Pacers Bounce Knicks, Advance To East Finals

Posted yesterday at 10:11pm

Andy Lyons/Getty Images(INDIANAPOLIS) -- Lance Stephenson scored 25 points and grabbed 10 boards to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 106-99 win over the New York Knicks Saturday.

The win sends the Pacers to their first Eastern Conference final since 2004.

"I just didn't want to go back to New York and play Game 7," Stephenson said. "Just get it done with now and I'd do whatever it takes to do that today. It showed tonight."

George Hill returned to the Pacers' lineup just two days after being diagnosed with a concussion. He scored 12 points in 42 minutes.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 39 points. Iman Shumpert chipped in 19 in a losing effort.

Indiana trailed 92-90 with just under six minutes to go before Roy Hibbert blocked an Anthony dunk attempt at the rim. That spurred a 13-5 Pacers run that helped them close out the game.

"That's why they pay me the big bucks this summer, so I have to protect the paint," said Hibbert, who signed a $58 million contract last summer. "If all else fails, meaning the offense, I have to protect the paint."

The Pacers will face the Miami Heat, the team that eliminated them from last year's postseason, in the Eastern Conference finals. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Miami.

David Beckham Notches Assist In Final Career Game

Posted yesterday at 6:50pm

Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images(PARIS) -- Just like that, it all came to an end for David Beckham.

In his final career game, Beckham notched an assist, leading Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-1 win over Brest.

"To finish my career here is special. Paris is the most beautiful place in the world. I'm sad to go. I feel a lot of satisfaction and emotion. Tonight is the end of my career, for sure," he said. "I've done my time at all the clubs where I've been, be it Manchester United, Real Madrid and LA Galaxy.

Beckham drew a roaring ovation and wiped away tears when he left in the 81st minute as the match drew to a close. Paris Saint-Germain has one more game left this season, but Beckham told reporters after the game that Saturday's would be his last.

He announced his retirement earlier in the week and was given the captain's armband prior to the start of the match.

Oxbow Wins The 138th Preakness Stakes

Posted yesterday at 6:16pm

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images(BALTIMORE) -- Oxbow won the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

"I get paid to spoil dreams," said D. Wayne Lukas, the 77-year-old Hall of Fame trainer for Oxbow, who gave Lukas his sixth Preakness victory and a record 14th Triple Crown win.

Oxbow's odds to win the race were 15-1, and he paid $32.80 to win.

Ridden by veteran jockey Gary Stevens, Oxbow finished unofficially in 1:57.54.

Itsmyluckyday came in second with Mylute placing third.

Kentucky Derby winner Orb was the perennial favorite to win the middle leg of the Triple Crown with 3-5 odds, but he seemed to have been thrown off from starting at the No. 1 post position. Only two horses have ever won the Preakness Stakes from that spot since 1950.

"I'm disappointed. I'll be more disappointed tomorrow than I am right now," said Orb's trainer, Shug McGaughey. "I know the game. It is highs and lows. Probably more lows than highs."

Brett Anderson Hurt Again

Posted yesterday at 5:34pm

Robert Binder/MLB Photos via Getty Images(OAKLAND, Calif.) -- The Oakland Athletics announced starting pitcher Brett Anderson has a stress fracture in his right foot and will be reavaluted in four weeks when his walking boot is taken off.

Anderson, who has been on the disabled list since May 1 with a sprained right ankle, made a rehab start last Sunday and felt fine afterwards. Then on Monday, Anderson was running the outfield when he felt pain in his foot. Anderson had CT and bone scans which revealed the injury.

"Unfortunate turn of events," Anderson tweeted. "But we're a good team with or without me and hopefully I can contribute sooner rather than later."

Anderson has proven to be a pretty fragile player. The 25-year-old has only made 43 starts in the last four seasons, being placed on the diabled list many times. Anderson also had Tommy John Surgery in 2011.

When Anderson has pitched he has been good. In 73 career starts Anderson has a 26-29 record with 3.74 ERA, and a 1.27 WHIP.

Matt Garza Will Start Tuesday

Posted yesterday at 5:19pm

Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images(CHICAGO) -- Cubs manager Dale Sveum announced Saturday that pitcher Matt Garza will make his first major league start in 10 months Tuesday, when the Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Garza missed the final two months of last season with a right elbow strain and has been out this season with a strained left latissimus muscle.

Garza pitched six-innings of shutout ball for Triple-A Iowa Thursday, striking out six.

Sveum says Garza will likely be held to 85 to 90 pitch limit on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Garza has made 167 starts in his seven major league seasons. During that period he has compiled a 57-61 record, a 3.84 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 865 strikeouts.

