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NBA-SCHEDULE
Mavs survive meltdown
UNDATED (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks were able to end their season-high, three-game losing streak on Friday despite blowing a 30-point lead.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points and Devin Harris hit the go-ahead shot in the final minute as the Mavs pulled out a 103-98 victory against Portland. The game was tied at 98 when Harris dribbled the length of the court and hit a leaner while drawing a foul.
The Mavericks led 44-14 in the second period before the Trail Blazers went on a 55-23 burst to take a two-point lead. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 18 of his 20 points in the third quarter to lead the Portland charge.
The outcome puts the Mavs in a tie with Phoenix for the last two Western Conference playoff berths, one game ahead of Memphis.
Also in the NBA:
— James Harden dropped in 28 points and Houston picked up its fourth straight win by blowing out Indiana 112-86. Harden scored 16 in Houston's 38-point third quarter, which turned a three-point lead into a 29-point advantage. He also got into a dustup with Evan Turner that resulted in both players receiving technical fouls.
— Marc Gasol (gah-SAHL') had 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies won for the third time in their last four games, downing the Bulls 85-77 in Chicago. Mike Miller made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points for the Grizzlies, who have gone 15-6 since Jan. 24 after splitting their first 20 games.
— Toronto won for the eighth time in 10 games as Terrence Ross scored 18 points to lead the Raptors past Sacramento 99-87. Patrick Patterson and DeMar DeRozan each scored 15 points to help the Atlantic Division leaders move four games ahead of second-place Brooklyn.
— The Nets lost ground on Toronto with a 91-84 loss at Boston as Rajon Rondo (RAH'-zhahn RAHN'-doh) delivered 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The Celtics overcame 28 turnovers by outrebounding Brooklyn 62-37.
— Al Jefferson scored 28 points on 12 of 18 shooting as Charlotte earned its sixth consecutive home win, 101-92 against Cleveland. Kemba Walker had 20 points and 14 assists to help the Bobcats improve to 29-33, surpassing their win total from the previous two seasons combined.
— Minnesota was a 114-101 winner over Detroit behind Kevin Love's 28 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. Kevin Martin scored 24 points and Ricky Rubio added 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves.
— Carmelo Anthony scored 18 of his 29 points in the first quarter before the New York Knicks completed an easy 108-81 win over Utah. Anthony added a season-high eight assists for the Knicks, who led by as many as 32 en route to their second straight win since a seven-game skid.
— Kenneth Faried scored a career-high 32 points and Ty Lawson had 30 as Denver outscored the Los Angeles Lakers 134-126. Lawson also had 17 assists and Faried grabbed 13 rebounds against the Lakers, who've dropped six of eight and have allowed an average of 138 points in back-to-back losses.
— Anthony Davis had 29 points and 14 rebounds to lead New Orleans over Milwaukee 112-104. Tyreke (ty-REEK') Evans scored 25 points for the Pelicans, who've won two straight after losing their previous eight games.
NBA-BUCKS
Bucks forward suspended 1 game for punch
NEW YORK (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova (ee-lah-SOH'-vuh) was suspended without pay for Friday's game against New Orleans after punching Sacramento forward Reggie Evans in the stomach.
The punch happened in the fourth quarter of Milwaukee's 116-102 loss to the Kings on Wednesday when the two players became entangled while battling for rebounding position.
T25 BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Shockers still perfect
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Second-ranked Wichita State remains perfect after advancing to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament semifinals.
Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker scored 17 points apiece as the Shockers stifled Evansville 80-58 to improve to 32-0. Kadeem Coleby had six of the blocks for the Shockers, who are two wins shy of matching the NCAA single-season record of 34 wins in a row by UNLV in 1990-91.
T25-DUKE/PARKER
Freshman phenom undecided about future
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Jabari (juh-BAHR'-ee) Parker says he still hasn't decided whether to leave for the NBA after this season, saying he probably will return if he feels as though he has room to improve or if he has regrets after the season ends.
He also says he wants to go where he is "going to grow the most."
Parker leads the ACC in rebounding, and is the second leading scorer in the league at nearly 19 points a game.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Gamecocks' Martin apologizes for outburst
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Suspended South Carolina coach Frank Martin apologized to fans for his harsh words aimed at Gamecocks point guard Duane Notice in the loss to No. 1 Florida this week.
Martin was suspended one game by athletic director Ray Tanner on Thursday. He is not travelling with the team to its regular-season finale at Mississippi State on Saturday. Associate head coach Matt Figger will take over the team in Starkville.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Rangers rally to halt skid
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Rangers staged a third-period rally to earn their first victory in two games since acquiring Martin St. Louis (mahr-TAN' san loo-EE') from Tampa Bay.
Derek Stepan (STEP'-ahn) scored on a 5-on-3 power play with 2:45 left to give the Blueshirts a 4-2 win at Carolina. The game-winner was part of a four-goal third period that allowed New York to end a three-game skid.
Jeff Skinner scored on a penalty shot in the third period to give Carolina a 2-1 lead, but Rick Nash tied it 77 seconds later before Stepan and the Rangers took advantage of a pair of delay-of-game penalties on the Hurricanes in the final five minutes.
