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2B – Daily News – Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Sharks dismiss history at Joe Louis Rondo has 19 assists, ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks traditionally fare poorly at Joe Louis Arena. San Jose has won three of nine playoff games in Detroit, losing the last two in the 2007 Western Conference semifinals, and just five of 35 matchups during the regular season. The top-seeded Sharks beat Detroit twice at home and will put the two-time defending West- ern Conference champions on the brink of elimination if they win Tuesday night in Game 3 at the Red Wings’ storied arena. ‘‘Our history dictates that we haven’t played well in that build- ing, so we’ll have to try to change that and overcome that situation,’’ Sharks coach Todd McLellan said Monday before the team traveled to Detroit. ‘‘There is a history and we’re aware of it, but what hap- pened has absolutely nothing to do with May of 2010.’’ The Red Wings might not make it through much more of this month. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard said he and his team- mates can’t let that happen. ‘‘It’s definitely a must-win game,’’ Howard said moments after he stepped off the team plane, returning home for the first time in a week. Joe Pavelski, who has become a playoff star, said San Jose has to want to win just as much as the Red Wings. ‘‘They’re a great team over there and they’re desperate,’’ Pavelski said. ‘‘It’s important that we kind of match their despera- tion.’’ Detroit needs to figure out a way to slow down Pavelski, the first player to score more than once in three straight playoff games since Mario Lemieux did it in 1992. Pavelski started his five-game, goal-scoring streak in the first round against the Colorado Avalanche. ‘‘This is what you think about when you’re laying in bed a lot of times and you can’t sleep,’’ Pavelski said. ‘‘You want to score points. You don’t know if they will keep coming like that. You can’t worry about that. As soon as you feel you shouldn’t be doing it, that’s when it does stop.’’ Pavelski, who ranked sixth on the team in scoring during the regular season, has taken advan- tage of the room he’s had to roam. He has scored four power-play goals against the Red Wings. ‘‘We have to play better against him defensively by trying to take his time and space away,’’ Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lid- strom said. The Red Wings were called for 10 penalties in Game 2, leading to two goals by Pavelski. Detroit had six fewer calls go its way. Red Wings coach Mike Bab- cock refused to criticize the offi- ciating. ‘‘You have to take responsibil- ity yourself,’’ Babcock said. ‘‘There’s no sense blaming any- body else.’’ The Sharks have had no one to blame but themselves for being regarded as underachievers in the playoffs in the past. Despite plen- ty of talent, they haven’t gotten past the second round since their only trip to the Western Confer- ence finals in 2004. Since falling behind Colorado 2-1 in the first round, San Jose has finally played up to its poten- tial in the postseason by winning five straight with strong goaltend- ing, tight checking and timely goals. The streak of success helps forward Ryane Clowe and his teammates believe their past at Joe Louis Arena and the playoffs in general is moot. ‘‘We feel comfortable right now about our game,’’ Clowe said. ‘‘Maybe back then we weren’t playing the way we need- ed to, but right now we are. We have a lot of confidence.’’ The Red Wings haven’t become meek after carving a rep- utation as perhaps the best fran- chise in any sport the past two decades. They are in the playoffs for the 19th straight time — the longest streak in any league, which start- ed before San Jose had an NHL team. They won their fourth Stan- ley Cup title during this dominant stretch two years ago and fell just short of repeating last June. But if Detroit doesn’t win Game 3, its season likely will end before the conference finals for the first time in four years. ‘‘We’ve got to make a series,’’ Babcock said. ‘‘Right now, it isn’t.’’ Scoreboard BASEBALL Eastern Athletic League School Pleasant Valley 9 2 9 3 Paradise Chico Oroville Enterprise League Overall WL W L 22 3 SPARTANS 92 18 7 Shasta Foothill 7 4 5 7 3 7 3 9 0 11 18 4 16 8 8 11 10 12 11 15 4 19 ——— Today’s games Red Bluff at Paradise, 4 p.m. Enterprise at Chico, 2 p.m., 1st game Enterprise at Chico, 4 p.m., 2nd game Pleasant Valley at Foothill, 4 p.m. Shasta at Oroville, 6 p.m. Wednesday’s game Red Bluff at Pleasant Valley, 4 p.m. Thursday’s game Foothill at Enterprise, 4 p.m. Friday’s games Red Bluff at Shasta, 4 p.m. Paradise at Pleasant Valley, 3 p.m. Chico at Oroville, 4 p.m. May 10th game Chico at Foothill, 4 p.m. May 11th game Central Valley at Foothill, 7 p.m. ENDOFREGULARSEASON Northern Athletic League School Central Valley 6 2 CARDINALS 62 Yreka Lassen 6 2 4 4 West Valley 2 6 Anderson 0 8 League Overall WL W L T 24 8 0 15 5 1 15 12 1 13 8 0 7 12 0 6 7 0 ——— Today’s games Central Valley at Corning, 6 p.m. Yreka at West Valley, 4 p.m. Lassen at Anderson, 6 p.m. Thursday’s games Corning at West Valley, 4 p.m. Anderson at Yreka, 6 p.m. Lassen at Central Valley, 7 p.m. May 11th game Central Valley at Foothill, 7 p.m. ENDOFREGULARSEASON Mid-Valley League School Hamilton East Nicolaus 8 0 Biggs 0 5 0 6 BULLDOGS 34 7 8 Esparto Williams ——— Monday’s result Biggs at Williams, late Today’s games Biggs at Los Molinos, 4:30 p.m. Hamilton at Williams, 4 p.m. East Nicolaus at Esparto Wednesday’s game Hamilton at Los Molinos, 4:30 p.m. Friday’s games Los Molinos at Esparto, 4:30 p.m. Hamilton at East Nicolaus, 4:30 p.m. May 11th game Biggs at Esparto, 4:30 p.m. ENDOFREGULARSEASON Tri-Cities League School League Overall WL W L WARRIORS 40 11 8 Liberty Christian 1 1 Redding Christian1 1 University Prep 0 4 7 7 4 11 1 20 ——— Today’s games Liberty Christian at Mercy, 4 p.m. Redding Christian at University Prep, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday’s game University Prep at Hayfork, 4 p.m. Thursday’s game Mercy at Redding Christian, 4 p.m. Friday’s game University Prep at Liberty Christian, 4 p.m. May 10th game Liberty Christian at Redding Christian, 4 p.m. May 11th game Redding Christian at Liberty Christian, 4 p.m. ENDOFREGULARSEASON Playoff Points Top 8 in each division make the