• 
  Thunder close with 9-0 run, up 2-0 on LA

  Even down late, the Oklahoma City Thunder are showing that they are never out.

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  Celtics roll past 76ers to take 2-1 lead

  Kevin Garnett yapped his way down the court after big baskets and clearly enjoyed taking it to the 76ers.

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  Devils rally past Rangers to tie series

  The New Jersey Devils quickly changed the game plan: instead of letting the New York Rangers block their shots, they decided to deflect some themselves.

• 
  Pacers' Bird voted NBA Executive of Year

  Everything always seemed to come so easily for Larry Bird on a basketball court.

• 
  Brees critical of Saints in interview

  Drew Brees said in a radio interview Wednesday night that he is frustrated by what he views as a lack of communication with the New Orleans Saints in his ongoing contract negotiations, adding the club should have shown more urgency to get a long-term deal done.

• 
  Darvish shuts down A's to improve to 6-1

  Expectations for Yu Darvish were every bit as big as the contract he signed to move from his native Japan.

• 
  Coyotes F Hanzal suspended for Game 3

  Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal has been suspended one game for a hit on Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown.

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  Celtics spank 76ers for 2-1 series lead

  (Reuters) - The Boston Celtics trounced the Philadelphia 76ers 107-91 on Wednesday to spoil their return home and move ahead 2-1 in the second round East series of the NBA playoffs.

• 
  Darvish claiming ace status as he tosses Texas past A's

  (Reuters) - Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish continued his blistering start to life in Major League Baseball as the Japanese right-hander breezed through the Oakland Athletics lineup in a 4-1 win on Wednesday.

• 
  Unstoppable Kings bash Coyotes for 2-0 lead

  (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Kings dominated Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 on Tuesday to continue their playoff transformation and storm to a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

• Super Bowl winners New York Giants get "Big Blue" rings

  Players and coaches with the New York Giants football team gathered at Tiffany & Co.'s flagship store in New York City on Wednesday evening to receive newly designed rings commemorating their Super Bowl victory earlier this year.

• Adidas sues Big 5 over alleged sneaker knock-offs

  (Reuters) - Adidas AG has sued to stop a U.S. sporting goods retailer and a skateboarding equipment maker from selling sneakers with three parallel diagonal stripes, a design it said looks too much like its own.

• 
  Junior Seau's San Diego restaurant closes after his death

  A San Diego restaurant owned by Junior Seau closed its doors for good on Wednesday, two weeks after the former football star shot himself to death at his beachfront California home, trustees for his estate announced.

• Clouvel blossoms into very modern pentathlete

  Four years ago, Elodie Clouvel missed out on an Olympic swimming spot and was scared of horses. Now she is gunning for a modern pentathlon medal at the London Games as well as contemplating a modeling career.

• Iguodala's defense smothering Pierce in series

  Andre Iguodala is winning the chess match on defense against Boston's Paul Pierce in the Sixers' second-round series against the Celtics.

• Flyers Roster Review: Defense

  In Part 2 of our three-part series, Tim Panaccio reviews the year that was for Flyers defensemen and what to expect from the position next season.

• Salisbury's Instant Replay: Phils 4, Astros 3

  Hunter Pence made up for his ninth inning error with a walkoff home run in the 10th to give the Phillies a 4-3 win and two-game sweep of the Astros.

• Will Schenn play center or wing next season?

  Brayden Schenn bounced back and forth between center and left wing all season for the Flyers. But which position will he play next year?

• Sixers prep for Game 3; Phils top Astros

  Neil Hartman recaps Tuesday's headlines, including the Sixers' preparation for Game 3 against Boston as the series shifts to Philadelphia and the Phillies' walk-off win over the Astros.

• Sixers growing up, closing out late games

  A young Sixers roster struggled all year to win ball games decided by five points or less, but the team is maturing in the playoffs, and has won two contests decided by just one point in its last thre games.

• Flyers' ice gets scraped away at the Center

  The Flyers season is over and now the ice at the Wells Fargo Center is gone too.

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• Stallworth feels lucky for NFL, Patriots comeback

  Donte' Stallworth remarks on how grateful he is to return to football after pleading guilty to a 2009 DUI manslaughter charge.

• Haggerty: Don't cry over blocked shots

  The playoffs seem to have been loaded with teams that like to block shots, but Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty says blocked shots does not a winning team make.

• Box Score Bank: Wakefield's Best

  It's Tim Wakefield Day at Fenway Park, but it's hard to imagine it being any better than this one.

• Hurricane Garnett rips through Philly in Game 3

  Kevin Garnett continues to play like he's in his mid 20's after another exceptional game for the Celtics. Garnett did it all -- offense, rebounding, defense -- in the C's win.

• Celtics send message to Sixers with statement win

  The Boston Celtics looked a bit vulnerable during Game 2's loss to the Sixers, but they stormed into Philadelphia and stomped all over the Sixers Wednesday night. That was their goal, and they succeeed.

• Buchholz has roller coaster evening

  Clay Buchholz pitched an effective 5 innings, balked in a run, and got hit in the heel off a comebacker in his 21 loss.

