AP Sports Wrap from Wednesday, April 6, 2016

UNDATED (AP)— When LeBron James took a seat, the Indiana Pacers took a step forward toward the NBA playoffs.

With the four-time MVP resting, the Pacers got their offense on track, their defense in sync and proved they could finally close out a game. Paul George scored 29 points, C.J. Miles added 21 and Indiana made 16 3-pointers in beating Cleveland 123-109.

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue (LOO) says he's trying to get James rested for the playoffs.

Indiana won its third straight and still leads eighth-place Detroit by a half-game. Ninth-place Chicago is vying for one of the final two playoff spots in the East. The Bulls are three games behind the Pacers.

In other NBA:

— DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick scored 15 points apiece in the Los Angeles Clippers' 91-81 victory over the Lakers. The loss was the Lakers' 62nd of the season, setting a franchise low for the 16-time NBA champions.

— Al-Farouq Aminu (al-fuh-ROOK' ah-MEE'-noo) scored 27 points, C.J. McCollum had 26 and the Portland Trail Blazers clinched a playoff berth with a 120-115 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

— Reggie Jackson scored 24 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 18 to help lead the Detroit Pistons to a 108-104 win over Orlando. The victory keeps the Pistons in the playoff race in the East.

— Kemba Walker scored 34 points, Al Jefferson had 24 and the Charlotte Hornets bounced back from consecutive losses to the Eastern Conference's top teams by beating the New York Knicks 111-97.

— J.J. Barea scored 27 points and the Dallas Mavericks kept a slim cushion over Utah and Houston in the race for the last two Western Conference playoff spots with an 88-86 victory over the Rockets. The Mavs are a game up on the Jazz and two up on the Rockets.

— Isaiah Thomas scored 32 points to help the Boston Celtics fend off the New Orleans Pelicans 104-97.

— Ramon Sessions scored 18 points and had a season-high 13 assists while starting in place of the injured John Wall to help the Washington Wizards defeat the Brooklyn Nets 121-103. Bradley Beal was high man for Washington with 25.

NBA-SIXERS GM

Hinkie quits amid 10-68 season

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie has quit after turning the organization into one of the worst teams in NBA history.

Hinkie didn't even last three full seasons and leaves the Sixers with the worst record in the league at 10-68.

His power was weakened in December when the Sixers hired longtime NBA executive Jerry Colangelo (koh-LAN'-jeh-loh) as chairman of basketball operations.

NBA-SLOAN

Ex-Jazz coach says he has dementia, Parkinson's

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan says he has Parkinson's disease and a form of dementia.

The 74-year-old Sloan, who coached the Utah Jazz from 1988 to 2011, told The Salt Lake Tribune that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia last fall.

He told the Tribune that he decided to go public about his illness because the Parkinson's symptoms have become noticeable

NHL-SCHEDULE

A shutout at the Joe

UNDATED (AP)— Jimmy Howard made 30 saves in his second shutout of the season -- and 22nd of his career -- in leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-0 victory over Philadelphia. It's Howard's first shutout since the Red Wings' opening game. That's the Red Wings' third straight victory.

The Red Wings currently are in third place in the Atlantic Division as they try to qualify for the playoffs for the 25th straight time. If the Red Wings beat Boston Thursday night, they clinch the playoffs.

In other hockey:

— Patrick Maroon scored twice and the Edmonton Oilers won at Rexall Place for the final time, beating the Vancouver Canucks 6-2. The Oilers move into a new downtown arena in the fall.

— Brandon Dubinsky scored two goals and Brandon Saad added a goal and assist and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1.

MLB-SCHEDULE

Cano puts on an early season power show...What a Story for Rockies...Padres shut out third straight game

UNDATED (AP) — Robinson Cano's (kuh-NOHZ') major league-leading fourth homer of the season capped a five-run ninth inning and gave Seattle a 9-5 win over Texas. It was Cano's second homer of the game and gave him 5 RBIs. He has homered in all three games for Seattle and is the first Mariners player ever with four homers in the first three games of the season.

Cano's two-run homer in the ninth came after Kyle Seager put the Mariners ahead with a two-run single.

In other major league action:

— Colorado rookie shortstop Trevor Story made baseball history by hitting a home run in each of his first three major league games and the Colorado Rockies beat Arizona 4-3. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Story also is the first player in baseball history to hit a home run for each of his first four hits.

— Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda hit a home run in his second at-bat of his major league debut in helping the Los Angeles Dodgers blank San Diego 7-0. The Padres are the first MLB team to be shutout in their opening three games. The right-hander signed an eight-year deal with the Dodgers in January after spending eight seasons with the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese Central League.

— Steven Souza Jr's three-run homer in the bottom of eighth inning gave Tampa Bay a 5-3 win over Toronto and split of the season-opening four-game series. It was Souza's second home run of the game and gave him four RBIs. Toronto's Josh Donaldson left the game in the seventh inning with a strained left calf. The AL MVP hit a three-run homer in the third inning.

— Chris Carter's sacrifice fly in the seventh inning drove in what proved to be the winning run in Milwaukee's 4-3 victory over San Francisco. Carter also homered in the game.

— Detroit topped Miami 7-3. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (sahl-tah-lah-MAH'-kee-ah) homered and drove in four against his former team. Victor Martinez also homered for the Tigers.

— Matt den Dekker, just recalled from the minors due to an injury to center fielder Ben Revere, delivered a pinch-hit, two-run go-ahead double in his first game back up in the majors and helped the Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 3-1. Stephen Strasburg got the win with six strong innings. Jonathan Papelbon got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth for his second save in two games.