playoffs. Teams given points for league record, non- league record and division record to come League Overall WL W L T 20 3 0 16 3 0 6 9 0 0 5 2 4 3 0 13 0 1 17 1 up with a total points value. Division 1 1. Pleasant Valley 16.00--9.29--17.27 2. Shasta 15.00--9.00-14.67 3.REDBLUFF 16.36--6.43--12.94 4.CORNING 15.00--7.31--10.00 5.Foothill 12.73--6.92--11.11 6. Las Plumas 6.67--5.56--8.00 7.Paradise 8.33--4.29--7.50 8. Chico 6.67--5.83--7.50 9. Oroville 5.00--5.71--5.56 10. Enterprise 0.00--3.33--0.00 Division 4 1. East Nicolaus 20.00--8.00--20.00 48.00 2.Portola 20.00--4.62--15.00 3. Biggs 14.29--9.09--12.50 4. Etna 7.50--5.00--20.00 5. Hamilton 11.43--2.50--10.00 6.LOS MOLINOS 8.57--5.00-5.00 7.Weed 2.50--4.44--6.67 8. Quincy 10.00--3.08--0.00 9. Modoc 6.00--5.00-0.00 10. Esparto 0.00--0.00-0.00 Division 5 1.Maxwell 20.00--8.89--15.00 2. Chester 16.00--8.33--17.50 3.Fall River 15.00--7.50--16.00 4.Tulelake 15.00-6.67--14.29 5.MERCY 20.00--4.67--10.00 6. Loyalton 10.00--8.00--13.33 7.Hayfork 10.00--4.29--4.00 8. Liberty 15.00--5.00--0.00 9.Westwood 6.67--1.88--0.00 10. Burney 3.33--1.25--0.00 43.89 41.83 38.50 35.95 34.67 31.33 18.29 15.00 8.54 4.58 SOFTBALL Eastern Athletic League School League Overall WL W L SPARTANS 71 21 7 Paradise Chico Oroville Foothill Enterprise 5 2 6 4 4 4 4 5 Pleasant Valley 4 5 Shasta 4 6 1 8 ——— Monday’s results Enterprise at Oroville, late Paradise at Foothill, late Today’s games Red Bluff at Paradise Chico at Enterprise, 4 p.m. Foothill at Pleasant Valley, 4 p.m. Oroville at Shasta, 6 p.m. Wednesday’s game Paradise at Red Bluff, 4 p.m. Thursday’s game Shasta at Red Bluff, 4 p.m. Friday’s games Enterprise at Foothill, 4 p.m. Oroville at Chico, 4 p.m. Pleasant Valley at Paradise, 4 p.m. May 11th games Red Bluff at Chico, 4 p.m. Foothill at Oroville, 3:30 p.m. Paradise at Enterprise, 4 p.m. Pleasant Valley at Shasta, 4 p.m. May 12th games Red Bluff at Pleasant Valley, 4 p.m. Paradise at Oroville, 3:30 p.m. May 14th games Oroville at Red Bluff, 4 p.m. Chico at Foothill, 4 p.m. Enterprise at Pleasant Valley, 4 p.m. Shasta at Paradise ENDOFREGULARSEASON Northern Athletic League School West Valley 6 1 3 2 Central Valley 2 6 Anderson 3 3 1 5 CARDINALS 31 8 5 Lassen Yreka ——— Today’s games Central Valley at Corning, 4 p.m. Anderson at Lassen, 4 p.m. West Valley at Yreka, 4 p.m. Thursday’s game Lassen at Central Valley, 4 p.m. Friday’s games West Valley at Corning, 3 p.m., 1st game West Valley at Corning,4:30 p.m.,2nd game Yreka at Lassen, 4 p.m. May 11th game Corning at Anderson, 4 p.m. West Valley at Central Valley, 4 p.m. Yreka at Lassen, 4 p.m. May 13th games Corning at Lassen, 3:30 p.m., 1st game Corning at Lassen, 5 p.m.,2nd game Anderson at West Valley, 4 p.m. Central Valley at Yreka, 4 p.m. ENDOFREGULARSEASON League Overall WL W L T 19 6 0 1 15 9 0 13 13 0 7 13 0 10 16 0 A’s 12 8 21 9 10 15 12 13 10 11 12 9 5 17 39.62 35.88 32.50 23.93 18.57 13.61 13.08 11.00 0.00 42.56 38.67 35.73 32.31 30.76 20.22 20.12 20.00 16.27 3.33 Mid-Valley League School Hamilton League Overall WL W L 7 0 East Nicolaus 7 1 Esparto Williams BULLDOGS 34 6 8 Biggs 4 3 1 6 0 8 ——— Monday’s results Biggs at Williams, late East Nicolaus at Esparto, late