Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Nets hold on, oust Raptors in Game 7

Nets’ Paul Pierce (34) celebrates with teammate Andray Blatche after a game- and series-clinching block on Toronto’s Kyle Lowry. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

NBA: Paul Pierce blocked Kyle Lowry’s shot from the lane on the final play of the game, and the visiting Brooklyn Nets held off the Toronto Raptors 104-103 in Game 7 on Sunday to advance to the second round of the playoffs.

The Nets will begin the conference semifinals at Miami on Tuesday night to play the two-time defending NBA champion Heat.

Leading by one point, Brooklyn used its final timeout after failing to inbound the ball. On the second opportunity, Livingston tried a lob pass to Pierce but Terrence Ross got a hand on the ball, then knocked it off Pierce and out of bounds for a turnover.

Toronto used a timeout and gave the ball to Lowry, whose driving shot was blocked by Pierce as time expired.

• Spurs rout Mavs, advance: Tony Parker scored 32 points and the San Antonio Spurs led by as many as 31 on their way to 119-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, closing out a tense first-round series in seven games.

Manu Ginobili scored 20 points, Danny Green added 16 points and Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard had 15 points apiece for San Antonio. The Spurs advance to face the fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who upset the Houston Rockets in a six-game series.

Dirk Nowitzki had 22 points and nine rebounds for Dallas.

Blackhawks take 2-0 series lead on Wild

NHL: Bryan Bickell had a goal and two assists, and the host Chicago Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 4-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Brandon Saad scored his first two goals of the postseason, and Chicago earned its sixth consecutive win despite stretches of lackluster play in the second and third periods. Corey Crawford made 18 saves in another solid performance.

Cody McCormick scored his second career playoff goal, but Minnesota missed another chance to steal home-ice advantage from the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Penguins even series: Kris Letang broke a scoreless tie in the second period and Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves for his seventh playoff shutout to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-0 victory over the visiting New York Rangers, tying the second-round series at one game apiece.

Letang’s 15th career postseason goal matched Larry Murphy’s record for Penguins defensemen. Jussi Jokinen scored during a third-period power play, and Evgeni Malkin added an empty-net goal for the Penguins, who managed a home split in the first two games with the suddenly weary Rangers.

Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves for New York, but the Rangers mustered little offense while playing their fourth game in six days.

Florida State’s Winston reinstated

MISCELLANY: Jameis Winston has been reinstated to Florida State’s baseball team after being suspended following a shoplifting incident. The Heisman Trophy winner was issued a civil citation and entered a program that required 20 hours of community service.

The 20-year-old two-sport star is the closer on the baseball team and missed the three-game series against Minnesota this weekend. He was issued the citation last Tuesday after he walked out of a supermarket without paying for $32 worth of crab legs and crawfish. Baseball coach Mike Martin conferred with football coach Jimbo Fisher and decided to suspend Winston until he completed the community service.

Klizan beats Fognini in BMW final: Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan defeated top-seeded Fabio Fognini 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the BMW Open tennis final in Munich for his second ATP World Tour title.

Klizan left center court briefly due to apparent stomach problems in the first set, but he rallied despite appearing to labor with continued difficulties to win in just under 90 minutes. He is the first qualifier to win an ATP World Tour title since Nicolas Mahut won the Topshelf Open in the Netherlands in June.

Berlocq claims Portugal title: Carlos Berlocq stormed back to beat top-seeded Tomas Berdych 0-6, 7-5, 6-1 and win tennis’ Portugal Open in Oerias for his second career title.

The Argentine shook off his poor start to prevail in the 2-hour match on outdoor clay by converting seven of his 10 break points.

Froome earns Romandie victory: Chris Froome won the final time trial stage at the Tour of Romandie to take the overall victory in the Tour De France warm-up race in Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Froome started Sunday’s 18.5-kilometer (11.5-mile) stage trailing leader Simon Spilak by a second but finished in 24 minutes, 51 seconds to beat the Slovakian by 29 seconds.

Marquez wins Spain MotoGP: Marc Marquez brushed off Valentino Rossi’s early challenge before riding to his fourth win in as many races this season at the Spain MotoGP in Jerez, Spain.

The defending world champion, who set a track record in qualifying at the Jerez Circuit on Saturday, pushed through the 4.42-kilometer (2.74-mile) track to claim his 10th career title in the top category.