AP Monday Sports Roundup

NBA-PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Clippers, Hawks, Cavs and Grizzlies win

UNDATED (AP) — One of the more interesting first-round series in the NBA playoffs has the Los Angeles Clippers taking on the defending-champion San Antonio Spurs.

The Clippers were the better team in the opener last night as Chris Paul delivered 32 points on 65 percent shooting to lead a 107-92 victory over the Spurs. Paul also had seven rebounds and six assists for Los Angeles, which pulled away by outscoring San Antonio 30-21 in the third quarter.

Blake Griffin chipped in 26 points, 12 boards and six assists, Deandre Jordan grabbed 14 rebounds and Jamal Crawford had 17 points off the bench.

Tiago Splitter was the lone Spur with more than 11 points, finishing with 18.

Game 2 is Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The top two seeds in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals had a bit of trouble against the only NBA playoff teams with losing records.

Kyle Korver nailed five 3-pointers while scoring 21 points as top seed Atlanta downed Brooklyn 99-92 in the series opener. Jeff Teague (teeg) and DeMarre Carroll scored 17 points apiece for the Hawks, who led by as many as 16 before disposing of the Nets.

Brooklyn opened the second half on a 9-2 run to get within 57-54, but the Nets never got closer.

The series resumes Wednesday in Atlanta.

In Cleveland, Kyrie Irving poured in 30 points and LeBron James added 20 as the Cavaliers beat the Celts 113-100 in Game 1. It was Cleveland's first postseason victory since James left after the 2010 postseason for a four-year stay in Miami.

Irving drained five 3-pointers and Kevin Love added 19 points and 12 rebounds in their playoff debuts, but the Cavaliers stumbled at times. They trailed by eight in the first quarter and watched a 20-point, third-period lead trimmed to six before they capped the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take control.

Isaiah Thomas scored a team-high 22 points for the Celtics, who stay in Cleveland for Game 2 on Tuesday.

In other Game 1 playoff action:

— Memphis cruised to a 100-86 win against Portland as Beno Udrih came off the bench to score 20 points for the Grizzlies. Zach Randolph had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Marc Gasol added 15 points and 11 boards. LaMarcus Aldridge contributed a game-high 32 points for the Trail Blazers, who will try to end a five-game losing streak when they play Game 2 at Memphis on Wednesday.

MLB-SCHEDULE

M's in Cruz control

UNDATED (AP) — Nelson Cruz has been a pretty good investment since the Seattle Mariners signed the outfielder to a free-agent contract.

Cruz already has a major league-leading eight home runs after belting two more while going 3-for-6 with five RBIs in the Mariners' 11-10 comeback win over the Rangers. He capped his stellar afternoon by poking the game-winning single with two out in the bottom of the ninth.

Austin Jackson was 3-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBIs for the Mariners, who trailed 10-5 before scoring in each of their last three at-bats.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Yoenis Cespedes hit his first career grand slam and added a two-run homer as Detroit ripped the Chicago White Sox 9-1 to improve to 10-2. Shane Greene gave up five hits and seven walks in seven innings to improve to 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA.

— Paul Goldschmidt slammed a two-run homer and Chris Owings hit a two-run single as Arizona dealt San Francisco its ninth loss in 10 games, 5-1. Jeremy Hellickson pitched into the seventh for his first win with the Diamondbacks.

— The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up their seventh straight win as Howie Kendrick, Scott Van Slyke and rookie Joc Pederson homered in the sixth inning of a 7-0 shutout of Colorado. Brandon McCarthy allowed three hits in six innings to beat the Rockies for the first time in five career starts.

— Ruben Tejada hit a three-run double while the New York Mets scored seven times in the fourth inning of their eighth consecutive win, 7-6 over Miami. Matt Harvey improved to 3-0 and Jeurys Familia picked up his sixth save, but the 9-3 Mets lost Travis d'Arnaud to a broken right hand and lefty Jerry Blevins to a fractured pitching arm.

— Will Middlebrooks and Yangervis Solarte hit two-run homers to lift the Padres past the Cubs and Jon Lester 5-2. Lester is 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA in three starts since signing a six-year, $155 million contract in the offseason.

— Kansas City is 9-3 after Kendrys Morales laced a tiebreaking, two-run double in a three-run eighth that pushed the Royals past Oakland 4-2. The Royals finished without reliever Kelvin Herrera, shortstop Alcides Escobar, manager Ned Yost, pitching coach Dave Eiland and coach Don Wakamatsu, all of whom were ejected during or after two separate beanball incidents.

— Jonny Gomes hit a three-run double and had four RBIs in Atlanta's 5-2 verdict over Toronto. Shelby Miller is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts after giving up five hits in six innings, including Russell Martin's two-run double in the sixth.

— Adam Wainwright scattered seven hits in eight innings of the Cardinals' 2-1 triumph over Cincinnati at St. Louis. Matt Carpenter led the Cardinals' four-hit attack by going 2-for-3 with a solo homer.

— Washington beat Philadelphia 4-1 behind the pitching of Stephen Strasburg, who limited the Phillies to a run and five hits in 7 1/3 innings. Ryan Zimmerman had two RBIs as the Nationals won for the fourth time in five games since a 2-6 start.

— The Milwaukee Brewers are off to the worst 12-game start in team history as the fell to 2-10 with a 5-2 setback in Pittsburgh. Pedro Alvarez hit a tiebreaking, solo homer and scored on Chris Stewart's two-run single to help Gerrit Cole improve to 9-1 in his last 10 decisions at PNC Park.

— Baltimore clobbered Boston 8-3 as Adam Jones went 4- for-5 with a career-high five RBIs. Jones belted a three-run double and two-run homer in the Orioles' fourth victory in six games.

