Mackey wins Iditarod for third time in row

Make it three Iditarods in a row for Lance Mackey of Fairbanks, Alaska, who won his third straight title in the 1,100-mile trek across the Alaska wilderness Wednesday in the world’s most famous sled dog race. And it wasn’t even close.

Mackey slapped hands with fans along Nome’s Front Street. About a block from the finish line, he raised both arms in victory and rode that way into the chute at 11:38 a.m., hours ahead of his nearest competitors in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Immediately after winning, he gave treats to his dogs, calling them the “real heroes.”

“This never gets old,” he said at the finish line as he hugged two of his dogs.

“It’s pretty awesome. Pretty cool.”

Mackey commended his “little superstar Maple,” a 3-year-old female who was in the lead for much of the last part of the race. He hauled her and 9-year-old Larry, one of his traditional lead dogs, onto the stage with him.

Mackey became the third musher in the race’s 37-year history to win in three consecutive years, joining Susan Butcher (1986-88) and Doug Swingley (1999-01).

He finished about six hours ahead of the second- and third-place mushers, Sebastian Schnuelle of Canada and John Baker of Kotzebue, Alaska.

NBA

Celtics clinch division

Paul Pierce scored 36 points and the Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division title with a 112-108 victory in overtime at Boston against the Miami Heat, who played without NBA scoring leader Dwyane Wade.

Wade missed his first game of the season because of a right hip flexor.

•Richardson leads Suns: Jason Richardson scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half, and Shaquille O’Neal had 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to their third straight victory, 126-116 over the Philadelphia 76ers at Phoenix.

Steve Nash added 24 points and 10 assists to help the Suns move within four games of idle Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

•Rockets beat Pistons in 2 OTs: Yao Ming scored 31 points and Ron Artest added 26 to lead the Rockets to a 106-101 double-overtime win over the undermanned Detroit Pistons at Houston.

•Hornets sting Wolves: Chris Paul capped a 26-point, 10-assist, five-steal performance for the Hornets by setting up David West’s dunk with 12.6 seconds left to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-93 at New Orleans.

•Gallinari considers surgery: New York Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari has left the team to meet with specialists in Italy and is considering surgery on his ailing back.

NHL

Carolina ends skid

Anton Babchuk scored twice and Eric Staal added a goal as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Martin Brodeur-less New Jersey Devils 4-2 at Raleigh, N.C.

Carolina began a homestand by snapping a three-game losing streak – including two in shootouts – and ending the Devils’ four-game winning run.

•Blue Jackets best Blackhawks in OT: Antione Vermette took a pass from R.J. Umberger and scored 2:38 into overtime, giving the Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Columbus, Ohio.

•Flames beat Stars: Eric Nystrom scored the go-ahead goal with 8:14 left to lift the Flames to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars at Calgary, Alberta.

NFL

Replay rules reviewed

The NFL will look into changing instant replay rules in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the blown call by referee Ed Hochuli that helped cost San Diego a game last season.

The competition committee will propose at the league meetings next week in New York that when the ball comes loose when a quarterback is throwing, replay can be used to determine if it is a fumble or an incomplete pass.

•Stallworth grief stricken: Cleveland Browns receiver Donte Stallworth says he is “grief stricken” over his car accident that killed a pedestrian on a busy causeway linking Miami and Miami Beach.

•Lynch promises change: Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch expects to be suspended by the NFL for his latest run-in with the law and added he’s heard the message that the league “won’t tolerate any more screw-ups” from him.

•Buckhalter denies buying drugs: Correll Buckhalter, who signed with the Denver Broncos last month after eight seasons with Philadelphia, denies he was involved with an alleged drug dealer who is on trial in Pennsylvania, according to his agent.

Olympics

USOC lays off 54

The U.S. Olympic Committee laid off 54 employees as a key part of its plan to trim its budget by 5 percent to deal with rough economic times.

The layoffs equal 13 percent of the USOC work force and will come at every level, including senior management.

•Plushenko aims for Vancouver: Evgeni Plushenko is planning a comeback to defend his Olympic figure skating title at the Vancouver Games.

The three-time world champion, has not competed since his performances at Turin, Italy.

Baseball

Early Cubs sale not likely

The Chicago Cubs are likely to remain under the ownership of Tribune Co. through the early part of the season.

Cubs chairman Crane Kenney said it “will be a challenge” to complete the sale of the team by opening day on April 6.

•Indians pitcher faces surgery: Cleveland Indians reliever Adam Miller is facing career-threatening reconstructive finger surgery if he is unable to find a new way to pitch effectively.

Miscellany

Armstrong’s hair tested

Lance Armstrong has undergone hundreds of urine and blood tests throughout his cycling career. This time, he was in for a surprise – a hair sample test in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France.

Armstrong said it was the 24th anti-doping test he’s faced since he announced his return in September, and the first time he’s been asked to provide a sample of hair.

•Vancouver lands MLS franchise: Vancouver, British Columbia, was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise for the 2011 season, becoming the league’s second Canadian team.