Blazers secure sixth seed with victory
NBA: LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 11 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers locked up the sixth seed in the Western Conference with a 102-89 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night in Portland.
The Blazers, who won their third straight, will have to wait until the regular season’s final games tonight to learn their opponent for the first round of the playoffs.
Memphis, which played without starters Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, was still jockeying for seeding. The Grizzlies and New Orleans are wrestling between the final two spots with just one game to play apiece.
• Lakers win, but Bynum injured: Kobe Bryant scored 27 points and the Lakers snapped their five-game losing streak at a potentially high cost, losing center Andrew Bynum to a hyperextended right knee in a 102-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs’ role players in Los Angeles.
The Lakers’ hopes for a third straight NBA title might have taken a significant blow when Bynum fell to the court after stepping on DeJuan Blair’s foot during the second period. The shot-blocking 7-footer will have an MRI today while the Lakers wrap up the regular season at Sacramento.
Oilers to pick first for second straight year
NHL: The Edmonton Oilers will pick first overall in the NHL draft for a second straight year.
The New Jersey Devils won the draft lottery, but teams can’t move up more than four spots, leaving Edmonton with the first overall pick.
The Devils will pick fourth, the New York Islanders fifth and the Ottawa Senators were bumped down to the sixth spot, with Colorado and Florida falling in order at second and third, respectively.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels is expected to be taken No. 1 overall.
Jurors in Bonds case still without a verdict
MLB: The jurors weighing the Barry Bonds perjury case spent a third day deliberating without reaching a verdict in San Francisco.
After breaking briefly for lunch shortly after noon, jurors resumed deliberations in an attempt to reach a verdict on the four charges pending against Bonds. But the eight women and four men on the panel could not come to agreement.
The jury has now failed to decide the matter after deliberating all day Friday, Monday and Tuesday. Unlike the previous two court days, the jurors reheard no testimony.
• Hamilton breaks arm: Texas slugger Josh Hamilton is expected to miss six to eight weeks after breaking his upper right arm on a headfirst dive into home plate during the Rangers’ loss at Detroit, a daring dash the A.L. MVP later called “stupid.”
Hamilton tried to score from third on a foul popup near the Detroit dugout in the first inning. Third baseman Brandon Inge and catcher Victor Martinez both chased the ball, leaving the plate unprotected.
Inge made the catch, then tossed the ball to Martinez, who scampered back in time to tag Hamilton.
Beckham may return to Galaxy next season
Miscellany: David Beckham says there’s a chance he will return to Major League Soccer after this season.
Beckham’s five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy expires after this season. But the midfielder said that he may play another year in the league, and wants to be involved with the England team at the 2012 London Olympics.
Beckham and the Galaxy will play Toronto FC today at Toronto. The 35-year-old Beckham last played at BMO Field in the 2008 MLS all-star game.
• NCAA to investigate San Diego gambling ring: The NCAA plans to conduct its own investigation into an alleged gambling ring at the University of San Diego but will wait until the FBI completes its work.
The accused include Brandon Johnson, the school’s career scoring leader who is now playing in the NBA’s Developmental League, former assistant coach Thaddeus Brown and ex-player Brandon Dowdy.
Federal authorities have charged them with running a sports betting business to affect the outcome of games.
• Uncle Mo’s exam looks good: Kentucky Derby contender Uncle Mo had a thorough physical exam after a disappointing run in the Wood Memorial, and trainer Todd Pletcher said that the 3-year-old colt came out fine.
Pletcher said in a statement that Uncle Mo had blood work, an ultrasound of internal organs and other exams and the full results will be known by Thursday.
Uncle Mo was unbeaten heading into the Wood Memorial, where he was passed by Toby’s Corner and Arthur’s Tale in the stretch at Aqueduct to finish third.