SPORTS DIGEST

BASKETBALL

The Cleveland Cavaliers edged out the Toronto Raptors 132-129 to boost their chances of winning the Central Division. The sides shared 80 points in the first quarter and the Raptors went into the break 79-64 up. But the Cavs came back, with Lebron James leading the scoring with 35 points and 17 assists, while Kyle Lowry had 24 points and seven assists for Toronto. The Raptors are guaranteed a play-off berth and the Cavs sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 42-29 record. Dwight Howard starred for the Charlotte Hornets with 32 points and 30 rebounds as the side left it late to beat the Brooklyn Nets 111-105. The Nets led 105-102 with less than a minute on the clock but the Hornets scored nine without reply for the win. All five Philadelphia 76ers starters racked up double figures as they beat the floundering Memphis Grizzlies 119-105, while Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game injured as the Milwaukee Bucks went down to the LA Clippers 127-120. Anthony Davis had 28 points and 13 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans got a win against the Indiana Pacers 96-92 to sit fifth in a tight Western Conference. San Antonio Spurs got their fifth win in a row as the side beat the Washington Wizards 98-90. The Denver Nuggets ran away with the lead as they beat the Chicago Bulls 135102 and the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks 119-98, with Kelly Olynyk scoring 22 and adding 10 assists. NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: Brooklyn Nets 105 Charlotte Hornets 111, Chicago Bulls 102 Denver Nuggets 135, Cleveland Cavaliers 132 Toronto Raptors 129, Miami Heat 119 New York Knicks 98, Milwaukee Bucks 120 LA Clippers 127, Philadelphia 76ers 119 Memphis Grizzlies 105, San Antonio Spurs 98 Washington Wizards 90.

CRICKET

3rd TEST (Cape Town) South Africa 266-8 (D Elgar 121 no, A B de Villiers 64, P J Cummins 4-64) v Australia 1st TEST (Auckland) England 58 (T A Boult 6-32, T G Southee 4-25) v New Zealand 175-3 (K S Williamson 91 no)

ICE HOCKEY

The Boston Bruins clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs but their celebrations were muted after Jaden Schwartz got his second of the night as the St Louis Blues recorded an overtime win. The Bruins only needed a point to become the third team to clinch a berth and Ryan Donato put the side 1-0 up after 10:12 in the first. Schwartz got his first of the night and 21st of the season to draw things level with 10 minutes to go and then found a winner after carrying the puck from one end of the rink to the other and firing a wrist-shot for the score. The Pittsburgh Penguins boosted their play-off chances with a 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Derick Brassard and Jake Guentzel scored in the third period after Montreal came from two down to lead 3-2. There were also wins for the Anaheim Ducks, who beat the Calgary Flames 4-0, while the Arizona Coyotes also scored four in their 4-1 win over Buffalo. NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE: Buffalo Sabres 1 Arizona Coyotes 4, Calgary Flames 0 Anaheim Ducks 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 5 Montreal Canadiens 3, St Louis Blues 2 Boston Bruins 1 (OT).

ROWING

Brendan Purcell is to swap triathlon for rowing after being appointed British Rowing performance director. Purcell replaces Sir David Tanner, who stepped down at the end of February after 21 years of success at world and Olympic level. The 47-year-old Purcell has been performance director of British Triathlon since January 2013 and will begin his role with British Rowing on 1 June. Purcell, who competed in canoeing for Australia, said: “I know there are big shoes to fill following on from Sir David Tanner but there’s no doubt he’s left the programme in a strong position, not just in this Olympiad, but for many years to come.” British Rowing chief executive Andy Parkinson said: “Brendan’s record of delivering success at the highest level made him the ideal candidate to lead the GB Rowing team into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.”

SPEEDWAY

FIXTURES Tonight Scottish Cup 1st Leg: Glasgow v Edinburgh (7.30pm); 70th Anniversary Celebration: Poole (7pm); Lee Richardson Spring Classic: Lakeside (8pm). Tomorrow 90th Anniversary Celebration Meeting: Belle Vue (6pm); Malcolm Cole Memorial Cup: Eastbourne Forman IT Eagles v IT First Eagles (7.30pm). Sunday Championship Shield: Peterborough v Lakeside (7pm); Simon Stead Farewell: Sheffield (4pm).