Scoreboard Roundup - 5/18/13

Posted yesterday at 5:13pm

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- NHL Playoffs - Western Conference Semi-Finals:

Detroit Red Wings 4 - Chicago Blackhawks 1 (Series tied 1-1)

San Jose Sharks 2 - Los Angeles 1 OT (Kings lead series, 2-1)

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals: Indiana Pacers 106 - New York Knicks 99 (Pacers win series, 4-2)

138th Running of the Preakness Stakes: Oxbow wins.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Jimmie Johnson wins the NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

MLB: Cincinnati Reds 10 (26-17) - Philadelphia Phillies 0 (20-23)

Chicago Cubs 8 (18-24) - New York Mets 2 (16-24)

Tampa Bay Rays 10 (22-20) - Baltimore Orioles 6 (23-19)

New York Yankees 7 (27-16) - Toronto Blue Jays 2 (17-26)

Cleveland Indians 5 (24-17) - Seattle Mariners 4 (20-23)

Los Angeles Angels 12 (16-27) - Chicago White Sox 9 (19-22)

Arizona Diamondbacks 1 (25-18) - Miami Marlins 0 (11-32)

Atlanta Braves 3 (24-18) - Los Angeles Dodgers 1 (17-24)

San Diego Padres 2 (19-23) - Washington Nationals 1 (23-20)

Texas Rangers 7 (28-15) - Detroit Tigers 2 (23-18)

Oakland Athletics 2 (22-22) - Kansas City Royals 1 (20-19)

Colorado Rockies 10 (23-20) - San Francisco Giants 2 (24-19)

Milwaukee Brewers 6 (17-24) - St. Louis Cardinals 4 (27-15) 10 innings

Houston Astros 4 (12-31) - Pittsburgh Pirates 2 (25-18) 11 innings

Boston Red Sox 12 (26-17) - Minnesota Twins 5 (18-21)

Red Wings Trounce Blackhawks 4-1 To Even Series

Posted yesterday at 4:22pm

Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images(CHICAGO) -- Brendan Smith scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period as the Detroit Red Wings blitzed the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 in Game 2 to tie their Western Conference semifinal series.

Detroit was on the right side of the scoreboard Saturday, responding from a 4-1 loss to the Blackhawks in Game 1 of the series.

"We've got a real good club now," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "And we haven't been good all year. We've just gotten better."

The Blackhawks took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by Patrick Kane, but Damien Brunner and Smith scored in the second period to give the Red Wings the lead for good.

"Both teams would be stupid if they thought they were going to come in here and either team win four straight," Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook said.

Johan Franzen and Valtteri Filppula added goals in the third period for the Red Wings, while netminder Jimmy Howard stopped 19 shots.

Game 3 will be played Monday night in Detroit.

Dwight Freeney Agrees to Deal With the Chargers

Posted yesterday at 4:15pm

NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- With the recent loss of Melvin Ingram to a torn ACL, the San Diego Chargers needed to bolster their defense, and they've done just that. The team has has signed veteran defensive end/linebacker Dwight Freeney.

Freeney's deal with the Chargers is for two years with a base value of $8.75 million according to ESPN's Ed Werder.

The 33-year old Freeney had spent his entire 11-year career with the Colts, but the team cut the veteran after a scheme shift to a 3-4 defense as well as a slip in performance in recent seasons.

"Dwight will help us in a lot of ways," Chargers head coach Mike McCoy told Werder. "He will help us on the practice field, in he locker room, and in games. He's one of the greatest pass rushers in the NFL so, in that regard alone, the name Freeney speaks for itself."

Freeney registered 107.5 sacks during his time with the Colts, but he's ready for a fresh start.

"I'm excited to start this new chapter with some good people with great potential to do great things," Freeney wrote in a text to Werder.

Freeney had just 5.0 sacks last season, his lowest mark since 2007.

Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki Willing to Take Massive Pay Cut

Posted yesterday at 3:58pm

NBA via Dallas Mavericks(DALLAS) -- After missing the playoffs this past season, Dirk Nowitzki is willing to do whatever it takes to get back to the postseason, even if it means making far less money than he's accustomed to.

If the team is able to land a free agent this summer such as Chris Paul or Dwight Howard, Nowitzki has assured the organization that he'll take a big pay cut after next season when his contract is up so the team can land even more talent.

Next season, Nowitzki will enter the final season of a four-year, $80 million contract. Over the course of his 15-year career, Nowitzki has earned $204 million, which is the fifth-most in NBA history. Since he's made his money, Nowitzki wants more rings.

"At this piont in my career, it's all about competing and winning," Nowitzki said. "It's not about money. Obviously, Cuban took care of me for a long, long time. I always tried to pay him back by hard playing and being here for this franchise, so I don't think we're going to fight over money. I want to compete over these last couple of years. That's going to be the goal."

The Mavericks are hoping to have enough salary cap space this summer to give out a max-deal. If Nowitzki takes a big enough pay cut, they could land a second max-player during next season's offseason.

Yankees Place Pitcher Andy Pettitte On the DL

Posted yesterday at 2:49pm

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Injuries are nothing new to the New York Yankees, so the team will have to deal with yet another one as the team has placed starter Andy Pettitte on the disabled list.

The team placed the veteran starter on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left trapezious muscle. Taking his place will be Vidal Nuno, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The 40-year-old Pettitte was off to a solid start in his 15th season with the club. Pettitte was 4-3 start with a 3.83 ERA. While Pettitte is expected to return to full health, the team is playing it safe.

"It could be overly cautious, but I also understand," Pettitte said. "I probably need a few days to let it calm down before I can throw a bullpen, and I need to pitch on Tuesday, and they don't want to send me out there in Baltimore on Tuesday and star warming up and it locked up and then we don't have pitching. We're on a tough stretch right now, so I understand."

This season, the Yankees have been the walking wounded. They have dealt with injuries to the likes of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodrguez, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, and Kevin Youkilis.