— Chase Headley and Mark Teixeira drove in two runs apiece as the New York Yankees topped the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 to complete a three-game sweep. The Bombers' bullpen came through with 3 1/3 shutout innings after Michael Pineda gave up three runs and seven hits, including Steven Souza's two-run homer.

— Torii Hunter smacked a three-run homer and Trevor May held Cleveland to a run and four hits in six innings of Minnesota's 7-2 rout of the Indians. It was May's best outing in 11 major league starts, and Hunter's first homer for the Twins since leaving the Twins after the 2007 season.

— Albert Pujols and C.J. Cron homered for the Angels in a 4-3 win over Houston. Scott Feldman allowed two runs and six hits to earn his first win of the season.

NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE

Tavares lifts Islanders...Habs up 3-0...Hawks, Flames win

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Islanders dominated the Washington Capitals for the better part of three periods this afternoon, but they needed a few extra seconds to take a two-games-to-one lead in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Isles captain John Tavares scored on a rebound 15 seconds into overtime to complete a 2-1 win over the Caps. It was his first goal of the series and the Islanders' first playoff overtime tally since Game 7 of the 1993 Patrick Division finals at Pittsburgh.

Kyle Okposo also scored for the Islanders, who outshot the Capitals 33-13 over the first two periods and 42-25 for the game. Jaroslav Halak blanked Washington until Nicklas Backstrom scored with 6:06 left in regulation to force overtime.

Game 4 is Tuesday at Nassau Coliseum.

In other playoff action:

— Montreal is the first three-win team in the postseason after Dale Weise scored his second goal of the night at 8:47 of overtime to give the Canadiens a 2-1 victory in and a 3-0 series lead against Ottawa. The Senators took the lead on Clarke MacArthur's first-period goal, and it remained 1-0 until Weise beat Craig Anderson with 5:47 left in regulation. Anderson made 47 saves in place of Andrew Hammond, who was the losing netminder in the first two games. Anderson and the Senators will try to avoid a series sweep Tuesday at home.

— The Blackhawks are up 2-1 in their opening-round series after Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist to lead Chicago to a 4-2 win over Nashville. Toews, Brandon Saad  and Brent Seabrook scored second-period goals to support Scott Darling's 35 save performance in his first postseason start. Andrew Desjardins also scored and Marian Hossa had two assists for the Hawks, who host Game 4 on Tuesday.

— Things got testy in Calgary as the Flames and Vancouver combined for two fights and 34 penalty minutes over the final 85 seconds before the home team completed a 4-2 win over the Canucks. T.J. Brodie notched the go-ahead goal late in the first period and had an assist as the Flames took a 2-1 series lead. Third-period goals by Sam Bennett and Sean Monahan gave Calgary breathing room but didn't stop the two teams from scuffling in the latter moments for the second straight game. The series stays in Calgary for Game 4 on Tuesday.

NFL-EAGLES-TEBOW

Tebow to sign with Eagles

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tim Tebow is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. That's according to three people familiar with the deal.

Tebow hasn't played in the NFL since 2012 with the New York Jets.

NASCAR-BRISTOL

Rain dogging race at Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Pole-sitter Matt Kenseth ended a 51-race losing streak by holding off Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon to win the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kenseth led for just 47 laps yet came out on top in a race that had 21 lead changes and 11 cautions totaling 117 laps.

The race went 11 laps past the scheduled 500 because of a quick rain shower, the fourth weather delay of the day. Instead of calling it, NASCAR parked the cars on pit road and quickly dried the track for a two-lap overtime sprint.

The race got underway 78 minutes late due to the weather, but only 23 laps were completed before the skies opened again to cause a four-hour delay. During the brief bit of racing, Brad Keselowski spun into Penske teammate Joey Logano, heavily damaging both cars.

Just 37 cars finished the race, including 13 on the lead lap in the crash-filled event.

Denny Hamlin pulled out of the because of a neck strain that worsened during the second rain delay. Hamlin said he felt something strain in his neck 12 laps into the race.

FORMULA ONE-BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

Hamilton repeats in Bahrain

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Defending champion Lewis Hamilton has won the Bahrain Grand Prix from the pole position to strengthen his overall lead in the Formula One standings. It is his third win in four races this season and 36th of his career.

Kimi Raikkonen finished second, followed by Nico Rosberg.

GOLF-RBC HERITAGE

Furyk wins in playoff

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Jim Furyk birdied the second playoff hole to win the RBC Heritage, ending his five-year victory drought on the PGA Tour. Furyk finished tied with Kevin Kisner at 18 under par after firing an 8-under 63.

Kisner posted a 64.

CHAMPIONS TOUR-GREATER GWINNETT CHAMPIONSHIP

Browne gets assist from rain to win

DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Olin Browne has won the Greater Gwinnett Championship after constant rain forced the cancellation of the final round. It's Browne's first Champions Tour win in four years.

This is the first Champions Tour event to be shortened to 36 holes since the 2011 Insperity Championship in Houston.

TENNIS-FED CUP-US-ITALY

US loses to Italy

BRINDISI, Italy (AP) — The United States has been bounced from the Fed Cup after Serena Williams and Alison Riske were beaten by Italy's Sara Errani and Flavia Pennetta 6-love, 6-3 in the decisive doubles match.

Williams had been 13-0 in Fed Cup singles and 3-0 in doubles before falling on Sunday.

TENNIS-MONTE CARLO MASTERS

Djokovic continues to roll

MONACO (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic has won the Monte Carlo Masters by defeating sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. It's the second time Djokovic has won the title in three years. In extending his winning streak to 17 matches, Djokovic becomes the first player in tennis history to win the first three Masters tournament of the year after completing the Indian Wells-Miami sweep this spring.

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