WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Thursday

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Penguins weren't able to gain any ground
in the Eastern Conference race last night during a 2-0 loss to the
Tampa Bay Lightning. Sidney Crosby and the Penguins couldn't find
the net on a 5-minute power play in the first period and went on to
lose their fourth in six games after winning their previous two.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The undermanned 76ers were soundly beaten
by the upstart Bobcats 103-84 in Charlotte last night. Injuries
left the Sixers with only nine players in uniform. Andre Iguodala
had 14 points for Philadelphia, while Elton Brand was held to just
eight points on 4 of 13 shooting.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Phillies ace Roy Halladay was hit hard
by his old team in a 5-2 spring training loss to the Blue Jays.
Halladay allowed four runs and five hits in the first, but later
settled in to strike out Toronto's next four. This was Halladay's
final spring training outing before Monday's opener in Washington.

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Justin Verlander's final start spring
training wasn't a good one as the Pirates lost 8-5 to the Tigers
yesterday. Verlander allowed 10 hits and three earned runs over 5
1-3 innings. Verlander will face Kansas City's Zach Greinke when
Pittsburgh opens its regular season on Monday.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Phillies closer Brad Lidge has gotten a
cortisone shot in his surgically repaired right elbow. Doctors hope
the shot will "jump start" Lidge's rehab. The reliever probably
won't be ready to pitch until mid-April at the earliest.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Steelers have gotten word on who they'll
be tackling in the preseason. Detroit and Carolina will visit
Pittsburgh, while the Steelers will be on the road to face the New
York Giants and Denver Broncos. The dates and times for the
matchups have yet to be announced.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Restricted free agent linebacker Omar
Gaither is returning to the nest for the Eagles. Philadelphia has
announced Gaither has signed a one-year deal to remain with the
team. Gaither started the first three games for the Birds last
season, but he was benched for Jeremiah Trotter in Week 5.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has missed his
fifth straight game because of a left bruised foot. Malkin hopes to
return Saturday against Atlanta. Pittsburgh defenseman Sergei
Gonchar has missed his fourth consecutive game due to strep throat.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State is a week into spring
practice and coach Joe Paterno is beginning to tinker with the
Nittany Lion lineup. One of the more notable moves this spring has
been the switch of Chaz Powell from receiver to the secondary. The
biggest hole to fill is at quarterback, where the Lions are trying
to find a replacement for the departed Darryl Clark.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jamie Dixon has had some time added to his
contract with the Pitt Panthers. The move ends any speculation that
the basketball coach might bolt for a higher-paying job. Dixon was
already signed through the 2015-16 season, at a salary of about
$1.6 million a year. Pitt has made the NCAA tournament in each one
of Dixon's seven seasons at the helm.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - New Penn head men's basketball coach Jerome
Allen says the Ivy League school is taking a chance on hiring him,
but he adds that it could come with a big payoff. Allen is a former
all-Ivy player for the Quakers and played two seasons in the NBA.
Allen took over on an interim basis this season after Penn fired
coach Glen Miller.

NBA
Wednesday's Games
Atlanta 109, L.A. Lakers 92
Charlotte 103, Philadelphia 84
Cleveland 101, Milwaukee 98
Toronto 114, L.A. Clippers 92
Oklahoma City 109, Boston 104
Miami 98, Detroit 81
Phoenix 116, New Jersey 105
Dallas 106, Memphis 102, OT
Minnesota 108, Sacramento 99
Washington 96, New Orleans 91
San Antonio 119, Houston 102
Portland 118, New York 90
Utah 128, Golden State 104
Thursday's Games
Orlando at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Portland at Denver, 10:30 p.m.

NHL
Wednesday's Games
Buffalo 6, Florida 2
Carolina 2, Montreal 1
Tampa Bay 2, Pittsburgh 0
Chicago 4, Minnesota 0
Dallas 5, San Jose 1
Anaheim 5, Colorado 2
Calgary 2, Phoenix 1
Thursday's Games
Florida at Boston, 7 p.m.
Buffalo at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Washington, 7 p.m.
Carolina at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
St. Louis at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Vancouver at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

SPRING TRAINING
Wednesday's Games
Boston 14, Baltimore 6
Detroit 8, Pittsburgh 5
Washington 9, St. Louis 6
Atlanta 10, Houston 5
Toronto 5, Philadelphia 2
Tampa Bay 10, Minnesota (ss) 3
Minnesota (ss) 4, N.Y. Yankees 2
N.Y. Mets 6, Florida 3
San Diego 8, Kansas City 8, tie
Cleveland 10, Chicago White Sox 1
L.A. Angels 11, Chicago Cubs (ss) 0
Seattle 7, Texas 6
Cincinnati 8, Oakland 3
San Francisco 6, L.A. Dodgers 2
Milwaukee 12, Chicago Cubs (ss) 7
Colorado 4, Arizona 3
Cincinnati 12, L.A. Dodgers 4
Thursday's Games
Florida vs St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla., 12:05 p.m.
Washington vs N.Y. Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., 12:10 p.m.
Minnesota vs Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees vs Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Detroit (ss) vs Houston at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Baltimore vs Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Atlanta vs Detroit (ss) at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Cleveland vs L.A. Angels at Tempe, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox vs Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Arizona (ss) vs Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Colorado vs Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
Arizona (ss) vs Milwaukee at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.
Texas vs Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
San Diego at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m.
Cleveland at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.
Oakland at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.