Elsewhere on ice:
— Johan Franzen had two goals and two assists in Detroit's 7-4 rout of New Jersey. The Red Wings blew a 2-0 lead and trailed 3-2 until Franzen, Gustav Nyquist and Kyle Quincey scored during a 3:14 span late in the second period.
— Roberto Luongo (loo-AHN'-goh) made 25 saves in his return to Florida, leading a 2-0 win against Buffalo. Dmitry Kulikov (KOO'-lih-kahv) and Jesse Winchester each scored power-play goals as the Panthers won for only the second time in seven games.
— Joe Colborne scored twice in the third period while Calgary was turning a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. Colborne sandwiched his two tallies around Sean Monahan's goal during a 4:12 span of the final period.
MLB-SPRING TRAINING
Royals lose Hochevar for season
UNDATED (AP) — Kansas City Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar (HOH'-chay-vur) will have Tommy John surgery that will sideline the pitcher for the season. Hochevar felt a twinge in his elbow during a two-inning scoreless outing Monday, and an MRI revealed the extent of the injury.
The 30-year-old Hochevar went 5-2 with a 1.92 ERA and two saves in 58 relief appearances last season. He was switched to the bullpen last year after going 38-59 with a 5.44 ERA in 128 career starts.
In other baseball news:
— A person familiar with the negotiations says left-hander Oliver Perez and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $4.25 million, two-year contract. The 32-year-old was 3-3 with a 3.74 ERA last year in his second season with the Seattle Mariners after spending 2011 in the minor leagues.
— Pitcher Brad Penny has been released from a minor league contract by the Kansas City Royals following a poor start to spring training. The 35-year-old right-hander was an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006 and 2007.
NFL-NEWS
Saints unloading contracts...Jags re-sign QB Henne for 2 years
UNDATED (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says running back Darren Sproles has been informed that the New Orleans Saints will release him if they are unable to trade him before free agency begins. New Orleans' decision to part with Sproles is the latest in a series of cost-cutting moves, including Friday's release of receiver Lance Moore. Sproles is due $3.4 million in base salary in 2014. Moore was due $3.1 million.
Also in the NFL:
— The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing back quarterback Chad Henne (HEN'-ee). He and the team agreed to a two-year contract worth $8 million, keeping the starter from hitting the free-agent market. Henne is 5-14 as a starter in two seasons in Jacksonville.
— Browns defensive end Desmond Bryant says he's been medically cleared to play after a health scare. Bryant underwent an operation in December to correct an irregular heartbeat. His season ended with four games left because of a rapid heartbeat, a condition he has known about for several years and had been treated for in the past.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Bo gets another year at Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini has received a one-year contract extension through February 2019.
Pelini is 57-24 in six seasons, but there was speculation about his job status at the end of last season as the Cornhuskers' streak of no conference championships stretched to 14 years.
FORMULA 1
Schumacher update
PARIS (AP) — A spokeswoman for seven-time Formula One driving champion Michael Schumacher (SHOO'-mah-kur) says he is "still in the wake-up phase" of his medically induced coma. It's been more than two months since Schumacher suffered severe head injuries in a skiing accident.
GOLF-CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Four-way tie at Doral
DORAL, Fla. (AP) — Dustin Johnson bogeyed the final hole and fell into a tie with Hunter Mahan (MAY'-han), Matt Kuchar (KOO'-chur) and Patrick Reed after the first two rounds of the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral. Johnson shot a 2-over 74 to get to minus-1 for his 36 holes. Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were among those at even par.
Only three players broke par in the second round. No one shot in the 60s. The average score was a fraction under 76.
Tiger Woods shot a second round 73 and is five over par. Phil Mickelson is also five over par after his 3-over 75.
PGA-PUERTO RICO CLASSIC
Driscoll goes low
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) — James Driscoll matched the Puerto Rico Open record with a 9-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round. Chesson Hadley was second after a 65.
Driscoll also shot a 63 in the 2011 tournament for a share of the record set by Derek Lamely in 2010 and also matched by Chris Tidland in 2011 and Scott Brown last year.
NASCAR
NASCAR hits Vegas
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Joey Logano will start from the pole for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, turning a qualifying lap at a track-record 193.28 mph. Logano will start on the front row next to Penske Ford teammate Brad Keselowski, who came in second Friday at 193.099.
Clint Bowyer will start third alongside Austin Dillon. Jimmie Johnson is in fifth.
Most of the drivers surpassed the previous track speed record during qualifying.
HORSE RACING
Gomez, Asmussen top Hall of Fame ballot
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Jockey Garrett Gomez and trainer Steve Asmussen, along with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, are among 10 finalists named to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame ballot. The late Chris Antley, Craig Perret and Alex Solis are the other jockeys chosen as finalists. Results will be announced April 25.
OBIT-CARMEN BERRA
Wife of Yankee great was 85
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Carmen Berra, wife of New York Yankees great Yogi Berra, has died. She was 85. The Yankees confirmed that she died Thursday night in New Jersey's Essex County. The team didn't say how she died.
The couple was married in January 1949 and had recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Berra, a catcher, was a 10-time World Series champion with the Yankees and later served as the team's manager.
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