Sports News Brief

TENNIS SERENA WILLIAMS ON US FED CUP TEAM; VENUS IS NOT: WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Serena Williams is on the U.S. Fed Cup roster for matches against Ukraine on April 21-22, but her sister Venus is not. "She just played Miami and Charleston, so she's trying to gauge now her recovery, how much she can play," U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe ...

SKI REPORTS

Royals Broxton wild as A's rally for win in 12

Blues will start Halak in goal vs Sharks

Stanford's football coordinators work to replace starters

NCAA puts Baylor basketball on 3 years' probation for calls

WACO, Texas (AP) - The NCAA put Baylor on three years of probation Wednesday after an investigation turned up hundreds of impermissible telephone calls and text messages sent to prep recruits by coaches and assistants on the basketball teams. The violations were considered to be major infractions, and they were announced less than a week after the Lady Bears won the national ...

NBA Capsules

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Chris Paul scored 31 points, including the game-winning shot on a layup with 8.8 seconds left, lifting the Los Angeles Clippers to a 100-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night that kept them in position for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Duffy leads Royals past Athletics

OAKLAND (AP) - Danny Duffy pitched six sharp innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics 3-0 in a rain-shortened game on Tuesday night.

Mavs gets much-needed win over Kings

DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks finally won a game without Lamar Odom, who is no longer an option for them.

NBA Capsules

MIAMI (AP) - Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Kevin Garnett added 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Boston Celtics made their first eight shots of the fourth quarter to hold off the Miami Heat 115-107 on Tuesday night.

Fox, MLB file objections to Dodgers sale

Cespedes making quick impression in big leagues

OAKLAND (AP) - With one monster 462-foot home run, Yoenis Cespedes showed off a power stroke reminiscent of Oakland's Bash Brothers back in the day. That swing spoke volumes to those who questioned whether the prized Cuban defector could dominate in the major leagues for the Athletics as he did in his Caribbean homeland. Cespedes shrugs off his ...

Sharks learn from losses to Blues

Reds 2B Phillips gets $72.5 million through 2017

Sports News Brief

CYCLING 5 OF TOP 15 PRO TEAMS COMMIT TO TOUR OF UTAH RACE: SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Five of the world's top 15 international cycling teams have committed to the 2012 Tour of Utah. Utah's event is set for Aug. 7-12 and is the first major weeklong stage race following the Tour de France and London Olympics. <p ...

NBA Playoff capsules

HEAT 95, BULLS 91

Sports news briefs

FOOTBALL

Parker leads Spurs past Warriors for 3-2 series lead

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Tony Parker had 25 points and 10 assists, and the San Antonio Spurs held the Golden State Warriors' starting backcourt to 13 points for a 109-91 victory Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Quick leads Kings past Sharks in opener

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jonathan Quick made 35 saves in his sixth career playoff shutout, and the Los Angeles Kings opened their second-round series with a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

Zito struggles as Blue Jays beat Giants

TORONTO (AP) - Barry Zito battled as long as he could, though he had already buried the San Francisco Giants with a brutal first inning.

Rangers beat A’s on 2 homers in 10th inning

OAKLAND (AP) - Adrian Beltre hit a tiebreaking home run in the 10th inning, Mitch Moreland followed with his second of the game and the Texas Rangers held off the Oakland Athletics 6-5 Tuesday night.

Kings saga faces possible final chapter in Dallas

SEATTLE (AP) - Inside the small club on Seattle's Capitol Hill late Monday night, the chant would not be contained by the walls, drifting out onto the street with every urging scream from the performers on stage.

Sagan takes Stage 3 of Tour of California

SANTA CLARITA (AP) - Peter Sagan of Slovakia sprinted to the Stage 3 win and Colombian Janier Acevedo maintained the race lead Tuesday as strong winds replaced the heat at the Tour of California.

Boxer admits disorderly conduct in NYC gun case

NEW YORK (AP) - A boxer who went to the check-in counter at an airport with a handgun in his luggage and was arrested on firearm possession charges pleaded guilty on Tuesday to disorderly conduct.

NBA Playoff capsules

PACERS 93, KNICKS 82

NHL Playoff capsules

KINGS 2, SHARKS 0

Warriors, Spurs showing no quit

OAKLAND (AP) - Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson placed a prominent poem by an unknown author in every player's locker before Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday that had a simple title:

Sharks, Kings prepare for California clash

EL SEGUNDO (AP) - Although Joe Thornton and Dustin Brown might not agree on much else over the next two weeks, both captains believe hockey has never been bigger or better in California, from the thriving youth game all the way to their state's three winning NHL clubs.

ON THE HUNT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - At around age 10, Hunter Pence acquired a Barry Bonds poster from his elementary school fair. It was then that Pence started choking up on his bat just as Bonds did in that prized picture that wound up on his wall.

Cespedes, Moss homer to push A’s past Rangers

OAKLAND (AP) - Sure, it's the Texas Rangers in town. The very team the Oakland Athletics rallied to beat in Game No. 162 last October for a stunning sweep to steal away the AL West crown from the two-time reigning AL champions.