the Avalanche. Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist to back Alex Stalock (STAY’-lahk), who finished with 32 saves.
The Blues absorbed their fifth straight loss as Kari Lehtonen (KAH’-ree LEH’-toh-nehn) stopped 22 shots to lead Dallas past St. Louis 3-0. Trevor Daley had a goal and assist as the Stars clinched their first playoff berth since 2008.
Trevor Daley had a goal and an assist against the Blues, who’ve been outscored 19-5 during their season-high losing streak.
The Ducks can win the West on their own by winning either of their last two games or dropping both in overtime.
Also on ice:
โ Alex Ovechkin notched his 51st goal of the season before Jay Beagle added a pair in the Capitals’ 4-0 shutout of Chicago. Jaroslav Halak (hah-LAHK’) stopped 34 shots in his fifth shutout of the season and 30th of his career.
โ Cam Ward had 28 saves in Carolina’s 2-1 win at Detroit. Elias Lindholm and Jiri Tlusty (YEER’-ee tuh-LOOS’-tee) had first-period goals as the Hurricanes won in Detroit for the first time since Nov. 14, 1989, when they were the Hartford Whalers.
โ Eric Brewer scored twice as Tampa Bay nipped Columbus 3-2 to move one point ahead of Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division. Kristers Gudlevskis (good-LEHVZ’-kihs) made 36 saves to win his NHL debut.
โ Ryan Strome (strohm) scored the tying goal in the third period before providing the clinching tally in the New York Islanders’ 3-2 shootout win over New Jersey.
โ Winnipeg blew a 3-1 lead before Paul Postma (POHST’-muh) scored midway through the third period of the Jets’ 5-3 win against Calgary.
NHL-NEWS
Smyth to retire
UNDATED (AP) โ Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Smyth (smith) is retiring at the end of the season. The 38-year-old Smyth says that the Oilers’ home game Saturday night against Vancouver will be his last. He has 386 goals and 456 assists in 1,269 regular-season games in 18 NHL seasons with Edmonton, the New York Islanders, Colorado and Los Angeles.
In other NHL news:
โ The league has suspended Minnesota Wild forward Mike Rupp for four games without pay for his hit on St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie (OH’-shee) on Thursday night. Rupp was issued a match penalty after hitting Oshie with a shoulder to the head in the second period.
โ Brendan Shanahan has been hired as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ president, leaving his role as the NHL director of players safety to join one of the league’s original six franchises. The Leafs were eliminated from playoff contention this week after a stretch of eight straight regulation losses in March derailed their season.
HOCKEY-HOBEY BAKER AWARD/GAUDREAU
Gaudreau wins college hockey’s top individual honor
PHILADELPHIA (AP) โ Boston College forward Johnny Gaudreau (gah-DROH’) has won the Hobey Baker Award as the top Division I college hockey player. The 5-foot-7, 150-pound forward led the nation with 36 goals and 44 assists. He’s expected to pass up his senior season to sign with the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
NASCAR-DARLINGTON QUALIFYING
Harvick takes first Darlington pole
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) โ Kevin Harvick won his first career pole at Darlington Raceway as he seeks his first Southern 500 victory.
Harvick came out on top in the first knockout qualifying session at NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway since the circuit made the change from single-car laps. Joey Logano was second, followed by Aric Almirola, Marcos Ambrose and Brad Keselowski.
Current Sprint Cup points leader and seven-time Darlington winner Jeff Gordon will start ninth.
OBIT-LOU HUDSON
“Sweet Lou” star dies
ATLANTA (AP) โ Smooth shooting former Hawks star Lou Hudson has died Friday at age 69. He had been hospitalized in Atlanta in grave condition since suffering a stroke last month.
The six-time All-Star was nicknamed “Sweet Lou,” during a 13 year NBA career in which he averaged 20.2 points. He spent 11 seasons with the Hawks and finished with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-TARKANIAN
The Tark is doing better
LAS VEGAS (AP) โ Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian remains in a Las Vegas hospital, but his son-in-law says the health of the 83-year old is improving. Tarkanian was feeling weak, having trouble breathing and struggling to keep his eyes open when he was taken to the hospital Wednesday. Tarkanian was inducted last year into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame after taking three schools to the NCAA tournament.
