Spurs bounce back to even series
SAN ANTONIO, April 28 (UPI) -- Tim Duncan helped San Antonio get off to a quick start Wednesday night as the Spurs drew even in their playoff series with a 104-76 blasting of Denver.
Duncan scored 24 points while Tony Parker had 19. The best-of-seven opening round series is deadlocked at a game each heading to Denver for Game 3 on Saturday.
Chicago and Phoenix, meanwhile, took 2-0 leads in their series. Chicago defeated Washington, 113-103, and Phoenix held off Memphis down the stretch for a 108-103 victory.
The Spurs have not been ousted in the first round in five seasons. They ended a five-game playoff losing streak.
Manu Ginobili added 17 points for the Spurs and Brent Barry had 16.
San Antonio built an 11-point lead after one period and then opened the second quarter on a 24-7 tear. The Spurs led by 31 at halftime, making the second half a formality.
Denver is trying to win its first playoff series in 10 years. It has lost the second game in 12 consecutive series.
The Nuggets were led by 12 points from DerMarr Johnson. Carmelo Anthony could muster just 10 as the Nuggets shot a mere 36 percent from the field.
Angels cool off Yankees
NEW YORK, April 28 (UPI) -- Jarrod Washburn survived into the eighth inning Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Angels downed the New York Yankees, 5-1.
Garret Anderson went three for four with a homer and three RBI while Steve Finley contributed a home run, boosting the Angels to their fifth win in seven games.
The Yankees failed to build on a one-sided victory over the Angels Tuesday night.
Washburn (1-0) allowed nine hits and walked two over 7 2/3, but he allowed only one run.
The Yankees lone score came on a home run by Alex Rodriguez, who had three homers and 10 RBI in Tuesday night's victory.
Finley's home run was a two-run shot that made it 3-0 in the fourth. Anderson contributed a two-run homer in the sixth.
NFL steroids hearing produces little fire
WASHINGTON, April 28 (UPI) -- NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue outlined the league's steroid policy Wednesday while members of Congress said anti-drug legislation for sports was needed.
A congressional committee listened to Tagliabue and NFL union chief Gene Upshaw in hearings that were far more low-key than the acrimonious appearance of baseball officials last month.
"Under our current program, more than 9,000 tests for steroids and other prohibited substances are conducted each year," Tagliabue said. He said mandatory tests were conducted on all players prior to each season and that unannounced tests were made on seven players from each team every week.
"The percentage of NFL players who test positive for steroids is very low," said California's Henry Waxman. "Is this because the policy is working or is this because players have figured out how to avoid detection?"
Waxman said he was working on legislation to create a drug policy for all of sports in the United States, although such legislation is given little chance of making it through Congress.
Pitching stars go on disabled list
BOSTON, April 28 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox announced Wednesday star pitcher Curt Schilling would go on the 15-day disabled list with a bone bruise on his right ankle.
In St. Louis, the Cardinals said closer Jason Isringhausen would also be put on the disabled list with an abdominal muscle strain.
And in San Francisco, the Giants said closer Armando Benitez could be lost for the season with torn tendons in his right hamstring.
Schilling has started three games this season and is 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA. He underwent surgery on the ailing ankle last autumn and it began hurting him again in a game last Saturday.
He won 21 games last season even though he was bothered by ankle soreness most of the season.
Isringhausen suffered his injury Tuesday night while pitching against Milwaukee.
The Giants said Benitez would be out for at least four months. He will have surgery to have the tendons reattached to the bone.
He signed a three-year deal this season worth a reported $21 million.