Today’s games Biggs at Los Molinos, 4:30 p.m. Hamilton at Williams, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday’s game Hamilton at Los Molinos, 4:30 p.m. Friday’s games Los Molinos at Esparto, 4:30 p.m. Hamilton at East Nicolaus, 4:30 p.m. May 11th games Live Oak at Hamilton, 4 p.m. Biggs at Esparto, 4:30 p.m. ENDOFREGULARSEASON Tri-Cities League School League Overall WL W L WARRIORS 40 7 7 Redding Christian1 1 University Prep 1 3 Liberty Christian 0 2 9 9 2 15 1 7 ——— Today’s games Liberty Christian at Mercy, 4 p.m. Redding Christian at University Prep, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday’s game Liberty Christian at Redding Christian, 3:30 p.m. Thursday’s game Mercy at Redding Christian, 1 p.m. Friday’s game University Prep at Liberty Christian, 4 p.m. May 10th game Fall River at University Prep, 4 p.m. May 11th game Redding Christian at Liberty Christian, 3:30 p.m. ENDOFREGULARSEASON Playoff Points Teams ranked based on overall record, divi- sion record and strength of schedule. Lowest rank earns higher ranking. Division 3 Top 4 make playoffs. 1.Paradise 2--2--2 1.Foothill 6. Enterprise 6 3. Las Plumas 3--3--4 10 4.CORNING 5. Oroville 4--1--1 6 1--6--5 Division 5 Top 16 make playoffs. 1. Etna 2. Hamilton 1--2--3 6 4--1--3 8 3. East Nicolaus 5--3--1 9 3. Colusa 5. Quincy 6.Modoc 7.Portola 7.MERCY 9. Durham 10. Esparto 14.Tulelake 15.Trinity 16. Rio Vista 17.Weed 3--5--1 9 2--4--6 12 4--3--10 17 8--7--6 21 6--6--9 21 12--8--2 22 10--8--5 23 10.LOSMOLINOS 7--7--9 23 12. Pierce 13. Biggs 10--9--8 27 11--9--8 28 9--10--10 29 14--10--7 31 16--12--4 32 13--11--10 34 18. University Prep 17--12--9 38 18.Williams 20. Liberty 15--13--10 38 16-13-10 39 MLB West Division Texas American League WL Pct GB 13 12 .520 — 13 13 .500 .5 Angels 12 15 .444 2 Seattle 11 14 .440 2 East Division WL Pct GB Tampa Bay 18 7 .720 — New York 17 8 .680 1 Toronto 14 13 .519 5 Boston 12 14 .462 6.5 Baltimore 7 19 .269 11.5 Central Division Minnesota 17 9 .654 — Detroit WL Pct GB 16 11 .593 1.5 Chicago 11 15 .423 6 Cleveland 10 15 .400 6.5 Kansas City 10 16 .385 7 ——— Monday’s results Texas at Oakland, late Boston 17, Los Angeles 8 Chicago 5, Kansas City 1 Minnesota 10, Detroit 4 12 5--5--3 13 6-4-3 13 6 14 2 16 15 5 15 10 4 9 New York 4, Baltimore 1 Toronto 5, Cleveland 1 Today’s games Texas (Feldman 1-2) at Oakland (Undecided),7:05 p.m.,CSNCA Baltimore (Matusz 2-1) at New York (A.J.Burnett 3-0), 4:05 p.m. Toronto (R.Romero 2-1) at Cleveland (Westbrook 0-2), 4:05 p.m. Los Angeles (E.Santana 1-2) at Boston (Lester 1-2), 4:10 p.m. Detroit (Willis 1-1) at Minnesota (Blackburn 1-1), 5:10 p.m. Kansas City (Hochevar 2-1) at Chicago (Floyd 1-2), 5:10 p.m. Tampa Bay (J.Shields 3-0) at Seattle (J.Vargas 2-1), 7:10 p.m. West Division National League WL Pct GB Padres 16 9 .640 — GIANTS 14 10 .583 1.5 Colorado 12 13 .480 4 Arizona 12 14 .462 4.5 Dodgers 11 14 .440 5 East Division WL Pct GB Philadelphia 14 11 .560 — New York 14 12 .538 .5 Florida 13 12 .520 1 Washington 13 12 .520 1 Atlanta 11 14 .440 3 Central Division WL Pct GB St. Louis 18 8 .692 — Chicago 13 13 .500 5 Cincinnati 13 13 .500 5 Milwaukee 10 15 .400 7.5 Pittsburgh 10 15 .400 7.5 Houston 