AP Monday Sports Roundup

NBA-SCHEDULE

Thunder hosting Rockets...Pacers get stronger, by George

UNDATED (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers are a step closer to wrapping up the NBA's Central Division title and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

By:Andy Lyons/Getty Images Spor

LeBron James recorded his first triple-double since rejoining the Cavs, finishing with 20 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 99-94 triumph over Chicago. J.R. Smith scored all 24 of his points from beyond the arc, nailing eight of the Cavaliers' 16 3-pointers. Kyrie Irving's 27-point afternoon included a 52-footer with the shot clock winding down in the third quarter.

Mike Dunleavy had a team-high 24 points for the Bulls, who now trail the Central-leading Cavaliers by four games with five to play.

Also in the NBA:

— Paul George was very productive in his season debut, finishing with 13 points in 15 minutes as Indiana ripped Miami 112-89 to climb within one game of Boston for the final East playoff berth. George was in action for the first time since suffering a severely broken leg Aug. 1.

— San Antonio halted Golden State's 12-game winning streak as Kawhi Leonard matched his career high with 26 points and had a career-best seven steals in a 107-92 triumph over the Warriors. Tim Duncan had 19 points and Danny Green added 18 points in the Spurs' 32nd consecutive home win against Golden State.

— The Los Angeles Clippers blew out the Lakers 106-78 as DeAndre Jordan delivered 16 points and 11 rebounds. Chris Paul took just seven shots but finished with 15 assists as the Clippers stayed a half-game ahead of the sixth-place Spurs in the West.

— James Harden shot 6-for-9 from 3-point range and scored 41 points as Houston beat Oklahoma City 115-112 to take a one-game lead over Memphis in the Southwest Division. Russell Westbrook recorded his 11th triple-double of the season with 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, but the Thunder saw their lead over New Orleans cut to a half-game as the two teams battle for the final Western conference playoff berth.

— Rodney Hood scored 13 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter of UTah's 101-95 win at Sacramento. Hood contributed nine points in a 14-2 run that put the Jazz ahead by 11 late in the final period.

— Andrea Bargnani scored 25 points and New York ended a nine-game skid by whipping Philadelphia 101-91. Shane Larking had 15 points and 11 rebounds as the Knicks handed the 76ers their sixth straight loss.

MLB-OPENER

MLB season openers with Cardinals blanking Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have earned the first victory of the major league season by silencing the new-look Chicago Cubs.

Adam Wainwright scattered five hits in six scoreless innings as the Redbirds earned a 3-0 victory at Wrigley Field. The Cards roughed up Jon Lester in his Cubs debut, reaching him for three runs and eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings.

Matt Holiday sandwiched a pair of RBI singles around Matt Carpenter's run-scoring single while the Cardinals built a 3-0 lead by the fifth inning. Jason Heyward was 3-for-5 with a run scored in his first game as a Cardinal.

The Cubs went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and failed to get a hit off the St. Louis bullpen.

The season begins in earnest with 14 games on Monday.

MLB-PADRES/BRAVES TRADE

Padres get Kimbrel from Braves

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have made one more splashy trade, completing an offseason of roster upheaval.

The Padres have acquired All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton from the Atlanta Braves for Carlos Quentin and Cameron Maybin, two minor leaguers and a draft pick. Kimbrel led the NL for the second-straight year with 47 saves in 2014 after saving 50 games in 2013. Upton is the younger brother of Justin Upton, who was obtained by San Diego as part of the team's dramatic makeover in December.

MLB-INDIANS-CARRASCO

Indians close to deal with Carrasco, finalize pact with Kluber

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press the Indians and starter Carlos Carrasco are working to finalize a four-year contract worth about $22 million. Carrasco emerged as a dependable starter last season, going 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA in 40 games. He was one of the AL's most dominant pitchers over the final two months, recording a 1.70 ERA after August 1.

The Indians also finalized a five-year, $38.5 million package with reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, who was 18-9 last season. The contract ties him to Cleveland through 2019.

MLB-ALL-STAR GAME-WASHINGTON

Nats to get '18 classic

NEW YORK (AP) — The Major League All-Star game is returning to the Nation's Capital.

A person familiar with the plans tells The Associated Press that Commissioner Rob Manfred intends to announce tomorrow that Washington will host the 2018 All-Star Game.

Washington hasn't hosted the game since 1969. It would be the fourth consecutive National League team to host baseball's All-Star Game. Cincinnati will host this year's midsummer classic followed by San Diego next year and Miami in 2017.

