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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

New Orleans needs final-game win over San Antonio to make NBA playoffs

Anthony Davis of New Orleans dunks against Minnesota in the Pelicans’ win that kept them in control of their own destiny. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

NBA: Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans have been fighting for their playoff lives for more than a month.

After dispatching the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on Monday night, they have one round left. Against the defending champions, no less.

Davis had 24 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks to move the Pelicans one step closer to a playoff berth with a 100-88 victory over the Timberwolves.

Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon scored 22 points apiece for the Pelicans. Their magic number for clinching a playoff spot in the rugged Western Conference has been reduced to one. They have the same record as Oklahoma City, but hold the tiebreaker heading into the season finale Wednesday against San Antonio.

“Honestly, we thought we’d be in the playoffs. We had injuries and close games, but we wouldn’t want it no other way,” Davis said. “We’ve fought through adversity since I’ve been here. It’s just another test for us, and I think we’ll be able to handle it.”

Zach LaVine had 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Timberwolves, who were down to six healthy players at the end of the game. After the New York Knicks beat Atlanta on Monday night, the Wolves now have the worst record.

Thunder stay alive: Russell Westbrook scored 36 points, and Oklahoma City beat visiting Portland 101-90 to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Westbrook picked up his 16th technical at Indiana on Sunday, which would have been an automatic one-game suspension. It was rescinded on Monday morning, allowing him to play in a critical game for the Thunder.

Bulls earn home court: Nikola Mirotic scored 26 points, Pau Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and visiting Chicago clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 113-86 victory over Brooklyn.

The Nets fell into ninth place in the Eastern Conference and will need a win Wednesday and a loss by Indiana in at least one of its final two games to reach the postseason. Idle Boston clinched a playoff spot.

Heat remain alive: In Miami, Hassan Whiteside tied a career high with 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, Dwyane Wade scored 22 points and the Heat kept their playoff hopes alive with a 100-93 win over Orlando.

The Heat still need a win at Philadelphia on Wednesday and help in three other games.

Thorn retiring: Rod Thorn says he will retire as NBA president of basketball operations in August. The 73-year-old Thorn is in his second stint at the league office. He said the plan was always to stay two years during the transition from David Stern to Adam Silver as commissioner.

Among his duties was to serve as the league’s main disciplinarian. He said his job likely will be filled by senior vice president Kiki Vandeweghe.

William & Mary erases Sharper from Hall

FOOTBALL: William & Mary has removed former Tribe and NFL safety Darren Sharper from the school’s Hall of Fame.

The former safety for the Tribe was enshrined in 2008. He ended a 14-year NFL career in 2011. He was working as an NFL network analyst when women began telling police in several cities similar stories of blacking out while drinking with him and waking up groggy to find they had been sexually abused.

Sharper eventually pleaded guilty or no contest to raping or attempting to rape nine women in four states.

Crabtree to Raiders: The Oakland Raiders have agreed to a deal with free agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Dolphins extend Pouncey: Mike Pouncey has signed five-year contract extension, a new deal that will pay him $45 million, with $22 million guaranteed. The deal makes Pouncey the highest-paid center in the league.

No verdict: The jury deciding whether to find former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez guilty of murder has completed its fifth day of deliberations with no verdict. Jurors have spent more than 27 hours deliberating since last week. They are due to resume deliberations this morning. Jurors must reach a unanimous verdict.

Golden Bears land top recruit Rabb

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Heralded power forward Ivan Rabb has committed to play next season at California.

Rabb announced on Twitter that he will sign a letter of intent with the Golden Bears. Rabb is ranked the sixth-best recruit in the country by ESPN and is Cal’s most high-profile signee since coach Cuonzo Martin took over last April.

Virginia’s Anderson leaving; Kansas keeps Ellis: Justin Anderson, a 6-foot-6 guard, is forgoing his final season at Virginia and entering the NBA draft. Perry Ellis, a 6-8 forward, says he will return to Kansas for his senior season.

Phelps enters five events in return

MISCELLANY: Michael Phelps is entered in five events in his first meet since returning from a six-month suspension.

The 18-time Olympic champion will compete in the Arena Pro Swim Series meet in Mesa, Arizona, that begins Wednesday.The Mesa meet was the first one Phelps swam in after coming out of a 20-month retirement last year.

Oilers keep Yakupov: Nail Yakupov has signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers.

The 21-year-old Russian winger has come under criticism for not producing as much as expected early in his NHL career. The No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft has 42 goals and 46 assists for 88 points in 192 games and had a league-worst minus-35 rating this season.