UNDATED (AP) - The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers failed to close out their NBA first-round series by losing last night. Kobe Bryant poured in 43 points, but the Lakers trailed by 15 midway through the fourth quarter before falling to Denver 102-99. Atlanta also forced a Game 6 with an 87-86 win over the Celtics behind Al Horford's 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Chicago used Luol Deng's (LOO'-ul dehngz) 24 points to beat the 76ers 77-69 and set up a sixth game.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Pacers are the first team to reach the NBA's Eastern Conference semifinals after Danny Granger scored 25 points in a 105-87 win over the Orlando Magic. Darren Collison contributed 15 of his 19 points while the Pacers were outscoring the Magic 36-16 in the final period. The Pacers await either Miami or New York after winning a playoff series for the first time since 2005.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Ilya Kovalchuk (KOH'-vul-chuhk) had a goal and an assist as the New Jersey Devils beat Philadelphia 3-1 to reach the NHL's Eastern Conference finals for the first time since winning the 2003 Stanley Cup. The Devils trailed until Bryce Salvador and David Clarkson scored 3:18 apart in the first period. Martin Brodeur (broh-DOOR') made 27 saves for the Devils, who next face either the New York Rangers or Washington Capitals.
BALTIMORE (AP) - Josh Hamilton homered four times and had eight RBIs as Texas blasted the Orioles 10-3 in Baltimore. Hamilton's solo blast in the eighth made him the 16th player in major league homers to homer four times in a game, and the first since Toronto's Carlos Delgado in 2003. Hamilton also doubled to finish with an American League-record 18 total bases.
NEW YORK (AP) - New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte is scheduled to make his season debut Sunday afternoon against Seattle in the Bronx. Pettitte retired followed the 2010 season and decided to make a comeback this spring, appearing in four minor league games. Pettitte turns 40 next month and is 240-138 with a 3.88 ERA over a 16-year major league career.
