NBA Capsules

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Mike Conley had 18 points and seven assists as Memphis rallied to beat Charlotte 85-80 on Friday night, extending the Bobcats' franchise-worst losing streak to 19 games.

National League Capsules

CHICAGO (AP) - Cincinnati batted around in the first inning and cruised to a 9-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday for the 10,000th win in franchise history.

American League Capsules

BOSTON (AP) - Alex Rodriguez took over fifth place on the career list with his 631st home run, Eric Chavez added two homers and the New York Yankees spoiled the Boston Red Sox 100th anniversary celebration of Fenway Park with a 6-2 win Friday.

Rollie Fingers kept handlebar mustache after all

OAKLAND (AP) - Rollie Fingers figured he would have shaved his signature handlebar mustache by now. He claims he almost did once after losing both games of a doubleheader, before changing his mind.

Sports News Briefs

BASEBALL MASSACHUSETTS INDEPENDENT TEAM SIGNS JOSE CANSECO: WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - An independent league team in Massachusetts has signed former major league slugger and admitted steroids user Jose Canseco. The Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am league said Friday he agreed to a contract for one season. The 47-year-old Canseco says in a statement he is grateful to the team. Tornadoes general manager Jorg Bassiacos expects Canseco to ...

Hannahan drives in 3 in Indians' win

OAKLAND (AP) - Graham Godfrey felt fine. He just wasn't sure where some of his pitches were going.

Giants hold on to beat Mets in 10 innings

NEW YORK (AP) - Jeremy Affeldt watched San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy walk from the dugout to the mound, over and over again.

BUFFALOES EYE VOL TITLE

Manteca High is one win away from capturing at least a share of the Valley Oak League championship, which would be its first since 1989.

A's capitalize on errors, hold off slumping Angels

ANAHEIM (AP) - Kurt Suzuki and Kila Ka'aihue drove in runs, Oakland scored two more on C.J. Wilson's throwing error in his home debut, and the Athletics beat the struggling Los Angeles Angels 4-2 Thursday night for their third straight victory.

American League Capsules

NEW YORK (AP) - Curtis Granderson hit three home runs in the first four innings and matched a career high with five hits, sending the New York Yankees to a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

National League Capsules

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Bronson Arroyo worked eight strong innings and the Cincinnati Reds broke loose with three home runs Thursday for a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals that averted a three-game sweep.

NHL Capsules

MIAMI (AP) - LeBron James had 27 points and 11 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 18 points and Miami tightened up the race in the Eastern Conference by beating Chicago 83-72 in a scuffle-filled game Thursday night.

Elliott leads Blues to win vs Sharks in Game 4

SAN JOSE (AP) - Brian Elliott made 24 saves, B.J. Crombeen and Andy McDonald scored and the St. Louis Blues moved one win away from the second round of the playoffs, beating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in Game 4 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 series lead.

SKI REPORTS

Woods' swing coach: criticism is 'out of hand'

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods' swing coach says criticism of his client is getting out of hand. "I know everyone has a job to do, and I get it," Foley said this week on "Fairways of Life," a radio show hosted by Matt Adams on XM Sirius. "But if it is about the game of golf, Tiger Woods is an extremely ...

LA’s Stoll likely to miss Game 2 against Sharks

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Raffi Torres spent the past year in Phoenix and San Jose trying to shake his reputation as a dangerous player.

Blackhawks edge Red Wings 4-1 in series opener

CHICAGO (AP) - Maybe it was the extra rest, or another raucous crowd at the United Center. Maybe it was just the resumption of one of the NHL's biggest rivalries.

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.