8 17 .320 9.5 ——— Monday’s results Arizona 9, Houston 1 Cincinnati 3, New York 2, 11 innings St. Louis 6, Philadelphia 3 Colorado at San Diego, late Today’s games San Francisco (Lincecum 4-0) at Florida (A.Sanchez 1-2),4:10 p.m.,CSNBA Atlanta (Kawakami 0-4) at Washington (L.Hernandez 3-1), 4:05 p.m. Chicago (Dempster 2-1) at Pittsburgh (Maholm 1-2), 4:05 p.m. St. Louis (Wainwright 4-1) at Philadelphia (Hamels 2-2), 4:05 p.m. New York (Maine 1-1) at Cincinnati (Arroyo 1-2), 4:10 p.m. Arizona (I.Kennedy 1-1) at Houston (Oswalt 2-3), 5:08 p.m. Colorado (G.Smith 1-2) at San Diego (LeBlanc 2-0), 7:05 p.m. Milwaukee (Narveson 1-0) at L.os Angeles (Kershaw 1-1), 7:10 p.m. NBA Conference Semifinals Best-of-7 Monday’s results Boston 104, Cleveland 86 Series tied 1-1 San Antonio at Phoenix, late Series tied 0-0 Today’s games Atlanta at Orlando, 5 p.m. Series tied 0-0 Utah at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers lead series 1-0 NHL Conference Semifinals Best-of-7 Monday’s results Boston 3, Philadelphia 2 Boston leads series 2-0 Chicago 4, Vancouver 2 Series tied 1-1 Today’s games San Jose at Detroit, 4:30 p.m. San Jose leads series 2-0 Pittsburgh at Montreal, 4 p.m. Series tied 1-1 MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA Galaxy 5 0 1 16 10 2 Houston 3 2 1 10 9 6 Colorado 3 2 1 10 8 6 Seattle 2 2 3 9 8 8 QUAKES 32 0 9 7 7 Salt Lake 2 3 1 7 9 8 Chivas USA 2 3 1 7 6 9 FC Dallas 0 1 4 4 7 8 EASTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA New York 5 1 0 15 8 4 Columbus 2 0 2 8 6 3 Chicago 2 2 2 8 8 6 New England 2 3 1 7 8 7 Kansas City 2 2 1 7 5 4 Toronto FC 2 4 0 6 7 12 Philadelphia 1 4 0 3 6 11 D.C. 0 5 0 0 2 13 1.Timothy Peters 2.Todd Bodine 3. Aric Almirola Truck Points Leaders 760 738 730 4.Ron Hornaday Jr. 663 5. Johnny Sauter 6. Matt Crafton 7. Jason White 8. Ricky Carmichael 605 8.Austin Dillon 10. Mike Skinner 605 592 Upcoming Schedule May 14 — Dover 200, Dover, Del. May 21 — North Carolina Education Lottery 200, Concord, N.C. 643 626 607 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. ——— Saturday’s results San Jose 1, Colorado 0 Chicago 1, Chivas USA 1, tie Houston 3, Kansas City 0 Los Angeles 3, Philadelphia 1 New England 1, FC Dallas 1, tie New York 2, D.C. United 0 Real Salt Lake 2, Toronto FC 1 Seattle FC 1, Columbus 1, tie NASCAR Sprint Cup Points Leaders 1.Kevin Harvick 2. Jimmie Johnson 1,457 3.Kyle Busch 4. Matt Kenseth 5. Greg Biffle 6. Jeff Gordon 7.Denny Hamlin 8.Kurt Busch 9. Jeff Burton 1,467 1,358 10. Mark Martin 11. Carl Edwards 12. Clint Bowyer 1,348 1,334 1,305 1,268 1,255 1,247 1,242 1,227 1,213 13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,209 14. Martin Truex Jr. 15.Tony Stewart 16.Ryan Newman 1,142 17. Joey Logano 1,116 18. Juan Pablo Montoya 1,109 19. Jamie McMurray 1,104 20.Paul Menard 21. AJ Allmendinger 1,029 22. Kasey Kahne 23.David Ragan 24. Brian Vickers 25. Scott Speed 26. Brad Keselowski 974 27.David Reutimann 967 28. Marcos Ambrose 925 29.Sam Hornish Jr. 882 30. Elliott Sadler 31.Bobby Labonte 32.Travis Kvapil 33. Regan Smith 34.Robby Gordon 35.David Gilliland 36.Kevin Conway 37. Mike Bliss 38.Max Papis 39.Joe Nemechek 40.Dave Blaney 41.David Stremme 