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2B Daily News – Wednesday, May 29, 2013 NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS | Pacers 99, Heat 92 TENNIS | French Open Djokovic gets past 1st round; U.S.' Sock wins AP photo Indiana Pacers' Paul George shoots against Miami Heat's Chris Bosh during the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals Tuesday in Indianapolis. Best of 3; Pacers even series INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Roy Hibbert had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Lance Stephenson added 20 points, and the Indiana Pacers charged back late to beat the Miami Heat 99-92 on Tuesday night and tie the Eastern Conference finals at 2-2. LeBron James led the Heat with 24 points before fouling out with 56 seconds to go. Mario Chalmers had 20 points on a night the defending NBA champs failed to take command of the series. The Heat will host Game 5 on Thursday. ''We're not going anywhere. We're going back down to Miami to go out there and fight again,'' Hibbert said. The Pacers started fast and spent the rest of the night trying to fend off Miami's continual comebacks. But with Indiana leading 81-72 early in the fourth, Miami answered with a 14-2 run that gave the Heat an 86-83 lead. Indiana tied the score on Paul George's three-point play and erased SHARKS (Continued from page 1B) ner has a knack for Game 7 heroics, scoring nine points in his four career appearances in the decisive game. Quick and Los Angeles' defense barely held off the Sharks in a frantic third period. Quick showed off his Conn Smythe Trophy form yet again, finishing the seven-game series by allowing just 10 goals. This series was even from the start, with neither team able to take more than momentary control. The clubs were similarly equal in the regular season, when the Kings' 3-2 home victory over San Jose in the finale pushed fifth-seeded Los Angeles ahead of the Sharks. the Miami lead by closing the game on a 16-6 run. Indiana was in desperation mode — and it showed. Bodies crashed to the ground all night. An angry George uncharacteristically smacked the floor after being called for a foul in the third quarter, leading to a technical foul on coach Frank Vogel. And the defense did a far better job against James and his highscoring teammates. James finished 8 of 18 from the field. But the Pacers did not get rattled. Instead, they answered every challenge Miami posed as they had in the first two games of this series. When Miami used a 9-0 run to take a 60-54 lead early in the third quarter, Indiana answered immediately with a 10-0 run to regain the lead. When James committed an offensive foul with 2 seconds left in the third quarter, his first turnover since the end of Game 2, the Pacers got a buzzer-beating 3pointer from Stephenson to make it 7770. That eventually led to the Kings starting a playoff series at home for the first time since 1992. Los Angeles opened with two home victories, stealing Game 2 with a pair of powerplay goals in the final minutes for the only major comeback of the series. The Sharks responded with two solid 2-1 victories at home, keeping the Kings' offense punchless away from Staples Center. Quick posted his second shutout of the series in Game 5, but San Jose forced a seventh game with another 2-1 victory at the Shark Tank last Sunday. After a scoreless first period, featuring plenty of near-miss chances but just eight combined shots, the Sharks again came out solidly in the second period, hold- Even as the Heat rallied in the fourth, charging back from an 81-72 deficit to take an 86-83 lead, the Pacers answered. George tied the score on a three-point play on which James committed his fourth foul. Ray Allen broke the tie with a 3 from the left wing, but after corralling rebound after rebound, Indiana went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead and Miami never tied it again. This was not the same Miami team that dominated Indiana in Game 3. Nor was it the same Pacers defense that got overrun by James and his teammates two nights earlier. Miami struggled to score early, Dwyane Wade was limping noticeably in the first half and forward Chris Bosh hurt his right knee in the first half and his right ankle in the second. The Big Three combined to go just 14 of 39 from the field. Indiana, meanwhile, reverted to its more traditional style. The Pacers had a 49-30 rebounding advantage and outscored Miami in the paint 50-32. ing the Kings without a shot for nearly 19 consecutive minutes. But the Kings finally broke through after San Jose's Brent Burns took an interference penalty near Los Angeles' net. Williams got the puck to the post and hacked at it until it slid behind Niemi for his first goal since Game 4 of the first round. Williams has been candid about his line's offensive struggles during this postseason, saying the Kings' top scorers had to get better for Los Angeles to advance. He did it again 2:57 later, taking a cross-ice pass from Anze Kopitar and beating Niemi from short range with a one-timer. Williams had just two assists in the Kings' previous eight playoff games. Niemi kept the Sharks in it with two stunning saves, preventing a natural hat trick by Williams several minutes before stopping Brad Richardson's one-timer. But Quick matched every save, and the Kings preserved their two-goal lead into the third. Niemi made another enormous save during 4-on4 play early in the third, stopping Jeff Carter on a breakaway. Boyle ended Quick's bid for his third shutout of the series with a