Underdogs steal show in series openers
NBA: Joe Johnson scored 34 points and the Atlanta Hawks beat Derrick Rose and the top-seeded Bulls 103-95 in Chicago on Monday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Hawks went on a 15-2 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to turn a 69-65 deficit into an 80-71 lead with 10:27 remaining.
Jeff Teague added 10 while starting at the point for the injured Kirk Hinrich.
Carlos Boozer added 14 points and eight rebounds for Chicago despite a turf toe injury on his right foot.
• Mavericks sneak past Lakers in Game 1: Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points and made two go-ahead free throws with 19.5 seconds left and the Dallas Mavericks rallied for a 96-94 victory over the Lakers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series in Los Angeles.
Nowitzki had 14 rebounds for the Mavericks, who dramatically rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half.
Bryant scored 21 of his 36 points in the final half, but he fell down while trying to get the ball from Pau Gasol with 5 seconds to play. After one free throw by Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant missed a 3-pointer.
Bruins take 2-0 series lead over Flyers
NHL: David Krejci scored 14:01 into overtime and the Boston Bruins beat the Flyers in Philadelphia 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Tim Thomas was phenomenal in net, stopping 46 straight shots after the Flyers took a quick 2-0 lead.
James van Riemsdyk had a breakout game for the Flyers. He scored two goals and was all over the ice trying to help the Flyers win at least one at home.
U.S. rallies to top Norway at worlds
Hockey: Nick Palmieri scored twice and the United States scored four third-period goals to beat Norway 4-2 in Kosice, Slovakia, and advance to the second round of the ice hockey world championship.
Norway took a 2-0 lead with goals 73 seconds apart from Ken Andre Climb and Anders Bastiansen in the first period.
Touchy subject calls for rule review
Golf: Webb Simpson called it a “bad rule.” He was penalized because the ball moved as he was addressing it on the green, costing him one stroke and perhaps his first PGA Tour victory in Bethesda, Md.
The U.S. Golf Association appears to agree. Vice president Thomas O’Toole said there will be talks to modify the rule, with any change taking place at the start of 2012.
“If some other agency – wind or gravity – is known to cause that ball to move, no penalty would be applied,” O’Toole said at the U.S. Open media day at Congressional Country Club.
Duerson brain damage revealed
Football: Dave Duerson, a former NFL player who committed suicide in February, had “moderately advanced” brain damage related to blows to the head, according to the researcher who made the diagnosis.
The findings were announced as part of an effort conducted by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University’s School of Medicine.
• Writers honor Rodgers and Ryan: The Pro Football Writers of America awarded Aaron Rodgers, who led Green Bay to the NFL title, with the Good Guy Award given to the player that best helped the media do their job.
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan was given the Horrigan Award as the non-player who most helped the media do their job in 2010.
• Oregon suspends Alonso: The University of Oregon has indefinitely suspended linebacker Kiko Alonso following his arrest on burglary and trespassing charges in Eugene, Ore.
Cardinals put Freese on disabled list
Baseball: Cardinals third baseman David Freese will have surgery on his broken left hand and is expected to miss nine to 12 weeks, his latest extended setback.
St. Louis also activated infielder-outfielder Allen Craig from the DL.
• Rangers’ minor-leaguer gets 50-game ban: Texas Rangers minor league right-hander Andrew Doyle, of Myrtle Beach in the Carolina League, has been suspended 50 games for a second drug violation.
The reliever spent a brief time with the Spokane Indians during the 2010 season, making two starts with a 2.08 ERA in 8 2/3 innings.
Power wins IndyCar’s Sao Paulo 300
Miscellany: Will Power of Australia won IndyCar’s Sao Paulo 300, a day after the race was postponed because of heavy rain on the streets of South America’s biggest city.
• Former elite runner dies at 28: Danny Kassap, a former world-class runner, died a day after withdrawing from the Sporting Life Toronto 10K because he was not feeling well. He was 28.
He died at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital, said Alan Brookes, director of the Canada Running Series. No cause was given.