45. Michael Waltrip 46.Terry Cook 47. Casey Mears 50. Reed Sorenson 871 838 824 807 800 671 615 578 423 414 345 301 42. Michael McDowell 293 43. Bill Elliott 44. Boris Said 290 252 200 164 158 48. Robert Richardson Jr.155 49. Aric Almirola 154 86 Upcoming Schedule x - non-points race May 8 — Showtime Southern 500, Darling- ton, S.C. May 16 — Autism Speaks 400, Dover, Del. May 22 — x-NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Concord, N.C. May 22 — x-Sprint Showdown, Concord, N.C. May 30 — Coca-Cola 600, Concord, N.C. Nationwide Points Leaders 1. Brad Keselowski 2.Kevin Harvick 3.Kyle Busch 4. Justin Allgaier 5. Carl Edwards 6. Joey Logano 7.Paul Menard 8. Greg Biffle 1,469 1,410 1,385 1,289 1,266 1,228 1,191 1,039 9. Brendan Gaughan 976 10. Brian Scott 11.Tony Raines 12.Trevor Bayne 13. Scott Lagasse Jr. 915 14. Steve Wallace 15. Jason Leffler 16.Kenny Wallace 17. Michael Annett 18. James Buescher 833 19. Mike Wallace 955 940 932 896 894 855 847 816 20. Reed Sorenson 793 Upcoming Schedule May 7 — Royal Purple 200, Darlington, S.C. May 15 — Heluva Good! 200, Dover, Del. May 29 — TECH-NET Auto Service 300, Concord, N.C. 1,044 1,026 1,021 1,019 1,007 Name 1,196 1,160 TENNIS 1.Roger Federer 2. Rafael Nadal 3. Andy Roddick 4. Andy Murray ATP Money Leaders $2,080,127 5.Fernando Verdasco 6. Robin Soderling 7.Novak Djokovic 8.David Ferrer 9. Ivan Ljubicic $1,849,835 $1,233,830 $1,141,167 $1,124,135 $951,995 $918,689 $908,185 $845,258 10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga $723,331 WTAMoney Leaders 1. Serena Williams $1,984,467 2. Justine Henin 3.Venus Williams 4. Jelena Jankovic 5. Kim Clijsters 6. Caroline Wozniacki 7. Samantha Stosur 8. Zheng Jie 9.Victoria Azarenka $1,159,731 $1,090,046 $847,472 $807,636 $596,653 $596,513 $498,721 $454,392 10. Agnieszka Radwanska $433,955 PGA FedExCup Leaders Pts Money 1. Ernie Els 2. Jim Furyk 1,396 $3,143,141 1,296 $2,562,952 3. Phil Mickelson 1,233 $2,544,719 4. Anthony Kim 1,215 $2,518,521 5. Camilo Villegas 972 $2,118,415 6. Steve Stricker 966 $2,033,714 7. Dustin Johnson 903 $1,866,645 8. Matt Kuchar 849 $1,731,563 9. Bill Haas 838 $1,425,831 10. Hunter Mahan 795 $1,607,593 11.Ben Crane 782 $1,355,276 12. Jason Bohn 749 $1,547,321 13. K.J. Choi 746 $1,310,310 14. Luke Donald 743 $1,531,271 15. Robert Allenby 731 $1,368,057 16. Ian Poulter 17. Geoff Ogilvy 689 $1,400,306 18. J.B. Holmes 664 $1,264,422 19. Rickie Fowler 659 $1,309,901 20.Paul Casey 640 $1,518,295 DEALS Major League Baseball American League OAKLAND—Activated RHP Michael Wuertz from the 15-day DL.Optioned LHP Brad Kilby to Sacramento (PCL). CHICAGO—Activated C Ramon Castro from the 15-day DL. Optioned C Donny Lucy to Charlotte (IL). SEATTLE—Released RHP Ricky Orta. National League ARIZONA—Recalled RHP Cesar Valdez from Reno (PCL). Optioned RHP Kevin Mul- vey to Reno. National Basketball Association CHICAGO—Fired coach Vinny Del Negro. National Hockey League PHOENIX—Signed D Maxim Goncharov. National Football League SAN FRANCISCO—Signed WR Bakari Grant to a two-year contract. ARIZONA—Signed CB Justin Miller to a one- year contract. BUFFALO—Signed C Sean Allen, C Kyle Mutcher and WR Donald Jones. DALLAS—Signed G Montrae Holland