Trail Blazers win behind Batum’s 24

NBA: Nicolas Batum had 24 points and the new-look Portland Trail Blazers held off the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 97-93 on Thursday night.

Jamal Crawford had 17 points, including four clutch free throws in the final seconds for the Blazers, who snapped a two-game skid to even to 2-2 under interim head coach Kaleb Canales.

Marc Gasol’s layup narrowed it to 91-88 with 2:15 to go. Neither side could get a shot to fall as time wound down, but Wesley Matthews made free throws for Portland before Mike Conley’s 3-pointer kept the Grizzlies close at 93-91.

Crawford’s two free throws with 13 seconds left gave Portland some cushion, and after O.J. Mayo made a layup for the Grizzlies, Crawford added two more.

Rudy Gay missed a 3 at the buzzer for Memphis.

• Hornets spoil Paul’s return: Chris Kaman scored 20 points and the Hornets rallied for a 97-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, spoiling Chris Paul’s return to New Orleans.

Penguins clinch playoff spot

NHL: Evgeni Malkin scored twice, James Neal had four assists and the host Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff spot with a 5-1 victory over the Nashville Predators.

• Canucks win without Sedin: Cory Schneider made 25 saves and stopped a penalty shot, Mason Raymond scored early in the first period and the Vancouver Canucks beat the host Dallas Stars 2-1.

The Canucks were without Daniel Sedin, the team leader with 30 goals, who was sidelined indefinitely after taking an elbow to the head in a game on Wednesday.

49ers add receivers Manningham, Ginn

NFL: The San Francisco 49ers took another step to bolster their receiving corps by bringing back Ted Ginn Jr. on a one-year contract after finalizing a two-year deal with Mario Manningham.

Ginn has been a star returner in his two seasons with the 49ers, averaging 23.6 yards per kick return and 12.7 yards per punt return with three total touchdowns. He also had 31 catches for 383 yards and a TD.

• Broncos land Porter: The Denver Broncos agreed to terms with free-agent cornerback Tracy Porter. Porter spent his first four seasons in New Orleans, collecting seven interceptions, 37 pass deflections, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

• Michael Bush joins Bears: The Chicago Bears agreed to a four-year contract with running back Michael Bush. Bush will join Matt Forte, who got a franchise tag from the Bears, in Chicago’s backfield.

Bush had his most productive season in 2011, setting career highs in rushes (256), yards (977), touchdowns (7), receptions (37) and yards receiving (418) when he had nine starts.

• Senator calls hearing to examine bounties: The Senate wants to grill the NFL about bounties. And the NBA, NHL, NCAA and Major League Baseball are invited, too.

Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, is setting up a Judiciary Committee hearing about bounties in professional football and other major sports in the wake of news that New Orleans Saints players received extra cash for hits that hurt particular opponents.

Wi leads at Bay Hill; Woods three back

Golf: Charlie Wi hit an 8-iron over the water to 6 feet for birdie on the 18th for a 6-under 66, giving him a share of the lead with Jason Dufner in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla.

Tiger Woods, a six-time champion at Bay Hill, shot a 69.

• Two share LPGA lead: Top-ranked Yani Tseng shot a 5-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead with Ji Young Oh and Caroline Hedwall in the Kia Classic at Carlsbad, Calif. They lead by a stroke.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., opened with a 76.

WWU advances to Division II final

Men’s college basketball: Rory Blanche scored 16 points, leading Western Washington to a 71-66 victory over Stonehill (25-9) at Highland Heights, Ky., and a spot in its first NCAA Division II title game.

The Vikings (30-5) set a school record with their 30th win. They will play Montevallo on Saturday for the championship in Kentucky.

U.S. U-23 team downs Cuba at tournament

Soccer: Joe Corona scored three goals and the United States Under-23 team beat Cuba 6-0 at Nashville, Tenn., in the Americans’ opening game of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

The Americans will play Canada on Saturday night in the second of three games in the Group A round-robin tournament at LP Field, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.

Serena Williams wins in return to court

Miscellany: Serena Williams returned to tournament tennis after a two-month absence and beat Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3 at the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.

Aside from two Fed Cup victories in February, the match was the first for Williams since she lost in the fourth round at the Australian Open. She had been slowed by a left ankle injury.

• Morrison wins speedskating world 1,500 title: At Heerenveen, Netherlands, Denny Morrison of Canada won the 1,500-meter speedskating world title despite appearing to be hampered by Shani Davis of the United States.

Morrison had to hold back to prevent crashing into Davis as the skaters came out of the second bend but managed to retain enough speed to finish first in 1 minute, 46.44 seconds.

• Bernard fails to make London Games: Olympic champion Alain Bernard, 28, won’t get to defend his 100-meter freestyle title at the London Games after finishing fifth at the French swimming championships in Dunkirk.