Magic jump on weary Celtics, hold on for 95-90 victory in Game 1 of Eastern semis

BOSTON — Dwight Howard returned from his one-game suspension to get 16 points and 22 rebounds Monday night and help the Orlando Magic hold off the late-charging Boston Celtics 95-90 in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Centennial celebration: First and foremost about racing, Indy’s impact has gone beyond the 500

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Motor Speedway has made the reputation of racing greats: A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, the Unser family.

Election of new mayor in Tuesday’s runoff should restore some stability to Detroit City Hall

DETROIT — Voters head to the polls Tuesday to select their mayor for the next 7 1/2 months in a runoff election seen as key to restoring stability to Detroit amid a bleak fiscal situation.

Hometown Hero: LeBron James remembers the journey as first Cavalier to win NBA’s MVP award

AKRON, Ohio — On one of the biggest days of his life, LeBron James took the long way home. Once inside his hometown’s city limits, James pulled his high-powered Ferrari off I-77 and drove the back roads to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater.

NBA fines Nuggets’ Kenyon Martin $25,000 for throwing Nowitzki to the floor in Game 1

DENVER — Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin was fined $25,000 by the NBA for knocking Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki to the court in the opener of their second-round playoff series.

NBA approved for renewal of leaguewide credit facility

NEW YORK — Lenders have renewed the NBA’s league-wide credit facility, from which 17 of its teams have borrowed $2 billion since it was established in 2003.

Chosen One: Cavaliers’ LeBron James captures NBA’s MVP, first Cleveland player to win award

AKRON, Ohio — LeBron James is the NBA’s Chosen One.

Person with familiar with choice tells AP that Cavaliers’ LeBron James is NBA’s MVP

CLEVELAND — Unstoppable at both ends of the floor this season, LeBron James is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a team-record 66 regular-season wins and the top overall seed in the playoffs, will receive the award Monday, a person with knowledge of the choice told The Associated Press. James chose Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater, for the presentation, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made.

Nuggets star Chauncey Billups introduced at Game 1 by Hall of Fame QB John Elway

DENVER — Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups was introduced Sunday before Denver’s win over Dallas by one of his childhood heroes, Hall of Famer John Elway.

Person with familiar with choice says Cavs’ LeBron James is NBA’s MVP

CLEVELAND — Unstoppable at both ends of the floor this season, Cleveland superstar LeBron James is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.

Source says Cleveland’s LeBron James has won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award

CLEVELAND — A person with knowledge of the choice tells The Associated Press that Cleveland’s LeBron James has won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.

Person with familiar with choice says Cavs’ LeBron James is NBA’s MVP

CLEVELAND — A person with knowledge of the choice tells The Associated Press that Cleveland’s LeBron James has won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.

Joe Johnson scores 27 as Hawks blowout Heat 91-78 in Game 7 to advance to face Cavaliers

ATLANTA — The final blowout went to Atlanta, so it’s the Hawks who’ll get a shot at LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sore throat not expected to slow Bryant when Lakers open series vs. Artest, Rockets

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant missed practice Sunday because of a sore throat, which raised few worries among the Los Angeles Lakers.

Atlanta advances to next playoff round with one final blowout 91-78, Hawks to face King James

ATLANTA — The final blowout went to Atlanta, so it’s the Hawks who’ll get a shot at LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Denver Nuggets’ Mark Warkentien selected as NBA executive of the year

DENVER — Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien has been named the NBA’s executive of the year.

Obamas step out on first ‘date’ since becoming president

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle went to a posh restaurant Saturday night in what was described as their first date since moving into the White House Jan 20.

Saturday’s NBA Playoff Box

Salmons 3-12 5-6 12, Ty.Thomas 2-4 0-0 4, Noah 1-2 5-5 7, Rose 9-18 0-0 18, Gordon 7-23 15-15 33, Miller 3-8 3-4 9, Hinrich 5-10 4-6 16, Hunter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-77 32-36 99.

From Odyssey to oddity: Celtics don’t need OT to beat Bulls 109-99 and reach second round

BOSTON — After a record-setting seven overtimes in the first six games, the Celtics made an early night of it with a dominating stretch in the second. That’s second quarter, not second OT. Ray Allen followed his 51-point Game 6 performance with 23 on Saturday night, Paul Pierce added 20 and Boston pulled away from Chicago just before the half to finish the Bulls off 109-99 — a rare regulation victory in what might have been be the best first-round playoff series in NBA history.

From Odyssey to oddity: Celtics don’t need overtime to beat Bulls 109-99 and reach 2d round

BOSTON — After a record-setting seven overtimes in the first six games, the Celtics made an early night of it with a dominating stretch in the second.

Friday’s NBA Playoff Box

Evans 2-9 0-0 5, Smith 3-13 1-3 7, S.Jones 3-4 0-0 6, Bibby 6-12 5-6 20, Johnson 6-14 0-1 13, Murray 4-13 3-4 13, Pachulia 2-4 2-4 6, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, West 1-3 0-0 2, Law 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-73 11-18 72.

Unrestricted free agents Miller, Ratliff no-show final 76ers’ team meeting

PHILADELPHIA — Andre Miller’s ironman streak for the Philadelphia 76ers does not extend to team meetings.

NBA says no further penalty for Rondo after skirmish with Hinrich

NEW YORK — The NBA has decided not to take any additional action against Rajon Rondo for his skirmish with Kirk Hinrich in Game 6.

Utah Jazz cancel Rocky Mountain Revue summer league

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz have canceled this year’s Rocky Mountain Revue summer league.

Marathon Men: Bulls outlast Celtics 128-127 in triple overtime to force Game 7 in Boston

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose scored 28 points and blocked Rajon Rondo’s potential game-winner, John Salmons scored 35, and the Chicago Bulls beat the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 128-127 in triple overtime Thursday night to even the first-round series.

Jackie Chan, Yao Ming appointed ambassadors for Shanghai Expo

SHANGHAI - Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan and NBA star Yao Ming have been appointed promotion ambassadors for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo on Thursday.

NCAA hopes new draft rule takes guessing game out of coaches’ offseason repertoire

INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA is trying to end the continual guessing game for college basketball coaches.

Artest scores 27 and Rockets end long playoff drought with 92-76 Game 6 win over Trail Blazers

HOUSTON — For the first time in 12 years, the Houston Rockets advanced in the NBA playoffs.

Lewis scores 29, Alston has 21 to help Magic beat 76ers 114-89 and advance to second round

PHILADELPHIA — Who needs Superman? On a night a suspended Dwight Howard recorded a double-double in blog and Twitter posts from his hotel room, the Orlando Magic advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-89 in Game 6 on Thursday.

Rose, Salmons lead Bulls to 128-127 victory over Celtics in triple OT

CHICAGO — One more thriller, and now, the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics will play a decisive seventh game.