to a two-year contract. NEW ENGLAND—Signed WR Buddy Farn- ham. NEW ORLEANS—Agreed to terms with S Darren Sharper on a one-year contract. N.Y.JETS—Signed LB Cory Reamer and LB Brashton Satele.Waived LB Broderick Stew- art. SEATTLE—Released LB Reggie Carter and LS Patrick MacDonald. Signed CB Chris Richards and OT Joe Toledo. TAMPA BAY—Signed WR Chris Brooks, G Lee Grimes, DE George Johnson, FB Ren- drick Taylor and CB Darrell Pasco. Released G Vladimir Richard and DE Matt Featherston. WASHINGTON—Released DT Anthony Montgomery, WR Marko Mitchell, WR James Robinson, RB Anthony Alridge and RB P.J. Hill. College HOFSTRA—Announced the resignation of men’s basketball coach Tim Welsh. LSU—Suspended football C T-Bob Hebert indefinitely because of a drunken driving arrest over the weekend. NORTHEASTERN—Signed men’s basket- ball coach Bill Coen to a multiyear contract extension. UNC WILMINGTON—Named Jamie Kach- marik and Matt McMahon men’s assistant basketball coaches. WAGNER—Named Luke Murray men’s assistant basketball coach. 702 $1,700,025 Celtics even series 1-1 CLEVELAND (AP) — The window hasn’t closed on the Boston Celtics. It’s still wide open. Rajon Rondo tied a team playoff record with 19 assists, Ray Allen scored 22 points and the Celtics, showing they’re still very dangerous despite their years, opened a 25-point lead in the fourth and then survived Cleveland’s comeback for a 104-86 win on Monday night to even their semifinal series at 1-1. After blowing an 11-point lead in the third quarter of Game 1, the Celtics almost squandered a much bigger one. They led 91-66 with 9:08 left, but the Cavs scored 15 straight and pulled within 93-83 on LeBron James’ basket with 3:13 left. Boston, though, closed with an 11-3 spurt. James scored 24 and Antawn Jamison 16 for Cleveland, outscored 31-12 in the third. Game 3 is Friday night in Boston. The Celtics seemed in control with their 25-point bulge, but they got complacent and found themselves having to scramble down the stretch when they could have been rest- ing up. ‘‘We were playing the clock instead of the game and got stagnant,’’ Rondo said. But leading 93-83, Boston regrouped. Rondo and Allen scored, then Kevin Garnett completed a three-point play to make it 100-84, allowing Celtics coach Doc Rivers to final- ly relax after watching his club play inspired ball most of the way before letting up. Garnett finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul Pierce scored 14. Rasheed Wallace, called out by Rivers after a lousy open- er, added 17 points off the bench as the Celtics stripped the Cavaliers of home-court advantage in the series and gave them four days to think about went wrong. Two years removed from their 17th NBA title, the Celtics were given little chance of getting past James and the top- seeded Cavs. Despite beating Miami in the first round, Boston was thought to be too old, too slow and too reliant on the aging Big Three of Allen, Garnett and Pierce. But the trio combined for 54 points with Rondo, the Celtics’ jitterbugging point guard, setting them up with pass- es from impossible angles. Rondo matched the club’s post- season record for assists set by Hall of Famer Bob Cousy.