AP Wednesday Sports Roundup

NHL PLAYOFFS

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — It took 5 shots and over 116 minutes of hockey, but the Chicago Blackhawks finally knotted the NHL's Western Conference finals at a game apiece.

Marcus Kruger scored on a tip-in of Brent Seabrook's shot at 16:12 of triple-overtime to give the Blackhawks a 3-2 win over the Ducks in Anaheim.

The Hawks thought they had won it on a goal by Andrew Shaw midway through the second OT, but replay officials ruled Shaw had directed the puck into the net with his head. That's OK in soccer, but not for hockey.

Anaheim extended the game by erasing an early 2-0 lead. Shaw and Marian Hossa scored power-play goals in the first 6:19, but the Ducks eventually knotted the score on Corey Perry's goal with 2 ½ minutes left in the second period.

Corey Crawford made 27 of his 60 saves after regulation to give Chicago a chance to win.

Frederik Andersen finished with 53 saves.

Game 3 is Thursday in Chicago.

NBA PLAYOFFS-WARRIORS/ROCKETS

Warriors take opener

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have taken Game 1 of the NBA's Western Conference semifinals by storming back from a 16-point, first-half deficit.

Stephen Curry capped his 34-point night by hitting two free throws in the closing seconds of the Warriors' 110-106 triumph over Houston. Golden State trailed 49-33 until Shaun Livingston scored 10 points during a 25-6 run that ended the first half and put the Warriors ahead by three. Curry capped the spurt with a jumper in the waning moments of the half.

Livingston scored 14 of his 18 points in the second period and finished with six rebounds in less than 29 minutes off the bench. Curry was 6-for-11 from 3-point range to help the Warriors overcome a bad shooting night by Klay Thompson, who was 6 of 18 in scoring 15 points.

James Harden contributed 28 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and four steals for the Rockets, but Dwight Howard finished with just seven points after bruising his left knee in the first quarter. Trevor Ariza chipped in 20 points for Houston, including a 3-pointer that got the Rockets within 108-106.

Game 2 is Thursday in Oakland.

NBA-CAVALIERS-INJURIES

Irving works out for Cavs

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Cavaliers All-Star guard Kyrie Irving had a "light, but good" practice a day before Cleveland opens the Eastern Conference finals in Atlanta.

Irving has been slowed by knee and foot injuries during the postseason, but expects to play in the opener against the Hawks on Wednesday night. Cavs coach David Blatt has been pleased with Irving's progress.

NBA-DRAFT LOTTERY

Wolves hit lottery

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA's biggest losers were the big winners in the draft lottery.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. It's the first time since 2004 the team with the worst record has won the lottery.

The top pick gives the Wolves an opportunity to take big men Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky and Jahlil Okafor of national-champion Duke to put next to Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins.

The Los Angeles Lakers moved from the fourth spot to second, keeping a pick they would have sent to Philadelphia if it had fallen outside the top five. The 76ers are third, followed by the New York Knicks. The Knickerbockers entered the lottery with the second-best chance to get the No. 1 pick.

Orlando has the fifth pick, followed by Sacramento, Denver, Detroit, Charlotte and Miami.

MLB-SCHEDULE

Nats rally to stun Yanks

UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Nationals own a share of first place in the National League East, 3 ½ weeks after falling eight games behind the New York Mets.

Ryan Zimmerman launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th to cap Washington's comeback in an 8-6 win over the New York Yankees. Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos and Ian Desmond also homered for the Nationals, who trailed 6-2 before winning for the 16th time in their last 20 games.

The Yankees lost for the sixth time in seven games to fall into a tie for first with Tampa Bay in the American League East.

In other major league action:

— Randal Grichuk was 3-for-5 with three RBIs in the St. Louis Cardinals' 10-2 pounding of the Mets in New York. Michael Wacha laid down a suicide squeeze bunt and surrendered only two runs and four hits in seven innings as the Redbirds ended the Mets' three-game winning streak.

— Kansas City beat Cincinnati behind Yordano Ventura's seven innings of four-hit ball. Mike Moustakas had three hits and two RBIs as the AL Central leaders moved 2 1/2 games ahead of Detroit.

