Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Bulls survived another scare from the Indiana Pacers on Monday to grind out a tense 96-90 victory and take a 2-0 lead in the East's best-of-seven playoff series. As in Game One, regular season MVP contender Derrick Rose was in sensational form and recorded 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists to pull his team through. Chicago sharpshooter Kyle Korver made a three-pointer to give the home team a 90-85 lead with 1:04 remaining and the Bulls hung on to hand the Pacers another heartbreaking loss.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - The Cleveland Indians scored four runs in the 10th inning to beat division rivals Kansas City 7-3 on Monday and continue their hot start to the season. Shelley Duncan delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to break a 3-3 tie in the 10th as the Indians captured their fourth consecutive win and opened up a two-game lead over the Royals in the American League Central. Kansas City (10-6) and Cleveland have been division bottom dwellers in the last couple seasons, but the Indians (12-4) are now off to their best start since 1999. Three-times All Star Grady Sizemore showed little signs of rust in his second game back from a knee injury that had sidelined him since last May. Sizemore had an RBI in the 10th and finished with three hits after going 2-for-4 with a home run on Sunday.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
BOSTON (Reuters) - American Desiree Davila came into Monday's Boston Marathon relatively unheralded but her near-victory gave the United States something to cheer about on a day when African runners swept the men's and women's races. Davila, who came within two seconds of winning the women's marathon, highlighted the best Boston performance for U.S. runners in years. Ryan Hall ran the fastest ever marathon for a U.S. man in finishing fourth. Coming into the final mile Davila was in a pack with Kenyans Caroline Kilel and Sharon Cherup. Twice she pushed to a small lead. Cherup fell back, leaving Kilel and Davila to battle it out. Kilel finally pulled clear, breaking the tape in 2:22:36.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chris Paul ran circles around the Los Angeles Lakers in a scintillating performance to lead his New Orleans Hornets to a 109-100 upset victory over the defending champions in their NBA playoff series opener Sunday. Paul scored 15 of his 33 points in the final five minutes and dished out 14 assists to spur the underdog Hornets to a 1-0 best-of-seven series lead. Game Two is on Wednesday. "It's the playoffs. My teammates are looking for me to be aggressive," Paul told reporters after adding seven rebounds and four steals. "In the playoffs there aren't as many fouls called. Sometimes you have to force the issue."
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 00:00Written by Spencer Iowa
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - American Brendan Steele held his nerve on an error-free back nine for a one-shot victory over compatriots Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman to clinch his maiden PGA Tour title at the Texas Open on Sunday. Steele, a 28-year-old rookie who had not played a single round on the PGA Tour until this season, began the day with a one-shot lead and made it hold up during another wind-whipped afternoon at the TPC San Antonio carding a final round one-under-par 71. After a birdie at the second followed by his only bogey of the round at the fifth and another birdie at seven, Steele reeled off 11 consecutive pars to finish with a winning total of eight-under 280. "I don't even really know what happened," said Steele, a winner in his 12th PGA Tour start. "Kevin and I were kind of battling it out there the last few holes, then he made the mistake on 17 and I made a mistake on 18 but I was able to sneak in the putt for par.