long shot through traffic with 14:34 to play, giving the defenseman his third goal of the postseason. Quick kept making astonishing saves until the final second, robbing Joe Pavelski on an open chance with his glove extended along the ice with 5:04 to play. NFL 49ers trying to find WR to fill Crabtree's role SANTA CLARA (AP) — The second week of organized team activities began for the San Francisco 49ers without Michael Crabtree but with the tough task of replacing the team's top wide receiver. Anquan Boldin sure seemed up for the challenge. As for the other wideouts, they will likely need more time — and healthy bodies — to help fill the void. Boldin caught the bulk of the balls during Tuesday's practice, the first one open to reporters that he has participated in since coming to the 49ers in a trade with Baltimore in March. He looked comfortable as ever in a red No. 81 jersey — and later in a San Francisco Giants cap walking out of the locker room. With Crabtree out for the foreseeable future with a torn right Achilles tendon, Boldin could be the key to San Francisco's depleted receiving corps this season. ''We have to make plays. The passing game goes through us. If we don't make plays outside, we won't be successful as an offense,'' Boldin said. ''It's definitely on us to get better as a receiver corps entirely.'' Coach Jim Harbaugh has decided to put veterans on one side of the offense and have an open competition among younger players on the other for Crabtree's spot. Last year's catchless first-round pick, A.J. Jenkins, and Ricardo Lockette and Quinton Patton are the leading contenders for the ''X'' role Crabtree so skillfully occupied until tearing his Achilles in 7-on-7 drills last week. Recovery time can often take as long as a year after surgery, though the team is optimistic Crabtree will return at some point in 2013. In the meantime, the NFC champions will rely on Boldin's experience to help groom the younger receivers into a bigger role, especially with reliable wideouts Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams both coming off serious knee injuries that occurred late in the regular season. ''Anquan is not a talkative guy,'' Harbaugh said. ''He's not a small-talk guy. He's just very serious about competing, and very serious about football and winning. I think it'll speak volumes if the young guys observe that.'' Boldin had 65 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns for the Ravens last season. He also caught six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore's 3431 win over San Francisco in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound receiver said he already feels comfortable in San Francisco's complicated version of the West Coast offense. In his 11th year in the NFL, Boldin said he has run many of the same plays and routes throughout his career but the terminology with the 49ers is the major difference. ''For me, it's just translating right now,'' he said. Boldin's big frame already has made him a favorite of starter Colin Kaepernick and the other quarterbacks. While it was only one practice without full pads, he was often the first read and easily targeted more than any other player on the field, including while catching a 25yard touchdown pass from B.J. Daniels between three defenders. ''I guess I'm looked at as being able to step in right now and make plays,'' Boldin said. ''And that's what I want to bring. I want Kaep to be comfortable. I want the other quarterbacks to be comfortable enough to, even if it doesn't look like I'm open, just give me a chance. I'll make a play for you.'' That's exactly what Crabtree gave Kaepernick last season. The 25-year-old Crabtree, the team's 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech, had career highs with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns for the 49ers last season. He was one of the biggest reasons the franchise returned to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years, clicking with Kaepernick after his promotion over Alex Smith in November. More than likely, the 49ers will need a collection of players to make up for Crabtree's loss. Williams already was participating in some individual practice drills and said he hopes to be ready by training camp. Harbaugh has said Manningham might need more time to recover. PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic does not try to hide his ambitions. He makes perfectly clear that he wants to win a French Open title more than anything. Embarking on a bid to complete a career Grand Slam and fill the only glaring hole on his resume, the No. 1-ranked Djokovic pulled out a tight first set en route to a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-5 victory Tuesday in the first round against David Goffin, a Belgian who was the surprise of Roland Garros a year ago. The key moment came in the first-set tiebreaker, with the 58th-ranked Goffin serving at 5-all. After he faulted once, a fan yelled, ''Allez, David!'' The 22-year-old Goffin then proceeded to miss his second serve, too, for a double-fault that gave Djokovic a set point. Goffin's backhand into the net gave the set to Djokovic, who had won fewer total points until then, 39-36. After that, though, there were not too many hiccups for Djokovic, although he did get broken at love by Goffin, evening the second set at 4-all. Djokovic broke right back and was really on his way. In 2012, Goffin got into the French Open field as a ''lucky loser'' — someone who loses in qualifying but is put in the main draw because another