Heat end Pacers’ season behind Wade
NBA: Dwyane Wade scored 41 points, LeBron James added 28 and Miami finished off the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, sending the Heat back to the Eastern Conference finals with a 105-93 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night.
Miami wrapped up the best-of-7 series and will face either Boston or Philadelphia in the next round starting Monday. Nothing less than an NBA title will make for a satisfying summer in South Beach.
Two series down, two to go.
The Heat rallied from an early 11-point deficit, riding the hot hand of Wade in the opening half. He scored 26 points by the break.
• James, Bryant lead All-NBA team: LeBron James was the leading vote-getter for the All-NBA team, while Kobe Bryant earned his 10th first-team selection, tied for second on the career list.
James, who won his third MVP award, received 118 of a possible 120 first-team votes from a panel of writers and broadcasters. Joining him on the first team were scoring champion Kevin Durant, Clippers point guard Chris Paul and Magic center Dwight Howard.
• Bobcats to interview Sloan: A person familiar with the situation says the Charlotte Bobcats will interview Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan today for their vacant head coaching position.
The 70-year-old Sloan spent 23 seasons with the Utah Jazz before resigning in February 2011. He hasn’t coached since then.
The Bobcats finished the season 7-59, the worst record in NBA history.
Smith says collusion claims based on fact
NFL: NFL players union chief DeMaurice Smith says his group’s claim of collusion will stand up in court.
The NFL Players Association claimed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota on Wednesday that the 32 teams had a secret salary cap in place during the uncapped 2010 season, and that it cost players at least $1 billionin wages.
On Wednesday, hours after the court action, the NFL issued a statement saying “the union’s claims have absolutely no merit and we fully expect them to be dismissed.”
The complaint claims that “conspiracy” set a $123 million salary cap for the 2010 season, when owners did not have the authority to do so.
According to the league, the CBA signed last August to end the 4 1/2 month lockout had clauses precluding the union from filing such a complaint. But NFLPA outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler disputed that, saying a portion of those clauses was rejected by the court.
Chapman has early lead at Senior PGA
Golf: After playing only one event on the European Senior Tour, Roger Chapman showed up at the Senior PGA Championship in fine form.
Chapman shot a 3-under 68 in Benton Harbor, Mich., to take the early lead at Harbor Shores. Chapman tied for 16th this month in the Mallorca Open – and that’s about all he’s done this season. Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett finished with a 73.
• Johnson has first-round lead at Colonial: Zach Johnson shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 in Fort Worth, Texas, to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Colonial.
• Alabama takes lead into final round: Alabama’s double-digit lead dwindled on the back nine, and the Crimson Tide finished with a two-stroke lead over Southern California after the third round of the NCAA Division I women’s championship in Franklin, Tenn.
Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil shot a 2-under 70 for a share of the individual lead with Arizona State’s Giulia Molinaro at 4-under 212. Molinaro had a 72.
Former Idaho Vandal breaks collarbone
Miscellany: Tara Whitten led a Canadian sweep of the first three spots in the Exergy Tour prologue after American gold medalist Kristin Armstrong fell and broke her left collarbone during the two-mile stage.
Former Idaho Vandal Armstrong, from Boise, finished about 10 seconds behind Whitten. The American was crying and holding her left shoulder after she climbed off her bicycle. Her husband, Joe Savola, said she would have surgery Thursday night, and hasn’t ruled out competing in the London Olympics, if she’s chosen for the team.
• Guardini wins stage; Rodriguez in lead: Andrea Guardini edged out favorite Mark Cavendish in a bunch sprint to win the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race as Joaquin Rodriguez kept his grip on the overall lead in Vedelago, Italy.
Rodriguez maintained his 30-second lead over Ryder Hesjedal in the overall standings.
• Almirola takes first pole at Coca-Cola 600: Aric Almirola took the pole for the Coca-Cola 600 with a lap of 192.940 mph in Concord, N.C., giving Richard Petty Motorsports a front-row sweep at Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s longest race.
• Texas-Arlington to join Sun Belt: The University of Texas at Arlington will begin competing in the Sun Belt Conference, effective in July .