In brief: James says Cavs have upper hand

NBA: LeBron James might stay home after all. James told CNN’s Larry King that the Cavaliers have an edge in re-signing him.

“This city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years,” James said, according to a transcript released by CNN. “And, you know, for me, it’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here. And – so it does have an edge.”

James will be the most sought-after free agent this summer when he opts out of the final year of his contract with the Cavs. The New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers are among the teams lining up to lure him away from his hometown. The Cavs, though, can offer James more money than any other team under NBA rules.

The interview, James’ first since the Cavs were eliminated, will air Friday night.

•Gasol told to skip worlds: Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol says he will not help Spain defend its title at the world basketball championships because doctors say he needs a rest.

Gasol says “present circumstances advise against my participation” in the championship in Turkey from Aug. 29-Sept. 12.

Jackson’s 32 helps Storm cruise to win

WNBA: Lauren Jackson scored a season-high 32 points and hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a decisive run to end the third quarter to help the Seattle Storm hand the visiting Atlanta Dream their first loss of the season, 90-72.

The Dream (6-1), now in its third year, had been the last unbeaten team in the league. The Storm (6-1) won their second straight to continue the best start in franchise history.

Jackson had just scored a season-high 27 on Sunday in an 84-56 win at San Antonio. On Tuesday, she hit 10 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 8 from behind the 3-point line. She also had 10 rebounds.

Angel McCoughtry, the league’s leading scorer at 24.0 points coming into the game, led the Dream with 16. But she shot just 7 of 24. Sancho Lyttle added 10 for Atlanta.

The Storm effectively put the game away with a 13-2 run that spanned the last 1:28 of the third quarter and the first 45 seconds of the fourth, stretching a 53-46 lead to 18. Atlanta never got closer than 12 points after that.

Flyers in familiar circumstances

NHL: Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the Philadelphia Flyers’ Stanley Cup championship hopes are in big trouble.

Concern has again enveloped the growing legion of hockey fans who have embraced the orange and black during this most unexpected roller-coaster ride through the NHL playoffs. While the City of Brotherly Love – with its fatalistic attitude toward its sports teams – is worried as the Flyers return following a pair of road losses to the Chicago Blackhawks, there seems to be no reason to panic.

After all, this team has been down and nearly all the way out several times along the way and still managed to survive and advance. And Games 3 and 4 will be played today and Friday in Philadelphia, where the Flyers are 7-1 in these playoffs.

Rachel Alexandra likely to run June 12

Horse racing: The owner of Rachel Alexandra says his Horse of the Year is likely to make her next start June 12, although which race has yet to be determined.

Majority owner Jess Jackson said in a news release that Rachel Alexandra is being considered for two races at Churchill Downs, one at Belmont Park and another at Delaware Park.

The 4-year-old filly is winless in two starts this year after rolling to an 8-0 record in 2009.

Gregorak to enter plea next month

College football: A UNLV assistant football coach accused of taking a strip club bouncer’s gun and wallet in Boulder is expected to enter a plea in the case on June 25 in Boulder, Colo.

Thirty-one-year-old Tyler Gregorak, a West Valley High School graduate, faces charges of criminal trespass and theft after his May 1 arrest. He was in Boulder County District court Tuesday.

Cowboys, Seminoles share first-round lead

Golf: After the first round of play at the NCAA Division I men’s golf championship at Chattanooga, Tenn., Arizona State’s Jesper Kennegard was off to an especially good start, shooting a 4-under-par 68, putting him in a first-place tie with Augusta State’s Henrik Norlander in the individual competition. Oklahoma State and Florida State shared the team lead at 5-under.

Washington shot a combined 1-over 289, good for ninth place.

Red Bull swaps crews for Mears, Speed

NASCAR: Red Bull Racing has swapped the crew chiefs and key team members for drivers Scott Speed and Casey Mears.

The swap comes two days after Mears and Speed finished 29th and 30th in the Coca-Cola 600.