LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers ended their longest losing streak of the season — three games — by edging the Toronto Raptors 109-107 at Staples Center last night. Kobe Bryant's 17-foot fallaway jumper with 1.9 seconds left capped the Lakers rally. Bryant finished with 32 points and six assists as the Lakers avoided their first four-game losing streak since April 2007.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Dunleavy is out as general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers, barely a month after relinquishing his head coaching duties. Assistant general manager Neil Olshey will take over Dunleavy's job. The Clippers are 12th in the NBA Western Conference standings with a 25-and-39 mark, winning just 42 games the last two seasons.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — No. 12 Butler is going into the NCAA tournament with a 20-game winning streak, the longest win streak in the country. The Bulldogs thumped Wright State 70-45 in the Horizon League title game. Shelvin Mack scored all 14 of his points in the first half, and Matt Howard had 14 points and nine rebounds. Butler goes into the NCAA tournament as the only Division I team to complete a perfect season in its conference.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — One night after setting the NCAA women's record winning streak, top-ranked UConn has won its 72nd straight game. The Huskies endured a cold-shooting first half, but still handily beat ninth-ranked West Virginia 60-32 for their 16th Big East tournament title.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carl Edwards has been placed on a three-race probation by NASCAR for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski's (keh-sel-LOW'-skeez) car during last weekend's race at Atlanta. Edwards returned to the track after an earlier wreck with Keselowski and then caused a crash that sent Keselowski's car flying.
