NBA:
In the NBA, New York routed Atlanta 112-108, Chicago bested Brooklyn 113-86, Cleveland won against Detroit 109-97, Houston topped Charlotte 100-90, Milwaukee beat Philadelphia 107-97, Miami defeated Orlando 100-93, New Orleans trumped Minnesota 100-88, Oklahoma City bested Portland 101-90, Utah routed Callas 109-92, Sacramento beat the Lakers 102-92, the Clippers defeated Denver 110-103, and it was Golden State over Memphis 111-107.
Rod Thorn says he will retire as NBA President of Basketball Operations in August, ending a lengthy and successful career at the league and team level.
As a team executive, Thorn drafted Michael Jordan in Chicago and built the Nets into two-time Eastern Conference champions. He said Monday he has no plans to work for a team again, at least on a full-time basis.
NHL:
The NHL Playoffs start tomorrow, but the Rangers won't see any play until Thursday and the Islanders face off against the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
MLB:
In baseball, in interleague play, Mookie Betts hit a three-run homer, took a two-run shot away from Bryce Harper with a flashy catch and stole two bases on the same pitch, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 9-4 victory over the Washington Nationals in their home opener. Pittsburgh slid past Detroit 5-4 and it was the Dodgers over Seattle 6-5 in 10 innings.
In the American League, pinch-hitter Stephen Drew launched a grand slam in the seventh inning to turn the New York Yankees' 4-2 deficit into a 6-5 victory at Baltimore. Kansas City crushed Minnesota 12-3, Tampa edged Toronto 2-1, the Angels doubled up Texas 6-3, and it was Oakland over Houston 8-1.
In the National League, the Mets blanked Philadelphia 2-0, Milwaukee edged St. Louis 5-4, Colorado shut out San Francisco 2-0, Atlanta slid past Miami 3-2, the Cubs beat Cincinnati 7-6 in 10 innings, and it was Arizona over San Diego 8-4.
Red Sox closer Koji Uehara has been activated from the 15-day disabled list after missing Boston's first six games. To make room on their roster, the Red Sox optioned left-hander Tommy Layne to Triple-A Pawtucket. Uehara was sidelined with a strained left hamstring after appearing in three spring training games. In two seasons with Boston, he has a 10-6 record with 47 saves and a 1.75 ERA and made the AL All-Star team last year.
The New York Yankees have added right-hander Joel De La Cruz to their 25-man roster and designated reliever Kyle Davies for assignment. New York selected De La Cruz's contract from Double-A Trenton for bullpen depth before a three-game series against the Orioles. Davies made his Yankees debut Sunday night in a win over Boston, closing out the game with 2 1-3 scoreless innings.
Nolan Ryan's Hall of Fame plaque is taking a road trip. The bronze plaque, which has never left the oak-lined walls of the Baseball Hall of Fame's Plaque Gallery, is headed to Round Rock, Texas. It will be on display Friday and Saturday at Dell Diamond, home of the Pacific Coast League's Round Rock Express. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and Ryan is an owner.
NFL:
Officials say former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips is suspected of killing his cellmate in a Central California prison. A prison spokesman said in a statement that the cellmate at Kern Valley State Prison was found lifeless early Saturday and later pronounced dead. The cellmate is Damion Soward, who was serving 82 years to life for a first-degree murder conviction. Phillips is serving a sentence of more than 31 years. He was convicted of twice choking his girlfriend in 2005 in San Diego and of driving his car into three teens after a pickup football game in Los Angeles later that year.
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree has agreed to a contract with the Oakland Raiders after six seasons with San Francisco. Crabtree had 68 receptions for 698 yards and four touchdowns for the 49ers last season. The Raiders passed on Crabtree to take Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft.
The New York Jets have signed running back Stevan Ridley and linebacker Joe Mays. Ridley, who spent his first four seasons with New England, agreed to terms on a one-year contract last week and the Jets made the signing official Monday. Ridley played in six games last year before tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament. He has 2,817 yards rushing and 23 receptions for 146 yards. Mays has 211 defensive tackles and 29 more on special teams in seven NFL seasons. He played for Kansas City last year.
Free agent cornerback Zack Bowman has signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins. Bowman is a seven-year veteran who started seven games for the Bears in 2013 and five games for the Giants last year. A fifth-round pick by the Bears in 2008, he has 28 starts and 12 interceptions.
NCAA:
The Times Union reports former Siena men’s basketball coach Mitch Buonaguro is back in the MAAC after signing with Fairfield to be its assistant coach.
Ohio State's Urban Meyer has received a hefty contract extension that will make him the second-highest paid coach in college football, behind only Alabama's Nick Saban.
The new package runs through the 2020 and will average out to at least $6.5 million over each of the next six years. Meyer has led Ohio State to a 38-3 record and is 24-0 in Big Ten regular-season play. The Buckeyes defeated Oregon last season to win the first College Football Playoff.
Legal:
The jury deciding whether to find former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez guilty of murder has completed its fifth day of deliberations with no verdict. Jurors have spent more than 27 hours deliberating since last week. They are due to resume deliberations Tuesday morning. Jurors must reach a unanimous verdict.
Tight security will be in place again for the Boston Marathon — the second since the deadly 2013 bombing at the finish line. As was the case last year, authorities say spectators are being asked not to bring backpacks, large bags or coolers. One new wrinkle this year: Police are warning against the use of any kind of drone or model aircraft along the course.
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