SAN ANTONIO (AP)- The road to the NBA Finals in the Western Conference will go through San Antonio. The Spurs clinched the No. 1 seed in the West in the upcoming NBA playoffs by routing Portland last night 124-89 for their eighth straight victory.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma City Thunder forward James Harden underwent tests yesterday following his concussion in the previous day's game against the Los Angeles Lakers and will be re-evaluated today. Metta World Peace, who claims he accidentally clipped Harden while celebrating the dunk, faces discipline from the NBA as the regular season winds down and the Lakers prepare to open the playoffs this weekend.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)- A New Orleans Saints spokesman is calling an ESPN report that general manager Mickey Loomis' booth in the Superdome was wired so he could listen to opposing coaches' radio communications during games is "1,000 percent false." The Saints say they are considering legal action against ESPN, which aired the alleged eavesdropping story on its "Outside the Lines" program.
UNDATED (AP) - The Phoenix Coyotes have won a playoff series for the first time since 1987 when the franchise was based in Winnipeg by shutting out the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 as Mike Smith made 39 saves for his first career playoff shutout. In the East, the top-seeded New York Rangers have forced a seventh game at home Thursday after edging Ottawa 3-2 to tie that series.
WASHINGTON (AP) -The complexity of the Roger Clemens perjury retrial showed itself in many ways yesterday before a jury that knows little about baseball. The prosecutor's hour-long opening statement attempted to portray the seven-time Cy Young Award winner as a man who told lies and "other lies to cover up lies."