• Valentine: Sox' balks 'like an epidemic'

  The Red Sox have been called for five balks in the last eight games.

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• Reimold's rehab not going as planned

  The Orioles were hoping that the epidural injection Nolan Reimold received on Friday on his herniated disc would work. So far, it hasnt.

• In the playoffs throw rivalries out the window

  In the playoffs throw rivalries out the window

• Ravens' Jackson looks to 'make plays'

  The rookie cornerback is a small guy from a small school, but he was drafted for a reason.

• Rowell suspended 50 games for failing drug test

  Billy Rowell, the Orioles top pick in the 2006 draft, has been suspended for 50 games when he tested positive a second time for a drug of abuse.

• Trainer gives his Derby-winning colt a day off

  On the topic of work, O'Neill decided I'll Have Another didn't have to do any Tuesday on a wet, dreary morning at Pimlico.

• Harbaugh: 'Football is about the best guy'

  Forget Combine times and draft grades. The only thing that matters now is performance on the field, and that's how coach John Harbaugh likes it.

• Ravens positioned to battle

  The Ravens have five key spots where up to four players may be battling for one job.

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• Why have Cubs fans turned on Kerry Wood?

  Kerry Wood is suddenly one of the most polarizing players on the Cubs, with some fans calling for Wood to retire. How did that happen so quickly?

• Cubs Minor League update: Rizzo still raking

  Cubs prospect Anthony Rizzo hit five home runs in the past week while racking up 11 RBIs. Check out how Brett Jackson, Chris Rusin and other Cubs prospects are doing down on the farm.

• The 2012 Angels vs. the 2011 White Sox

  Albert Pujols welcomes the White Sox to California sporting an OPS in the same range as Gordon Beckham, Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo. What gives?

• Simeon's Jabari Parker appears on SI cover

  Simeon star Jabari Parker, the top high school player in the country, will be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's May 21 issue. The story discusses Parker's Mormon faith amongst other topic.

• White Sox mourn the loss of Kevin Hickey

  The White Sox mourn the loss of pre-game coach and former pitcher Kevin Hickey who died this morning at Rush Medical Center.

• Joliet Catholic's Isaac makes his college decision

  Joliet Catholic blue-chip running back Ty Isaac committed to USC Tuesday morning, choosing the Trojans over Michigan and Auburn.

• Garza: Cubs will get up after being kicked in the teeth

  After the Cubs' 9-2 loss to the Phillies, Matt Garza offered up some up advice on what the young club can learn by saying, "Theres no easier way to pop up than after somebody kicks you in the teeth."

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• LaRoche gets well-earned praise

  Booed last year and nearly kicked to the curb over the winter, Adam LaRoche is now the glue holding together the Nationals' lineup.

• Backstrom turns his attention to Worlds

  Nicklas Backstrom picked up an assist in his first game for Sweden. He said Dale Hunter built something that must continue in Washington.

• Wizards player review: Cartier Martin

  We continue to evaluate the Wizards season that was with a breakdown of each player this past season.

• Ovechkin's role in Hunter's decision

  Alex Ovechkin said Dale Hunter treated him 'like a soldier.' Will a new coach need to use the Capitals captain more?

• Instant analysis: Nats 7, Pirates 4

  Gio Gonzalez was lights-out for seven innings, striking out 10 to take over the MLB lead as the Nats held off the Pirates.

• Salihi, De Rosario lead United past Rapids

  Dwayne De Rosario scored in the first half, and Hamdi Salihi added his first goal at RFK Stadium in the second to help D.C. United beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Wednesday night.

• Vokoun: 'I wasn't planning on being back'

  Capitals goaltender Tomas Vokoun says he regrets not having the chance to take the Capitals deep into the playoffs but never intended on returning next season.

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• Miscues prove costly for Giants -- again

  None of the Giants three errors led to any unearned runs on Tuesday, but they still helped contribute to the 5-4 loss.

• Blanco forcing Bochy to sit Schierholtz, Huff

  Bruce Bochy has 13 position players that want to be in the starting lineup as much as possible. No matter the eight men he chooses to start on any given day, that leaves five more potentially unhappyas they ride the pine.

• Disturbing video emerges on eve of McClain's trial

  A day before Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain goes to trial for a November 30th altercation in his hometown of Decatur, Alabama, a video emerged that could play a role in the eventual outcome.

• Cabrera expected to play Thursday after being scratched from lineup

  Melky Cabrera was scratched from the San Francisco lineup moments before the first pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals, with what the team is calling a left toe injury. But Bruce Bochy said after te game that he expects his No.

• DHB speaks following drunk-driving arrest

  Speaking to the media for the first time since his drunk-driving arrest, Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey expressed remorse and regretted letting down his fans.

• Bumgarner's home streak comes to an end

  Madison Bumgarner had a chance at nine consecutive home wins Wednesday, but didn't get the run support he needed to keep the streak alive.

• Loss exposes Giants' biggest flaw

  In order to contend the Giants need to improve in many aspects of the game, but Wednesday's loss intensified the magnifying glass that is already focused on one particular shortcoming.

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