MLB-SIMMONS OBIT

Former Giants, A's announcer dies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Hall of Fame broadcaster and longtime voice of Bay Area baseball Lon Simmons has died at 91.

Simmons was one of the original voices of the Giants when they moved West in 1958. He later became the voice of the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco 49ers, working behind the mike during championship seasons for both teams.

Simmons was honored with the Ford C. Frick Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.

NHL-SCHEDULE

Flyers complete Pittsburgh sweep...Battling for playoff berths

UNDATED (AP) — There's a new leader in the NHL's Atlantic and Central Divisions.

The Montreal Canadiens are back atop the Atlantic, moving two points ahead of Tampa Bay with a 4-1 win over Florida. Tomas Plekanec notched his 200th NHL goal and had two assists as the Canadiens ended a three-game losing streak. But the Canadiens finished the game without leading scorer Max Pacioretty, who left the ice for good in the first period after falling backward into the boards.

In Chicago, Olli Jokinen scored the tiebreaking goal and Jake Allen stopped 38 shots as St. Louis topped Chicago 2-1. David Backes supplied the tying goal for the Blues, who top the Central by one point over Nashville and three over the Blackhawks.

Also on ice:

— Pittsburgh remains in a three-way tie for the last three Eastern Conference playoff slots, just two points ahead of Ottawa following the Penguins' 4-1 loss at Philadelphia. Steve Mason turned back 46 shots and the Flyers scored three power-play goals to complete a sweep of the four-game season series.

— Mike Green scored the game-winner and had an assist as Washington topped Detroit 2-1 to move into second place in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of the New York Islanders. Braden Holtby turned back 35 shots to help the Capitals keep the Red Wings in a virtual sixth-place tie with Pittsburgh and Boston.

— The Caps clinched a playoff berth when Ottawa fell 3-2 to Toronto on Peter Holland's goal in the seventh shootout round. Joffrey Lupul scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the Maple Leafs prevented the Senators from getting no closer than two points behind the Pens, Wings and Bruins for the last three East playoff slots.

LPGA-ANA INSPIRATION

Lincicome rallies to win ANA Inspiration

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Brittany Lincicome eagled 18 and parred the third extra hole to complete her comeback in the ANA Inspiration, the first LPGA major of the year. Lincicome closed with a 3-under 69 for a 9-under total in her sixth LPGA victory.

Lewis had three chances to win before missing three birdie putts on 18, two coming in the playoff.

PGA-HOUSTON OPEN

Holmes wins in playoff

HOUSTON (AP) — J.B. Holmes has earned his fourth PGA win by taking the Houston Open with the best final round of his career.

He closed with an 8-under 64 before outlasting third-round leader Jordan Spieth (speeth) and Johnson Wagner in a playoff. Holmes was 16-under before winning it with a par putt on the second extra hole before Wagner's par putt lipped out.

Holmes opened his final round with five straight birdies and nine in his first 12 holes.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL-NCAA TOURNAMENT

Irish to make another finals appearance

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tuesday's NCAA women's basketball championship game will be a rematch of last year's, with Connecticut taking on Notre Dame.

The Huskies remain on target for their third consecutive championship after Breanna Stewart scored 25 points and Morgan Tuck added 24 to lead an 81-58 rout over Maryland. The Terrapins trailed by six until Tuck scored the last five points of the first half. UConn led by double digits the rest of the way.

In the first game, the Irish went more than seven minutes without a point before Madison Cable hit her only basket of the game to lift Notre Dame past South Carolina 66-65. The Irish saw a 12-point lead become a 1-point deficit during the scoring drought before Cable's bucket in the final minute.

All-American Jewell Loyd scored a team-high 22 points for Notre Dame.

NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT-KENTUCKY

Harrison apologizes for slur at Kaminsky

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kentucky guard Andrew Harrison has apologized for directing an obscenity and a racial slur at Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky during a postgame news conference at the Final Four. The comments came following last night's 71-64 loss to the Badgers. Harrison said the two of them had a "good conversation" and he wished Kaminsky good luck in Monday's championship game against Duke.

NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT-RATINGS

Ratings up, according to networks

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Wisconsin's win over previously undefeated Kentucky drew the highest preliminary television rating for an NCAA semifinal in 22 years.

Turner Sports and CBS say the game averaged a 13.3 overnight rating and 24 share across TBS, TNT and truTV, up 48 percent from last season's matchup of the same teams.

It was the best rating for a semi since a 13.8/24 in 1993 when Michigan's Fab Five sophomores edged the Wildcats in overtime.