DALLAS (AP) - Lakers forward Ron Artest (ahr-TEHST') is
suspended for tonight's Game 3 for giving Dallas guard J.J. Barea a
forearm the other night. Lakers coach Phil Jackson says he's "not
surprised" by the league's action, which comes as the Lakers are
in an 0-2 hole after losing both games at home to the Mavs.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Gary Williams will officially announce
his retirement today after 22 years as the University of Maryland
basketball coach. Williams calls his career "an unbelievable
blessing" at Maryland, which went to the NCAA tournament 14 times
under his leadership, including winning it all in 2002.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Reigning National League Cy Young Award
winner Roy Halladay struck out 10 in seven dominant innings in
pitching the Philadelphia Phillies past Washington 7-3 for a
three-game sweep for the defending NL East champions. Halladay is
5-1 with the help of home runs by Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez
(rah-OOL' ih-BAHN'-yehz).
ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves are riding a five-game winning
streak into their weekend series against National League East rival
Philadelphia. For the first time in Braves franchise history they
swept a four-game series from Milwaukee, winning last night's
finale 2-1 behind home runs from Martin (mar-TEEN') Prado and Eric
Hinske.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Vancouver Canucks beat the Nashville
Predators 4-2 last night to take a 3-1 series lead in that Western
Conference semifinal. Ryan Kesler broke a tie with a power-play
goal at 7:28 of the third period, and the Canucks can close out the
Predators with a victory in Game 5 Saturday in Vancouver.
