PHILADELPHIA (AP) — With the division lead at stake, the 76ers dominated like a team that deserved to stay in first. The Boston Celtics were more concerned about a teammate than the standings. Elton Brand scored 20 points, and Spencer Hawes had 12 points and 10 rebounds to help Philadelphia keep its grip atop the […]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Bobby Valentine still wasn’t happy even after Ryan Sweeney scored on a squeeze bunt in the ninth inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-4 tie against the rival New York Yankees on Thursday night. “It was regretful that (Clayton) Mortensen warmed up, though, and then we were told […]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paul Pierce scored 25 points to help the Boston Celtics snap the Milwaukee Bucks’ six-game winning streak, 100-91 on Thursday night. Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Mickael Pietrus scored 13 points for the Celtics, who were playing their seventh game on an eight-game road trip. With Thursday’s win, […]

BOSTON — Syracuse will be playing for a spot in the Final Four because of numbers. C.J. Fair put up some like he hadn’t in a while, and the Orange finished with offensive statistics that Wisconsin just doesn’t allow in a 64-63 victory in the East Regional semifinals Thursday night that wasn’t secure until the […]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Ron Erhardt, the offensive architect of the New York Giants’ two Super Bowl titles under Bill Parcells, has died. He was 80. The Giants announced that the one-time head coach of the New England Patriots and the long-time NFL offensive coordinator died in Boca Raton, Fla. on Wednesday morning. “Ron […]

CINCINNATI — A person familiar with the negotiations says former Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, who need someone to replace Cedric Benson. Green-Ellis spent four seasons with New England, carrying 181 times for 667 yards in 2011 with 11 touchdowns. Various reports had him agreeing to […]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mel Parnell, the left-handed pitcher who spent his entire 10-year career with the Boston Red Sox and faced some of the best hitters of the 1940s and early 1950s, has died. He was 89. Parnell, a New Orleans native, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, said his son, Dr. Mel […]

BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox begin their second century at Fenway Park with a lot of changes. Considering the way the first century ended, that’s good. Since missing the playoffs with the worst September collapse in baseball history — and postseason reports of players consuming fried chicken and beer during games — they’ve switched […]