— Pittsburgh downed St. Louis 5-1 to improve to 3-0 and keep the Cardinals winless. Juan Nicasio got the win. He allowed one run on two hits over six innings, striking out seven.

— Mike Napoli (NAP'-oh-lee) homered against his former Boston teammates and the Cleveland Indians overcame David Ortiz's second homer in his farewell season to beat the Red Sox 7-6.

— The New York Yankees used a 17-hit attack to maul Houston 16-6. Starlin Castro homered and drove in five runs. Mark Teixeira (teh-SHEHR'-uh) had four RBIs.

— The Oakland Athletics trimmed the Chicago White Sox 2-1. Sonny Gray, who missed his opening day start due to food poisoning, hurled seven shutout innings, giving up three hits.

— Baltimore doubled up Minnesota 4-2. Zach Britton got out of a two-on jam in the night by striking out Joe Mauer. Britton has a win and a save in the Orioles first two games.

— Cincinnati shaded Philadelphia 3-2. Scott Schebler doubled with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth to win it.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-LOUISVILLE

Louisville self-imposes sanctions

LOUISVILLE (AP) — The University of Louisville has announced additional self-imposed sanctions on its men's basketball program in the wake of an escort's allegations. In a statement the school has announced a reduction in scholarships for the 2017-19 seasons and the restricting of official recruiting visits and recruiting opportunities for staff.

The school announced in February a postseason ban for the Cardinals after its investigation into allegations a former staffer hired an escort and other dancers to entertain recruits and players determined that violations did occur.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NBA DRAFT

One enters NBA draft, another stays put

UNDATED (AP) — Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis says he will enter the NBA draft, becoming the third Wildcat over the past week to announce his intention to turn pro. Ulis was an Associated Press first-team All-American and the AP Southeastern Conference's top player. He averaged 17.3 points, 7 assists and a team-high 37 minutes per game and broke John Wall's single-season school record for assists with 246.

Meanwhile, Duke guard Grayson Allen says he is returning to school for his junior season. Allen has averaged 13.1 points and made 40 percent of his 3-pointers in two seasons. He was a third-team AP All-America selection as a sophomore while finishing the season with 25 straight double-figure scoring performances.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-VANDERBILT

Vandy lands Valpo's Drew

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt has lured Bryce Drew away from his alma mater at Valparaiso (val-pur-AY'-zoh) to coach the Commodores men's basketball team.

Drew will be Vanderbilt's 27th head coach. He succeeds Kevin Stallings who left Vandy to take the head coaching job at Pittsburgh last month. Stallings is Vanderbilt's all-time winningest coach.

Drew just won a school-record 30 games in his fifth season as head coach at Valparaiso. He is 124-49 overall with two NCAA Tournament berths in his tenure.

WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL-WNBA DRAFT

UConn's Tuck going pro

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn star Morgan Tuck was honored during UConn's national championship homecoming rally. That came after she said she will forgo an extra year of eligibility and make herself available for the WNBA draft.

Tuck's name was placed on "Huskies of Honor" wall at Gampel Pavilion, joining 18 other UConn women's layers, including classmates Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson, who were honored earlier in the year.

Tuck decided not to use an extra year of eligibility granted after knee surgery cost her most of her sophomore season.

The WNBA draft is April 14.

MASTERS

First major coming up

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The opening round of the 80th Masters starts this morning. There's a forecast for some overnight rain which would help slow down the fast greens. Defending champ Jordan Spieth (SPEETH) is back as part of an 89-man field, the smallest since 2002.

Spieth will defend his Masters title with a new driver. Spieth says his driver cracked yesterday.

MASTERS-ARNIE

Palmer will be at first tee for opener

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP)— Arnold Palmer will be on the first tee for the ceremonial opening shot of the Masters.

He just won't be swinging a club.

The 86-year-old Palmer said his health wasn't good enough to join Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player when they hit tee shots at the first hole to open the first major of the year.

"We are looking forward to having Arnold ... for many, many years to come," Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said.

NFL-PATRIOTS

Fans sue NFL

BOSTON (AP) — A group of New England Patriots fans has sued the NFL in an effort to recover the first-round draft pick that was taken from the team as punishment for the Deflategate scandal. The complaint says the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL') relied on "false premises and biased 'investigations' to reach their decision to take away the team's first-round draft pick in this month's draft.

NFL-MOVES

Broncos lure Texans DE to Mile High

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have landed free agent defensive end Jared Crick. The two sides have agreed to a two-year deal. The fifth-year pro started 31 of 32 games for Houston the last two seasons, playing opposite J.J. Watt.

In other NFL signings:

— The Oakland Raiders agreed to a two-year contract with free-agent safety Reggie Nelson. That's what a person with knowledge of the deal says. Nelson will replace Pro Bowler Charles Woodson, who retired after last season, and will give Oakland a proven starter in the secondary. The 32-year-old Nelson is coming off his best season, having tied for the NFL lead with eight interceptions last season for Cincinnati.

— A person familiar with the deal says the New York Jets will sign former Oakland Raiders wide receiver-kick returner Jeremy Ross, pending a physical. Ross was not tendered by Oakland this offseason as a restricted free agent. He has 39 career receptions for 469 yards and two touchdowns, and has also returned a kickoff and a punt for scores.

SOCCER-US WOMEN

Team USA blanks Colombia 7-0 in friendly

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Allie Long scored her first two international goals, and the United States routed Colombia 7-0. It's the Americans' first exhibition since five players filed a wage-discrimination action against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Crystal Dunn, Mallory Pugh, Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath and Christen Press also scored for the Americans, who are preparing for this summer's Olympics, where they will try to win their fourth straight gold medal.