KWBG Sports for April 7th

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - The Masters golf tournament starts today with Phil Mickelson the clear favorite to win the first major of the year. Mickelson is the defending champion and is coming off an impressive victory in the Houston Open last weekend. UNDATED (AP) - The Indiana Pacers and New Orleans Hornets both clinched playoff berths last night. The Pacers are in after routing Washington 136-112 while Chris Paul had 28 points and 10 assists in the Rockets' 101-93 victory over Houston. CHICAGO (AP) - The defending Stanley Cup champions are close to clinching a playoff spot in the NHL. Jonathan Toews (tayvz) scored at 3:19 of overtime to give Chicago a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues and move the Blackhawks within two points of a clinching a playoff spot in the Western Conference. UNDATED (AP) - The Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers remained baseball's lone unbeaten teams after posting victories yesterday. Meanwhile, there are three teams that have not yet tasted victory this season - the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The jury of eight men and four women in the Barry Bonds perjury trial is expected to begin deliberations today after the defense declined to call a single witness yesterday. Closing arguments are expected today followed by the judge's instructions on how to consider the evidence submitted during the 11-day trial.