Wizards hold off Hawks for 3- 2 lead

Back at home, and back in charge, Bradley Beal scored 27 points, and John Wall added 20 points and 14 assists, leading the Washington Wizards to a 103- 99 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks for a 3- 2 lead in their first- round Eastern Conference playoff series.

Dennis Schroder led the Hawks with 29 points, making a career high- tying five threes, and 11 assists. But after his basket from beyond the arc pulled Atlanta within 101- 99 with 70 seconds left, Wall responded with a 21foot pull- up jumper.

The NBA fined Rockets owner Leslie Alexander $ 100,000, after he left his courtside seat to yell at a referee in the final seconds of the first quarter of Houston’s series- clinching Game 5 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Wolves get past Checkers

The Wolves scored two power- play goals in the opening five minutes and advanced to the second round of the AHL playoffs with a 3- 2 win over the Charlotte Checkers at Allstate Arena.

Adam Musil’s shorthanded goal in the second period stood up as the gamewinner. Wolves goalie Ville Husso ( 3- 1- 1) had 31 saves.

The Wolves will face the Grand Rapids Griffins in the second round. Game 1 will be held at 7 p. m. on May 3 at Allstate Arena.

P. K. Subban had a goal and two assists and Vernon Fiddler scored with 5: 05 left, sending the Nashville Predators to a 4- 3 victory over the host St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their second- round playoff series.

The Canucks named Travis Green their new coach. Green spent the last four seasons coaching the Canucks’ top farm team.

The Bruins are bringing Bruce Cassidy back next season, dropping the interim tag from his title.

Smith commits to Illinois

Edwardsville standout 6- 5 guard Mark Smith committed to Illinois. The Mr. Basketball winner is the No. 2 ranked prospect in the state.

Maria Sharapova won her first match following her return to professional tennis after a 15- month doping ban, beating Roberta Vinci at the Porsche Grand Prix. Sharapova will find out next month whether she can compete at the French Open.

AP