player withdrew — and made it all the way to the fourth round. That's when he got to face Roger Federer, Goffin's idol. He even took a set off the owner of the most career major titles before losing the match. Djokovic, meanwhile, lost to seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the final a year ago in Paris. That ended Djokovic's 27-match Grand Slam winning streak and, with it, his attempt to earn a fourth consecutive major championship. Now Djokovic — who has won the Australian Open four times, and the U.S. Open and Wimbledon once each — really would love to pick up his first trophy at Roland Garros to make a full assortment. ''This is the tournament that is the No. 1 priority of my year, of my season,'' the Serb said on the eve of the French Open. ''This is where I want to win, and I'm going to go for it. I think my game is there, and I'm very, very motivated.'' On Tuesday, he faced a total of only two break points, saving one, while converting 3 of 11 chances against Goffin, who displayed a beautiful touch at the net. Goffin was unafraid to move forward, something seen less and less these days, particularly on red clay. As Goffin walked off toward the locker room after the match ended, Djokovic stopped what he was doing to join the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd in applauding. Then it was Djokovic's turn to speak French to the fans during an interview, a MLB NATIONAL LEAGUE East Atlanta Washington Philadelphia New York Miami Central St. Louis Cincinnati Pittsburgh Chicago Milwaukee West Arizona Giants Colorado San Diego Los Angeles W 31 27 25 20 13 L 20 25 27 29 39 Pct GB .608 — .519 4.5 .481 6.5 .408 10 .250 18.5 W 34 33 32 20 19 L 17 19 20 30 30 Pct GB .667 — .635 1.5 .615 2.5 .400 13.5 .388 14 W 30 28 28 22 21 L 22 23 24 28 28 Pct .577 .549 .538 .440 .429 GB — 1.5 2 7 7.5 post-match ritual that's become de rigueur this week. Serena Williams and Nadal did it, too (as did Federer, who has for years). ''It was a good match. I hope you enjoyed it,'' Djokovic said. ''It was not easy, because David is a good player with a lot of talent and a lot of aggressiveness on the court.'' The match concluded as the sun began to set on Day 3 at the tournament, where very little action took place because of rain that began in the morning. There was a delay of more than 2 1/2 hours before play could start, and then after only 1 1/2 hours of action, another stop of more than an hour. Organizers wound up postponing some matches, meaning players such as Victoria Azarenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, will be slated for first-round action Wednesday, the fourth day of the tournament. Those who did get to play Tuesday included 2010 French Open runner-up and 2011 U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur, who beat 42year-old Kimiko DateKrumm of Japan 6-0, 6-2. ''I was happy to get out there and start,'' she said. ''It was spitting a little bit when we went out there. You think, 'Oh, are we going to start or are we not?' Lucky for me I was able to finish the match before this last downpour came.'' Another Australian, Bernard Tomic — whose father was barred from Roland Garros after being accused this month of headbutting Tomic's hitting partner — stopped because of a torn right hamstring while trailing Victor Hanescu 7-5, 7-6 (8), 2-1. American Jack Sock, a 20-year-old qualifier ranked 118th, made a successful Roland Garros debut by beating Guillermo GarciaLopez 6-2, 6-2, 7-5. Sock wore initials on his shoes in honor of two friends who died recently in separate car crashes. ''Kind of hits you out of nowhere,'' Sock said. ''I was definitely thinking of them out there.'' MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE East Boston New York Baltimore Tampa Bay Toronto Central Detroit Cleveland Chicago Kansas City Minnesota West W 32 30 28 27 22 L 21 21 24 24 30 Pct .604 .588 .538 .529 .423 GB — 1 3.5 4 9.5 W 29 27 24 21 20 L 21 24 25 28 28 Pct .580 .529 .490 .429 .417 GB — 2.5 4.5 7.5 8 W L Pct GB Texas 32 20 .615 — Athletics 29 23 .558 3 Los Angeles 23 28 .451 8.5 Seattle 22 29 .431 9.5 Houston 15 37 .288 17 —————————————————— Tuesday's results Atlanta 7, Toronto 6, 10 innings Colorado 2, Houston 1 Washington 9, Baltimore 3 Pittsburgh 1, Detroit 0, 11 innings Cincinnati 8, Cleveland 2 Tampa Bay 7, Miami 6 N.Y. Mets 2, N.Y. Yankees 1 Philadelphia 3, Boston 1 St. Louis 4, Kansas City 1 Chicago Cubs at Chicago, ppd., rain Minnesota at Milwaukee, late San Francisco at Oakland, late L.A. Angels at L.A. Dodgers, late San Diego at Seattle, late Today's games Chicago White Sox (Joh.Danks 0-0) at Chicago Cubs (Feldman 4-4), 11:20 a.m. Boston (Lackey 3-4) at Philadelphia (K.Kendrick 4-3), 4:05 p.m. Cincinnati (Arroyo 5-4) at Cleveland (Masterson 7-3), 4:05 p.m. Detroit (Ani.Sanchez 5-4) at Pittsburgh (A.J.Burnett 3-5), 4:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Hefner 0-5) at N.Y. Yankees (D.Phelps 3-2), 4:05 p.m. Washington (Zimmermann 8-2) at Baltimore (Tillman 4-2), 4:05 p.m. Tampa Bay (Ro.Hernandez 2-5) at Miami (Koehler 0-2), 4:10 p.m. Toronto (Rogers 1-2) at Atlanta (Medlen 1-5), 4:10 p.m. Arizona (McCarthy 2-3) at Texas (Grimm 4-3), 5:05 p.m. Milwaukee (Estrada 4-2) at Minnesota (Deduno 0-1), 5:10 p.m. Kansas City (Mendoza 1-2) at St. Louis (Lynn 7-1), 5:15 p.m. Houston (Bedard 0-2) at Colorado (Chatwood 3-0), 5:40 p.m. L.A. Dodgers (Capuano 1-3) at L.A. Angels (Weaver 0-1), 7:05 p.m. Seattle (J.Saunders 3-5) at San Diego (Stults 4-4), 7:10 p.m. Oakland (Milone 4-5) at San Francisco (Lincecum 3-4), 7:15 p.m.