In brief: Worlds next for Vonn after weekend sweep

Lindsey Vonn got a big confidence boost by sweeping the final two races before the World Championship.

Vonn completed a highly successful weekend Sunday at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, mastering a demanding course for her first Super-G win in two years after winning the slalom on Friday.

Her focus now turns to the worlds that start Tuesday in Val D’Isere, France.

•Italians finish 1-2; Miller sixth: Manfred Moelgg and Giorgio Rocca gave Italy a 1-2 finish in a men’s World Cup slalom at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Bode Miller of the United States, the defending overall World Cup champion, placed sixth in his second-best slalom finish of the season since being runner-up in the first race.

NBA

Celtics win 11th straight

Paul Pierce scored 36 points with eight rebounds and six assists, Ray Allen scored 22 and the Boston Celtics won their 11th straight game, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-101 at Boston while Kevin Garnett was out sick.

•Howard works Magic: Dwight Howard had 29 points and 14 rebounds, Jameer Nelson added 18 points and 10 assists, and the Orlando Magic never trailed in a 113-90 victory over the Raptors at Toronto.

•LeBron hangs 33 on Pistons: LeBron James scored 33 points and got some timely help from Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson in Cleveland’s 90-80 win over the Detroit Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

College Basketball

No. 1 Duke routs UVa

Gerald Henderson scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half to lead No. 1 Duke past Virginia 79-54 at Durham, N.C.

Nolan Smith added 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the first-place Blue Devils (19-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).

• No. 16 Texas women clip No. 4 Baylor: Kathleen Nash had 11 points and 10 rebounds and No. 16 Texas bounced back from consecutive blowout losses to beat No. 4 Baylor 58-55 at Waco, Texas.

•Ducks fans worried: Duck basketball fans want to know what they can afford in the University of Oregon’s $227 million arena scheduled to open in 2011.

The first people to be offered seats will be the athletic department’s highest rollers. It could be September or later before others get a look at possible seats.

NHL

Bruins own Montreal

Denis Wideman, Shawn Thornton and Marc Savard scored and Tim Thomas made 27 saves to lead the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 win over the Canadiens at Montreal.

•Ovechkin leads Capitals: Alex Ovechkin scored three goals for his seventh career hat trick and second of the season to lead the Capitals to a 7-4 win over the Ottawa Senators at Washington.

Ovechkin scored his goals in the first two periods, with Sergei Federov getting assists on each.

Golf

Perry wins FBR playoff

Kenny Perry finally finished off Charley Hoffman in a playoff, making a 22-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole in the FBR Open at Scottsdale, Ariz.

After Perry bogeyed the final hole of regulation to set up the playoff, the two bogeyed and parred the first two extra holes. Perry then rolled in the long putt on the 17th to end the second straight playoff in the event.

•Teen wins Dubai Desert Classic: Rory McIlroy, 19, shot a 2-under 70 for his first European Tour victory, a one-shot win over Justin Rose at the Dubai Desert Classic at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Tennis

Williams to No. 1

Serena Williams returned to No. 1 in the world rankings for the third time in her career following her Australian Open win, and Fernando Verdasco broke into the men’s top 10 for the first time after advancing to the semifinals.

No. 1 Rafael Nadal increased his lead over second-ranked Roger Federer after a five-set win over the Swiss star in the final.

Miscellany

Davis closes in on title

Olympic champion Shani Davis of the United States won a men’s speedskating 1,000-meter World Cup race at Erfurt, Germany, to close in on the title at the distance.

With one race remaining on the schedule and 100 points at stake, Davis has 690 points. His closest challenger, Denny Morrison of Canada, has 600 points.

•Mexico bids for World Cup soccer: Mexico has submitted a bid to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Decio de Maria, the secretary general of the Mexican Football Federation, said Mexico should have an edge as one of only four nations to have hosted the World Cup twice.