LA Lakers continue drive toward another NBA crown
LOS ANGELES, May 5 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the leaders of the Los Angeles Lakers, played through injuries Sunday and rallied their team to an 86-80 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, who wasted a great chance to steal Game One of their Western Conference semifinal series.
O'Neal wore a pair of gold wristbands, with the right one protecting four stitches he needed following what the Lakers would only describe as a "household incident" earlier Sunday.
His problems were compounded early in the third quarter, when he gashed his right index finger on the rim and missed nearly a period, taking another three stitches.
As O'Neal returned in the fourth quarter, Bryant headed to the locker room after banging his right knee on the previous possession. He returned wearing a wrap around the knee with 4:36 to go as O'Neal made two free throws, giving the Lakers the lead for good at 73-71.
O'Neal had 23 points and 17 rebounds, overcoming 9-of-22 shooting. Bryant scored 20 points despite making a Shaq-like 4-of-10 free throws.
Game Two of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday at Los Angeles.
Kidd leads Nets over Hornets
EAST RUTHERFRORD, N.J., May 5 (UPI) -- Jason Kidd once again took over down the stretch, hitting three pivotal baskets in the final three minutes to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 99-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets in the opener of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series Sunday.
A leading candidate for NBA Most Valuable Player honors, Kidd helped the Nets advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 1984 with a career playoff-high 31 points in the decisive Game Five double-overtime win over Indiana Thursday.
He scored 20 of those points after the third quarter and outdueled Reggie Miller, who also scored 31 points and tied the game in regulation with a 39-foot bank shot but missed all four of his shot attempts in the second overtime.
Game Two is Tuesday at New Jersey.
The Pistons beat the Celtics
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 5 (UPI) -- Michael Curry scored 15 points and was part of a record-setting 3-point attack Sunday as the Detroit Pistons handled the Boston Celtics, 96-84, in Game One of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The 6-6 swingman established a playoff career high and made three 3-pointers Sunday. Two of them came in the third quarter, when the Pistons broke open the game and built a 16-point lead.
Curry's long-distance shooting was infectious as Detroit set a franchise playoff mark with 12 3-pointers in 25 attempts. Cliff Robinson tied a club record with six and scored 30 points and Jerry Stackhouse had a terrific all-around game with 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
The offensive outburst was unexpected from Curry, who has carved a niche for himself with defense and leadership. Those abilities got him matched up with Paul Pierce, Boston's All-Star swingman who scored a career-high 46 points Friday in dispatching Philadelphia. Curry limited Pierce to 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting. After making eight 3-pointers Friday, Pierce was 0-of-3 from the arc.
Game Two of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday in Detroit.
Clijsters upsets Williams in Hamburg final
HAMBURG, Germany, May 5 (UPI) -- Kim Clijsters claimed her seventh career title Sunday, upsetting top-seeded Venus Williams in the $585,000 Betty Barclay Cup.
Second-seeded Clijsters, of Belgium, denied Williams her fifth title of the year, rallying from one set down to post a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. The match lasted one hour, 52 minutes.
The 18-year-old Clijsters, who has struggled with injuries this year, also avenged a straight-set loss to Williams in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open.
Earlier this year, Clijsters withdrew in Memphis and Scottsdale due to a leg injury. Three weeks ago at Amelia Island she advanced to the semifinals but retired in the second set against Justine Henin with a stomach virus.
Rachels defeats Quigley in playoff
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 5 (UPI) -- Sammy Rachels birdied the second playoff hole Sunday at the Bruno's Memorial Classic to defeat Dana Quigley and win his third Senior PGA Tour title in a year.
Quigley was appearing in his Senior Tour-record 178th straight event, but he missed a birdie putt on the first playoff hole at Greystone Golf and Country Club and failed to earn his second win of the year.
Rachels made his putt to secure his third title in 38 Senior Tour starts. He won twice as a rookie in 2001.
Quigley broke the iron man record set by Mike McCullough, whose run ended at last year's SAS Championship. During the streak, which began at the BankBoston Classic in August 1997, Quigley has six wins and 75 top-10 finishes.
Stewart wins NASCAR Pontiac Excitement
RICHMOND, Va., May 5 (UPI) -- Tony Stewart successfully defended his title at Richmond International Raceway by taking the checkered flag in Sunday's NASCAR Pontiac Excitement 400.
The race resumed at noon EDT after it was suspended by heavy rain Saturday night.
Stewart gained the lead from rookie Ryan Newman with 28 laps remaining and drove his Pontiac Grand Prix to Victory Lane for the third time in his career at the ¾-mile oval. Newman tried to regain the lead over several laps of close racing but settled for second in a Ford Taurus.
It was an accident-filled 400 laps over two days, with a record-tying 14 cautions. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Mark Martin--both in Fords. Jeremy Mayfield made his way to the front pack in the late stages and rounded out the top five in a Dodge Intrepid. Drivers managed to finish just 66 laps Saturday night.
Choi wins first PGA Tour title
NEW ORLEANS, May 5 (UPI) -- K.J. Choi became the first South Korean to win on the PGA Tour Sunday as he ran away in impressive style at the Compaq Classic.
Choi carded a 5-under-par 67, using an eye-popping series of shots on the back nine at the English Turn Golf and Country Club to break away from a field that included a handful of the world's best players.
A former powerlifter who took up the game at the age of 16, Choi won for the first time in 74 PGA Tour starts. He had never placed better than fourth but was coming off consecutive top-10 finishes.
Choi, who turns 32 in two weeks, led over the final three rounds, finishing with a 72-hole total of 17-under 271 -- four shots better than Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and Dudley Hart.
Choi had at least a share of the lead throughout the final round, holding off a chase group that included Chris DiMarco, David Toms and Phil Mickelson--all of whom began the week 11th or better in the World Golf Rankings.
Inkster wins rain-shortened event
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga., May 5 (UPI) -- LPGA Hall of Famer Juli Inkster gave herself an early Mother's Day present Sunday, shooting a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 for a two-stroke victory at the rain-abbreviated Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.
Inkster began the round two shots behind leader Kelly Robbins but had an eagle and four birdies at the Eagle's Landing Country Club to reach 12-under 132.
The tournament was reduced from 54 to 36 holes on Saturday due to rain.
After completing her second straight round with an eagle at the short par-5 18th, Inkster was greeted by both of her daughters--the reasons she has reduced her schedule the past three years.
Inkster claimed her 27th LPGA Tour title and the $187,500 top prize to move into third place on this year's LPGA money list with over $300,000. She won just once last season, her 19th on tour.