— The White Sox's six-game winning streak is over after Trevor Bauer held them to a run and four hits with seven strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings to lead Cleveland to a 3-1 victory in Chicago. Jose Ramirez doubled home the tiebreaking run and Brandon Moss added a solo homer.

— Roberto Hernandez pitched well in Houston's 6-4 win over Oakland, giving up two runs and seven hits in six innings. Chris Carter hit a two-run homer before Colby Rasmus and Jason Castro added eighth-inning blasts in the Astros' sixth victory in seven games.

— Miami is 0-2 under new manager Dan Jennings after A.J. Pollock belted a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning of Arizona's 4-2 verdict over the Marlins. Miami dropped its fifth in a row despite Giancarlo's two-run blast in the sixth.

— Ryan Braun smacked a three-run homer and had two RBIs as Milwaukee hammered Detroit 8-1. Adam Lind and Aramis Ramirez added solo shots and Carlos Gomez had two RBIs to back Jimmy Nelson, who limited the Tigers to a run and three hits in eight innings.

— David Freese lifted a tiebreaking, sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to push the Los Angeles Angels past Toronto 3-2. Kole Calhoun hit a solo homer and Ramon Santiago gave up a run and four hits in seven frames to help the Angels halt a two-game skid.

— Baltimore hammered Seattle 9-4 as Jimmy Paredes delivered a two-run homer and a two-run single. Caleb Joseph drove in a pair of runs to support Miguel Gonzalez, who yielded four runs and five hits in seven innings for his fifth win.

— Logan Forsythe hit a tiebreaking, RBI single in the fifth inning before scoring on a double by David DeJesus to help Tampa Bay beat Atlanta 5-3. Winning pitcher Erasmo Ramirez lasted five innings and combined with five relievers on a four-hitter.

— Mike Napoli and David Ortiz cracked solo homers and had two RBIs apiece in Boston's 4-3 triumph against Texas. Wade Miley gave up two runs in seven innings as the Red Sox won for the sixth time in nine games.

Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe homered and Ricky Nolasco pitched into the sixth inning of the Twins' 8-5 win at Pittsburgh. Joe Mauer hit a three-run single and scored on Plouffe's two-run blast while Minnesota scored six times in the second inning to go ahead 7-0.

— Colorado beat Philadelphia 6-5 on Nick Hundley's tiebreaking, solo homer in the eighth. Hundley and Nolan Arenado drove in two runs apiece for the Rockies, who are 3-3 since their 11-game losing streak.

— Derek Norris lined a tiebreaking, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth to give the Padres a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs at San Diego. The Padres rallied to end a three-game skid after Chris Coghlan and Dexter Fowler hit solo homers to put the Cubs ahead 2-0. Coghlan also homered in the ninth.

— Tim Hudson pitched into the seventh and combined with four relievers on a six-hitter as San Francisco Giants beat the Dodgers 2-0 for their fourth consecutive win. Buster Posey put the Giants on top with an RBI single in the third inning.

MLB-NEWS

Werth, Martinez on DL

UNDATED (AP) — Both the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers have lost an important member of their offense.

Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth has been put on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised left wrist after getting hit by a pitch Friday in San Diego. His second stint on the DL this season is retroactive to Saturday.

Tigers slugger Victor Martinez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list after struggling in his return from offseason knee surgery. The team says he has left knee inflammation after undergoing surgery in February to repair a torn medial meniscus. Martinez is hitting just .216 with one homer and 15 RBIs in 111 at-bats this season.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is heading to the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee suffered in Tuesday's loss in Washington. Ellsbury has a team-high .324 batting average.

— The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cuban infielder Hetcor Olivera have finalized a six-year, $62.5 million contract. The Dodgers also have agreed to a minor league contract with Cuban right-hander Pablo Fernandez.

— The Chicago Cubs have shipped catcher Welington Castillo to the Seattle Mariners for right-handed reliever Yoervis Medina.

— The New York Mets have designated outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis for assignment and recalled center fielder Darrell Ceciliani.

— The Braves have agreed to a one-year contract with right-hander Nick Masset, who just cleared Miami's waiver wire.

— The Colorado Rockies have placed outfielder Corey Dickerson on the 15-day disabled list due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

— Pittsburgh has brought back outfielder Jose Tabata from the minors and sent pitcher Wilfredo Boscan to Triple-A Indianapolis.

