Pau Gasol signs with Milwaukee

Pau Gasol signed with the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks on March 3, two days after the 38-year-old Spanish center reached a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs. The two-time NBA champion and six-time All-Star averaged 4.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 12.2 minutes in 27 games for the Spurs this season, his 18th in the NBA. In 1,223 career games with Memphis, the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago and San Antonio, he has averaged 17.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.59 blocks and 33.5 minutes. He is one of four players with over 20,000 points, 11,000 rebounds, 3,500 assists and 1,500 blocks in his career, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. The 7-footer helped the Lakers win titles in 2009 and 2010. HARDEN LEADS ROCKETS James Harden had 42 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets held on the beat the Boston Celtics, 115-104, for their fifth straight victory. Harden made six 3-pointers and scored 40 or more points for the 24th time this season. Houston entered the day in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, a game behind of fourth-place Oklahoma City. Eric Gordon added 32 points and had eight 3-pointers. Boston has lost five of last six. Kyrie Irving led the Celtics with 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Al Horford finished with 19 points. The Celtics did a decent job trying to contain Harden, limiting him to 14-of-31 shooting from the field and nine free throw attempts. But Boston was inefficient when it had the ball, shooting 48 percent (37 of 77) for the game and 29 percent (8 of 28) from beyond the arc.

NFL

CHIEFS PLAN TO FRANCHISE FORD >> The Kansas City Chiefs are placing the franchise tag on outside linebacker Dee Ford after the best season of his career, though that could be just the first step in their dealings with him. The decision was made on Saturday. But the Chiefs have discussed signing Ford to a long-term deal, and they are open to trade possibilities as they switch their base defenses. The person spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity because the move was not finalized as the paperwork awaited filing. ESPN. com was first to report the Chiefs had made the decision. The franchise tag for an outside linebacker next season is just over $15.4 million, a number the Chiefs could easily fit under the salary cap. But general manager Brett Veach has made it clear since taking over last year that he is open to making any moves that help the overall club. That could mean a long-term contract — the deadline for doing that with a franchise player is July 15 — or trading away one of the league’s top pass rushers.

NHL

BLUE JACKETS LOSE TO WINNIPEG >> Blake Wheeler scored three of his four goals in the third period, Connor Hellebuyck had 40 saves and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Blue Jackets, 5-2, on March 3. Wheeler’s goal with 2:13 left off Patrik Laine’s feed sealed the game, and he added an emptynetter with 34 seconds left. Sami Niku also tallied for the Jets, who won their second straight and stayed in first place in the Central Division despite being outshot by Columbus 42-26. Nick Foligno and Seth Jones scored for the Blue Jackets, who lost their second straight and stayed below the wildcard line in the Eastern Division.