Posted: 9:57 PM HOUSTON (AP) - Kobe Bryant scored 33 points and the Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series with a 108-94 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Posted: 9:53 PM OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Ryan Sweeney hit a two-run homer and four Oakland relievers combined two wrap up the Athletics' 5-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Posted: 6:48 PM The Pittsburgh Penguins finally discovered a few holes in rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov's game, and his glove, and are now in a familiar position in the playoffs against Washington. They're surging, and the momentum-less Capitals are slipping.

Posted: 6:44 PM Darrius Heyward-Bey ran an inside route against Nnamdi Asomugha only to see the pass from JaMarcus Russell broken up by the Raiders' All-Pro cornerback.

Posted: 6:18 PM GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - The Atlantic Coast Conference has added a bowl to its lineup of nine postseason games.

Posted: 6:05 PM PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios owes more than $78,000 in back taxes on his $2.9 million home in suburban Detroit. A team spokesman blames an accounting glitch and said the bill will be paid in full within days.

Posted: 5:22 PM DENVER (AP) - Retired Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy has met with club president Pierre Lacroix, and team officials won't reveal the topic.

Posted: 5:19 PM KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Denny Thum, a 35-year veteran of Kansas City's front office, has been appointed president of the Chiefs.

Posted: 5:16 PM PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar was helped off the ice after being leveled by a knee-to-knee hit by Capitals star Alex Ovechkin during the first period of their Eastern Conference semifinals game Friday night.

Posted: 4:36 PM Alex Rodriguez made his season debut following hip surgery -- and his first game since admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs -- as the Yankees faced the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

Posted: 4:32 PM WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Wizards say forward Antawn Jamison had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right ankle.

Posted: 4:30 PM PHOENIX (AP) - After firing Bob Melvin, the Arizona Diamondbacks have turned their fortunes over to a 34-year-old former catcher with no experience as a manager.

Posted: 4:23 PM DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) - Three-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has hit the wall during qualifying at Darlington Raceway and went for treatment to the infield care center.

Posted: 4:21 PM PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Alex Cejka ran off three straight birdies Friday morning and kept right on going, shooting 5-under 67 to build a two-shot lead over Ian Poulter at The Players Championship.

Posted: 4:18 PM Brett Favre may be joining the Vikings after all.

Posted: 4:10 PM HOUSTON (AP) - Astros hitting coach Sean Berry has had a kidney with a cancerous tumor on it removed.

Posted: 4:07 PM OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Athletics have acquired infielder Adam Kennedy from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named.

Posted: 3:35 PM The American Cancer Society will hold the second annual Suits N Sneakers Ball at the Atlantis Casino Resort & Spa May 9, 2009. The event will raise money to help more than 10 million people living with Cancer today.

Posted: 3:31 PM SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) - Attorneys for Jayson Williams say they'll seek to have the former NBA star's convictions for covering up a fatal shooting thrown out on grounds of racial bias.

Posted: 3:26 PM LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Patrick Patterson is returning to Kentucky for his junior season.

Posted: 2:44 PM BALTIMORE (AP) - Alex Rodriguez says he's focused on helping the New York Yankees regain their winning ways, rather than making up for mistakes in his past.

Posted: 2:42 PM ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) - Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says forward Tomas Kopecky is out for Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Posted: 2:39 PM BALTIMORE (AP) - The Baltimore Orioles have traded disgruntled utility player Ryan Freel to the Chicago Cubs for reserve outfielder Joey Gathright.

Posted: 1:29 PM LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville says coach Rick Pitino is not interested in returning to the NBA.

Posted: 1:26 PM BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Barcelona striker Thierry Henry may miss the Champions League final against Manchester United because of a knee injury.