Mackey holds lead in waning stages of Iditarod
Lance Mackey continues to lead the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, being the first to reach the wind-swept village of Shaktoolik, Alaska.
The reigning champion pulled into the checkpoint at 4:20 a.m. local time Monday and departed 37 minutes later for the 58-mile stretch to the next checkpoint at Koyuk
Shaktoolik is 171 miles from the finish in Nome.
Closest behind Mackey are Canadian musher Sebastian Schnuelle and four-time winner Jeff King. They both left the Unalakleet checkpoint at 3:15 a.m. Monday, followed six minutes later by veteran musher Aaron Burmeister.
Baseball
Venezuela in semifinals
Ramon Hernandez and his Venezuela teammates are headed to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.
Hernandez was correctly awarded a home run following a bungled replay review, and Venezuela beat Puerto Rico 2-0.
Puerto Rico lost for the first time in five WBC games and will face the United States tonight.
•Royals’ Pimental out: Kansas City Royals right-hander Julio Pimentel will be out at least six weeks with an elbow injury and possibly the season, if surgery is required.
The Royals say Pimentel has a non-displaced bone spur fracture in his pitching elbow.
•Astros, Rodriguez close to deal: Fourteen-time All-Star catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez was closing in on a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the talks told the Associated Press.
NBA
Blazers ground Grizzlies
LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points, eight rebounds and Brandon Roy finished with 20 points and nine assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 103-92 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn.
The Trail Blazers are trying to reach the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003. Portland entered the game in the sixth spot in the West.
•Thunder spoil Popovich’s 1,000th game: Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Thabo Sefolosha added 12 and the Thunder spoiled Gregg Popovich’s 1,000th game as San Antonio coach by beating the Spurs 78-76 in Oklahoma City.
•Bobcats keep playoff hopes alive: Gerald Wallace scored 25 points and the Bobcats began an important week for their playoff hopes by beating the Toronto Raptors 112-86 in Charlotte, N.C.
The Bobcats moved within one game of idle Milwaukee and Chicago in the crowded and jumbled race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
•Nets’ Williams arrested: New Jersey Nets forward Sean Williams was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and felony criminal mischief after an altercation at a cell phone store in a mall in suburban Lone Tree, Colo.
He wasn’t available to play against the Denver Nuggets.
•Fouls land Jackson suspension: The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Jackson has been suspended one game without pay by the NBA for receiving his 16th technical foul this season.
•Kings guard to have surgery: Sacramento Kings guard Bobby Jackson will undergo surgery to repair a broken cheekbone.
NHL
Thrashers storm Capitals
Kari Lehtonen made a career-high 49 saves, and Slava Kozlov and Tobias Enstrom each had a goal and an assist to help the Thrashers win a team-record sixth straight game, 5-1 over the Washington Capitals in Atlanta.
Lehtonen, who faced a career-high 50 shots, nearly earned his third shutout in five starts, but Eric Fehr spoiled the bid with 1:15 remaining when he swept in his 11th goal.
Football
Jaguars release Jones
The Jacksonville Jaguars waived receiver Matt Jones, parting ways with the former first-round draft pick just days after his latest arrest.
Jones was jailed last week in Arkansas for violating a plea agreement that stemmed from a drug charge in 2008.
Awaiting Stallworth report: Miami Beach police are awaiting the toxicology report for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth before releasing information into the investigation of his car accident that killed a Florida pedestrian Saturday morning.
Police spokesman Juan Sanchez said that the routine blood work had not made it to the lab for testing yet. Sanchez said results are expected to be released by the end of the week.
•Cutler skips team meeting: Jay Cutler was a no-show for coach Josh McDaniels’ first team meeting and the start of the Denver Broncos’ off-season workouts amid reports he’s asked to be traded.
•Panthers deny trade talks: The Carolina Panthers denied a report they’ve discussed trading four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers to the New England Patriots.
Soccer
Fan kills Iraqi player
Police say an Iraqi soccer player has been shot dead just as he was about to kick what could have been the tying goal in a weekend game south of Baghdad.
Police Maj. Muthanna Khalid says a striker from the Buhairat amateur team was facing only the goalie during a Sunday match in Hillah when a supporter of the rival Sinjar club shot him in the head in the final minute of play.
Sinjar was leading 1-0 when the shooting occurred. Khalid said a spectator was arrested.