NHL Capsules

CHICAGO (AP) - Mikkel Boedker scored in overtime for the second straight game and the Phoenix Coyotes beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.

Sports News Brief

COLLEGES

Colts picking Andrew Luck as No. 1 in next week’s NFL player draft

Selig says A's and Rays must get new ballparks

Lakers rout Warriors, await Kobe's return

OAKLAND (AP) - Kobe Bryant walked out of the visitor's locker room to a few dozen fans waiting with hugs and handshakes for the Los Angeles Lakers' star and a circle of reporters ready to stick a microphone near his face.

Splitter, Neal lead Spurs past Kings

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Even with Tim Duncan sitting out to rest, the San Antonio Spurs had enough to get an easy win on the road for the third time in three nights.

NBA Capsules

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Carmelo Anthony scored 21 of his 33 points in the first quarter, and the New York Knicks beat the Nets 104-95 on Wednesday night in their last trip to New Jersey.

National League Capsules

DENVER (AP) - Juan Nicasio threw 6 1-3 solid innings for his first win since returning from a broken neck, lifting the Colorado Rockies over the San Diego Padres 8-4 on Wednesday night.

American League Capsules

BOSTON (AP) - Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Derek Holland pitched seven solid innings as Texas beat Boston for its sixth straight win.

Blues outplay Sharks on special teams

SAN JOSE (AP) - The San Jose Sharks are looking to change things up after dropping two straight games to the St. Louis Blues in their first-round series.

NHL Capsules

HILADELPHIA (AP) - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal pushed back with a vengeance with Pittsburgh on the brink of being sweep, leading the Penguins to a 10-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday night in the first-round Eastern Conference series.

Giants closer Brian Wilson set for elbow surgery

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - All-Star Giants closer Brian Wilson will undergo Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery Thursday in Pensacola, Fla.

49ers Baalke still considers Gregg Williams friend

SANTA CLARA (AP) - Apparently, there are no hard feelings on 49ers general manager Trent Baalke's part regarding the Saints' targeting of San Francisco players in their bounty program.

Giants prevail with 1-0 win over Phillies in 11

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Melky Cabrera hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0 on Wednesday, ending a thrilling pitchers' duel that seemed as if it might go on all night.

A’s Colon on fire

ANAHEIM (AP) - Bartolo Colon threw 38 consecutive strikes at one point and pitched four-hit ball for eight innings to help the Oakland Athletics beat the cellar-dwelling Los Angeles Angels 6-0 on Wednesday night.

Next stop: San Antonio

OAKLAND (AP) - Draymond Green threw his arms in the air and ran to Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson for an emotional hug. Jarrett Jack squatted down, put his right hand on his head and closed his eyes. Stephen Curry wanted to see it all - teammates parading around the court, gold confetti in the air, smiles all around the announced sellout crowd of 19,596.

Canucks looking for more offense in Game 2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - After a loss in Game 1, coach Alain Vigneault is looking for more offense from the Canucks.

MLB capsules

ATLANTA (AP) - Dan Haren pitched eight sharp innings, Denard Span hit a two-run double and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 Thursday night.

NBA capsules

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Stephen Curry had 22 points and eight assists, Andrew Bogut broke out with the best performance of his injury-saddled season and the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Denver Nuggets with a 92-88 victory in Game 6 on Thursday.

NHL capsules

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Alex Ovechkin's franchise-record 31st career playoff goal got the Capitals started before less-heralded teammates Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera scored 46 seconds apart, and Washington beat the New York Rangers 3-1 Thursday night in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Sports news briefs

HORSERACING

Boyle, Marleau lift Sharks to 3-1 win over Canucks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Dan Boyle and Patrick Marleau scored in the third period for the San Jose Sharks, who rallied to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Wednesday night in the first-round Western Conference series opener. Boyle and Logan Couture both had a goal and an assist, and Marleau pushed San Jose's lead to 3-1. Antti Niemi made 28 saves for the Sharks, who were outshot 30-28. Kevin Bieksa scored ...

NHL capsules

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pascal Dupuis scored twice, Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves, and the top-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins opened the playoffs with a 5-0 romp over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.

Giants rally again, beat Diamondbacks 9-6

PHOENIX (AP) - Brandon Belt hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the San Francisco Giants rallied against Arizona's bullpen for the third straight game, beating the Diamondbacks 9-6 Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep. Belt hit a two-run single off Brad Ziegler in the opener and Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer off Arizona closer J.J. Putz on Tuesday. Belt finished off the series of comebacks with his ...

Cespedes' gaffe costs A's in 5-4 loss to Angels

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Oakland Athletics slugger Yoenis Cespedes didn't have a problem beating Hank Conger's throw to second in the ninth inning.

NBA capsules

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - James Harden scored 31 points and sank seven 3-pointers while fighting through flu-like symptoms, and the Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 107-100 Wednesday night to pull within 3-2 in their first-round playoff series.

Nuggets, Warriors ready for physical Game 6

OAKLAND (AP) - Kicks in the ankles. Forearms to the throat. Elbows at the head. Illegal screens. Hard shoves. Bloody lips. Puffy eyes. Body bruises. Some even done by "hit men." Denver Nuggets coach George Karl thought the reaction to his team's Game 5 win over the Warriors sounded like a "different movie than I'm watching." Golden State's Mark Jackson defended his accusations of dirty play Wednesday, and players on both sides practically ...

Guerrero likes chances of giving Mayweather loss

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Floyd Mayweather Jr. admitted this week what many have long suspected - that he hand picks every opponent who enters the ring with him. He also decides how much they get paid and what the contract details will be. So Robert Guerrero was somewhat prepared when Mayweather picked him to be the opponent for his first fight in a year Saturday night at the MGM Grand hotel. What ...

Damian Lillard is NBA Rookie of the Year

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - It's unanimous: Damian Lillard is the NBA's Rookie of the Year. No, it never was in question. Lillard, the sixth overall pick in last June's draft out of Weber State, led all rookies with a 19-point scoring average. He also averaged 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, playing in all 82 games this season. He broke Stephen Curry's rookie record for 3-pointers in a season, finishing with 185, ...

Earthquakes' Lenhart suspended 2 games by MLS

NEW YORK (AP) - San Jose forward Steven Lenhart was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed sum by the MLS disciplinary committee on Wednesday for his violent play in last weekend's game against Chivas USA. Lenhart was penalized for cleating Chivas' Mario de Luna in the face and nearly stepping on it after the defender had slid to to knock the ball away from him in the 68th minute of the teams' ...