Lakers beat Kings, move to 2-0 under Bickerstaff

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dwight Howard had 23 points and 18 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 20 and the in-transition Los Angeles Lakers continued warming up for a possible return by Phil Jackson with a 103-89 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Wild race blows championship race open for Brad Keselowski

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) - When the fighting stopped, the oil had dried and the last of the wrecked cars had been towed away, Brad Keselowski found himself on the brink of a first Sprint Cup title for himself and team owner Roger Penske.

NFL capsules

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Jimmy Graham caught seven passes for a career-best 146 yards and two touchdowns, cornerback Jabari Greer made a diving, touchdown-saving pass breakup on a late fourth-down play, and the New Orleans Saints held on to hand the Atlanta Falcons their first loss, 31-27 on Sunday.

NBA capsules

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Reserve Wayne Ellington had career bests with seven 3-pointers and 25 points, leading the Memphis Grizzlies over the Miami Heat 104-86 on Sunday for their fifth straight win and the best start in franchise history.

Sports news briefs

• NBA SUSPENDS COUSINS 2 GAMES FOR ELLIOTT EXCHANGE: NEW YORK (AP) - The NBA has suspended Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins for two games without pay for confronting San Antonio announcer Sean Elliott in a hostile manner.

Ravens look for big day against Raiders

49ers are team others, like Rams, strive to be on offense & defense

Raider Cap

OAKLAND (3-5) At BALTIMORE (6-2) Sunday, 10 a.m., CBS OPENING LINE - Ravens by 7½ RECORD VS. SPREAD - Oakland 4-4; Baltimore 3-5 SERIES RECORD - Ravens lead 6-1 AP PRO32 RANKING - Raiders No. 27; Ravens No. 9 LAST MEETING - Ravens beat Raiders 21-13, Jan. ...

Niners Cap

ST. LOUIS (3-5) At SAN FRANCISCO (6-2) Sunday, 1:25 p.m., FOX OPENING LINE - 49ers by 12 RECORD VS. SPREAD - St. Louis 5-3; San Francisco 5-3 SERIES RECORD - 49ers lead 62-61-2 AP Pro32 RANKING - Rams No. 26; 49ers No. 4 LAST MEETING - 49ers ...

Lakers fire coach Mike Brown after 1-4 start

Lakers rout Warriors after Brown’s firing

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, Pau Gasol added 14 points and 16 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers responded to coach Mike Brown's firing earlier Friday with a 101-77 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Duncan powers Spurs past Kings

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Tim Duncan had 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 97-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

whats the score

BASKETBALL WARRIORS' ANDREW BOGUT OUT 7-10 DAYS TO REST ANKLE: OAKLAND (AP) - Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut will be sidelined the next seven to 10 days to rest and strengthen his surgically repaired left ankle. The announcement Thursday is the kind of setback Bogut and the Warriors were hoping to avoid this season. The 7-footer from Australia was held scoreless while ...

Oregon State-Stanford Preview

Hamstring sidelines Raiders' Seymour

Ripon Christian rebounds from loss with blowout win

Natalie Prins and Kaylie Colyn each netted two goals apiece for Ripon Christian during Wednesday's 8-0 Southern League victory over visiting Delhi.

Warriors look to stay hot back home against Denver

OAKLAND (AP) - Sleep deprived but back in the Bay Area, the Golden State Warriors returned to work Wednesday calm and confident that their Mile High City masterpiece will be no fluke.

Crawford has 3 hits in Giants’ loss to D’backs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Brandon Crawford saved the day twice with late-inning offensive heroics. He never got a third chance, resting in the on-deck circle when the final out was recorded.

Oakland A’s feel missed call costly in loss to Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) - Oakland's Jed Lowrie rounded first base, reached second and immediately raised his arms in the air.

Coyotes knock off Sharks

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Coming off a dramatic victory in their home finale, the San Jose Sharks had a chance to move closer to earning home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

California environmental changes could aid Kings bid

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Proposed changes to California environmental protection law unveiled Wednesday could help Sacramento's effort to keep its professional basketball team, according to the leader of the state Senate.

MLB capsules

WASHINGTON (AP) - Yadier Molina hit a two-run single off Stephen Strasburg during St. Louis' three-run first inning, and the Cardinals beat the Nationals 4-2 Wednesday to complete a sweep and give Washington's All-Star ace the only four-start losing streak of his young career.

Raiders look to reverse bad draft fortunes

ALAMEDA (AP) - For seven straight years starting in 2004, the Oakland Raiders had a top 10 pick in the NFL draft only to end up disappointed in the outcome.

Curry leads Warriors past Nuggets

DENVER (AP) - The Golden State Warriors hardly missed much of anything Tuesday night.

Colon, A’s blank Red Sox in rain-shortened game

BOSTON (AP) - The rain kept falling and Bartolo Colon kept throwing fastballs for strikes.

D-backs recover to beat Giants in 11

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Didi Gregorius had a pretty good view from third base when Giants reliever Santiago Casilla's wild pitch skipped past catcher Buster Posey and went to the backstop in the 11th inning.

Sharks clinch playoffs with win over Stars

SAN JOSE (AP) - One month after being mired in ninth place in the Western Conference, just hoping to squeeze into the postseason, the San Jose Sharks have clinched a ninth straight playoff berth and can now push for home-ice advantage in the first round.

NBA Playoff capsules

NEW YORK (AP) - Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points, Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith added 19, and New York opened a 2-0 lead over Boston with an 87-71 victory Tuesday night.

MLB apsules

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Ichiro Suzuki hit a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Tuesday night.

Sports news briefs

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