In brief: Rockets top Mavericks to advance
NBA: James Harden scored 28 points, Terrence Jones had 10 of his 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Houston Rockets beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 103-94 for their first playoff series victory since 2009.
Houston won the Western Conference series 4-1 to advance to face the winner of the Clippers-Spurs series in the second round.
The Rockets bounced back from a lackluster performance in a 121-109 loss in Game 4 to head to the West semifinals for the first time since Yao Ming starred for Houston.
Dwight Howard had 18 points and 19 rebounds to help the Rockets dominate inside and Josh Smith scored 20 points. The Mavericks couldn’t get going from long-range, going just 5 of 26 on 3-pointers.
• Spurs edge Clippers: Tim Duncan scored 12 of his 21 points in the second half, and DeAndre Jordan was called for basket interference with 4.3 seconds left as the San Antonio Spurs moved to the brink of the second round with a 111-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5.
Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points for the defending NBA champion Spurs, who took a 3-2 series lead.
Dolphins’ Jordan suspended for season
NFL: The Miami Dolphins and the NFL announced that defensive end Dion Jordan has been suspended for the 2015 season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
The news came two days before the start of the NFL draft, and will likely have at least some effect on the Dolphins’ strategy. Miami has the No. 14 selection in the first round.
Jordan would have earned about $5.6 million this season.
The Dolphins – then with Jeff Ireland as general manager – traded the No. 12 and No. 42 picks in the 2013 draft to Oakland in order to move up and select Jordan with the No. 3 overall selection.
Jordan was suspended for the first four games on the Dolphins’ schedule last season for violating the NFL’s drug policy, then had two more games tacked on after an additional violation was found.
• Vikings GM: No interest in trading Adrian Peterson: Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman says he has “no interest” in trading star running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, has been lobbying for the Vikings to trade his client, who is set to return after missing most of last season while dealing with child abuse charges in Texas.
Spielman reiterated the team’s long-held stance that it wants Peterson back in purple next season.
• Jets fined $100K by NFL for tampering: A person familiar with the situation says the New York Jets have been fined $100,000 by the NFL for tampering because of owner Woody Johnson’s comments in December about Darrelle Revis, then a member of the New England Patriots.
The Patriots filed a tampering charge against the Jets after Johnson said he’d “love to have Darrelle back.” The star cornerback re-signed with the Jets as a free agent a month later.
• Jones-Drew retires, heads to broadcast booth: Maurice Jones-Drew’s retirement will include time in the broadcast booth.
Jones-Drew signed a one-day contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, ceremoniously retiring with the team that drafted him in 2006 and ending a nine-year career that included 13,348 all-purpose yards and 81 touchdowns.
He has narrowed his broadcasting options to NFL Network and Fox Sports, both based near his California home.
Winterhawks down Rockets for 2-1 lead
WHL Playoffs: Adin Hill made 41 saves and Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals and two assists as the Portland Winterhawks downed the Kelowna Rockets 7-3 in Portland, Oregon, in Western Hockey League playoff action.
The Winterhawks now lead the best-of-seven Western Conference final 2-1. Game 4 is tonight in Portland.
• Hitmen slip past Brandon: Adam Tambellini scored twice – including 3:07 into overtime – as the Calgary Hitmen slipped past the Brandon Wheat Kings in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final in Calgary, Alberta.
Brendan Burke turned away 33of 34 shots for Calgary, which still trails the best-of-seven series 2-1.
Calgary hosts Game 4 tonight.