McDyess, Spurs beat Lakers at buzzer with tip

NBA: Antonio McDyess tipped in Tim Duncan’s missed jump shot right before the buzzer, and the San Antonio Spurs survived the host Los Angeles Lakers’ late rally for an 89-88 victory Thursday night.

San Antonio nursed a small lead through most of the second half until Pau Gasol’s free throws with 22.7 seconds left put the Lakers ahead.

Manu Ginobili missed an open 3-pointer and Tony Parker missed a floater in the lane on the Spurs’ final possession, but San Antonio got both rebounds. Duncan’s shot after an inbounds play then bounced high off the back rim, but McDyess slipped inside to tip it home.

• James scores 51 as Heat slip by Magic: LeBron James had 51 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, including a 23-point first quarter, to lead Miami to a 104-100 victory over Orlando in Orlando, Fla.

The Heat led by as many as 23 points. Jameer Nelson led Orlando with 22 points. Dwight Howard had 17 points and 16 rebounds.

• Griffin, four Celtics picked as All-Star reserves: Blake Griffin is going to his first All- Star game, and Kevin Garnett and four Boston Celtics headed for the midseason event.

Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will accompany Garnett on the Eastern Conference’s team, along with Miami’s Chris Bosh and Atlanta’s Joe Johnson and Al Horford.

Joining Griffin for the Western Conference: Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili of the NBA- leading Spurs; forwards Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and Pau Gasol of the Lakers; and guards Deron Williams of Utah and Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City.

Flyers ride Leino’s big night, slip past Preds

NHL: Ville Leino scored two goals, including the winner late in the third period, to lift the host Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators.

Leino’s second goal came with 3:16 left in the game. He went 360 degrees in front of the net to avoid sliding Nashville forward Martin Erat and beat goalie Anders Lindback with a backhand on the high glove side for the winner.

• Bruins outslug Stars for victory: Patrice Bergeron had two goals and an assist to lift the host Boston Bruins to a fight-filled 6-3 victory over the Dallas Stars.

Mark Recchi added three assists and Tuukka Rask made 30 saves and won for the third time since Dec. 9. Boston won for the sixth time in its past eight games.

Falcons sign coach Smith to extension

NFL: The Atlanta Falcons signed coach Mike Smith to a three-year contract extension after he led the team to the NFC South title. The deal locks up Smith through 2014.

Smith has a cumulative record of 33-15, easily the best three-year coaching mark in franchise history. The only blemish on his resume is a 0-2 mark in the playoffs.

• Jets QB Sanchez won’t need surgery on shoulder: Mark Sanchez won’t need surgery on his injured right shoulder.

After a second negative MRI, the New York Jets’ quarterback said doctors told him rest and mild rehabilitation would be enough to return the shoulder to full strength next season.

• Jay Gruden to lead Bengals offense: The Cincinnati Bengals hired Arena Football League veteran Jay Gruden as their offensive coordinator.

The 43-year-old Gruden – the younger brother of former NFL coach Jon Gruden – will replace Bob Bratkowski, who was fired Monday.

• Chiefs name Muir as offensive coordinator: The Kansas City Chiefs named offensive line coach Bill Muir as offensive coordinator to replace Charlie Weis, who was in Kansas City one season before leaving to become offensive coordinator for the University of Florida.

Ramirez, White Sox finalize extension

MLB: Alexei Ramirez and the Chicago White Sox finalized a contract that adds $32.5 million over four years through 2015.

Chicago exercised Ramirez’s $2.75 million option for 2011 in December. The White Sox have a $10 million option for 2016 with a $1 million buyout.

In three seasons with the White Sox, the native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, has batted .283 with 54 homers and 215 RBIs.

• Pettitte to announce retirement today: The New York Yankees have scheduled a morning news conference today at Yankee Stadium for starting pitcher Andy Pettitte to announce his decision to retire.

A five-time World Series champion and the third-winningest pitcher in team history, Pettitte became a free agent after the World Series.

• Orioles sign Hendrickson to minor league deal: Mark Hendrickson (Washington State University) and the Orioles agreed to terms on a minor league deal, giving the left-hander a chance to rejoin Baltimore’s staff after the team declined its option on his contract in November.

Four tied for lead in chilly Phoenix Open

Miscellany: Bill Haas, Jason Bohn, Tom Gillis and Tom Lehman shot 6-under-par 65s in chilly conditions to share the lead in the suspended first round of the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The start of play was delayed four hours because of heavy frost at TPC Scottsdale and only the scheduled morning starters completed the round.

Alex Prugh (Ferris, UW) shot a 1-under 70 to finish five shots behind the leaders.

• Iowa hospital will fire 3 workers over player records: The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics will fire three employees and suspend two others after an investigation confirmed they inappropriately breached the electronic medical records of hospitalized football players, a spokesman said.

The Iowa City, Iowa, hospital launched an investigation last week after acknowledging the medical records of the 13 Iowa football players who were hospitalized with a rare muscle disorder may have been inappropriately accessed.

• Schlopy earns inaugural slopestyle ski World title: After winning the Big Air competition at the Winter X Games last weekend, Alex Schlopy headed home to Park City, Utah, in search of a bigger prize.

The American won gold in the inaugural men’s slopestyle skiing finals at the Freestyle World Ski Championships, scoring 41.80 to edge Winter X Games gold medalist Sam Carlson (41.50) for the slopestyle world title.