— Former NL Rookie of the Year Rafael Furcal is retiring after 14 major league seasons.

NFL-NEWS

Snaps coming from 15-yard line this season...Kraft won't fight Pats penalties

UNDATED (AP) — The NFL is making extra points a bit more challenging.

League owners have approved the competition committee's proposal to snap the ball from the 15-yard line on extra-point kicks. In recent seasons, kickers made more than 99 percent of the kicks with the ball snapped from the 2.

That proposal also keeps the 2-point conversion at the 2 and allows the defense to return a turnover to the other end zone for the two points, similar to the college rule.

The league announced the changes at the owner's meeting in San Francisco. Before the meeting, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he will not appeal the penalties for the team's role in the use of deflated footballs in the AFC championship game. Commissioner Roger Goodell fined the Patriots $1 million and took away two draft choices, including a first rounder next year.

Kraft says he was putting the league before his franchise because the agenda of one team should not override the good of all 32.

Kraft's decision will not affect quarterback Tom Brady's appeal of his four game suspension in the case.

Meanwhile, the players' union has asked Goodell to recuse himself from the appeal hearing for Brady. The union calls Goodell a "central witness in the appeal hearing," adding he is not impartial. The NFLPA is seeking a neutral party to serve as an arbitrator.

The union also has asked a federal court to hold the NFL and Goodell in contempt in the Adrian Peterson case.

The NFL Players Association says that Goodell and the league "have deliberately ignored both the court's decision from 11 weeks ago" and the NFLPA's repeated requests to comply with that order.

The NFL was ordered in late February to change its decision to suspend the Minnesota running back indefinitely after he injured his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch last year in an attempt to apply discipline. He missed all but one game while on the commissioner's exempt list.

Peterson's suspension was lifted last month by Goodell, but the running back has not joined the Vikings.

NFL-LOS ANGELES

Carson stadium a step closer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders have moved a step closer to building a new stadium near Los Angeles. A complex land deal has been finalized on a site in Carson that could become the home of a shared $1.7 billion venue.

The Raiders and Chargers are planning a shared stadium if both fail to secure new stadiums in their current hometowns.

NHL-BABCOCK-SABRES

AP Source: Babcock, Sabres talking contract

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A person familiar with the discussions tells The Associated Press that Mike Babcock is in contract talks with the Buffalo Sabres to potentially become their next head coach.

Babcock is still under contract with Detroit, but the Red Wings have given him permission to speak with other teams. Babcock has not ruled out staying put in Detroit, and has said he wanted to make a decision on his future by Wednesday.

NHL-McLELLAN-OILERS

McLellan hired

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers have hired Todd McLellan as their coach after a season in which they again failed to make the playoffs.

McLellan appeared to be Edmonton's top choice since Peter Chiarelli became general manager this month. Todd Nelson replaced Dallas Eakins as coach in December.

The Oilers have not made the playoffs since 2006.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-GOLSON-FLORIDA STATE

Golson to become a Seminole

UNDATED (AP) — Former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson says he is transferring to Florida State, where he will have the chance to replace Jameis Winston.

Golson graduated from Notre Dame on Sunday. He will be immediately eligible to play under NCAA graduate transfer rules. He will also immediately become the most accomplished quarterback on Florida State's roster.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-KENTUCKY-CALIPARI

Calipari: No interest in Pelicans job

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — John Calipari says he's not interested in the New Orleans Pelicans' coaching job and is happy at Kentucky.

The Pelicans fired Monty Williams a week ago and the team's NBA roster features former Kentucky star Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans, who played for Calipari at Memphis.

A person close to the situation said last week that Calipari and Kentucky are negotiating a one-year contract extension through 2022 that would pay him $54 million over seven years.

INDYCAR-INDY 500-HINCHCLIFFE

Girlfriend: Hinchcliffe recovering

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — James Hinchcliffe's girlfriend says the IndyCar driver is awake and communicating less than 24 hours after undergoing surgery on his left thigh. The surgeon says Hinchcliffe if stable and improving.

The Canadian driver was injured Monday during practice for the Indianapolis 500 when his car slammed into the wall and nearly flipped.