Newsmakers

Out Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn ligament in his left knee. Powe has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus, coach Doc Rivers said after practice Tuesday. Powe, who is a free agent at the end of this season, will have surgery and spend the next 9-12 months recovering. With star Kevin Garnett already out with a strained right knee, the injury to another power forward hits the Celtics at a bad time. Boston beat Chicago 118-115 on Monday night to even their best-of-7 series at one game apiece.

Penalized NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears were penalized for intentionally bumping cars after Saturday night’s race at Phoenix International Raceway. NASCAR put both drivers on probation for the next six races, but neither was fined nor lost any points. It was an about-face from Saturday night, when officials said they would not punish the drivers for their postrace skirmish.

Pared Figure skating is downsizing the number of judges at the Vancouver Olympics. The International Skating Union decided to cut the number of judges for each Olympic event from 12 to nine, bringing them in line with panels at the world championships. The ISU pared the judging panels for worlds, the European championships, Four Continents and the Grand Prix final last fall in a cost-cutting measure.

Declared Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds declared for the NBA draft, but will not hire an agent and could return to the Wildcats for his senior season.