Nadal tops Monfils for Monte Carlo title

Rafael Nadal overcame a sloppy performance on his serve to beat Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 Sunday and win the Monte Carlo Masters for the ninth time. It was the Spaniard’s first tournament win in Monaco since winning the last of his eight straight titles there in 2012.

Fed Cup: The United States sealed a return to the elite World Group next year after Coco Vandeweghe beat Sam Stosur in three sets to give the Americans an unassailable 3-0 lead over host Australia in their playoff at Brisbane.

Vandeweghe replaced Madison Keys in the opening reverse singles match and came from a set and a break down to beat Australian No. 1 Stosur 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the best-of-five event.

The U.S. was without Serena and Venus Williams but took a 2-0 lead Saturday with singles victories by Christina McHale and Keys.

The Golden State Warriors are preparing to play without NBA MVP Stephen Curry for Game 2 of their playoff series against Houston as he nurses an ankle injury.

Even if they know he will beg and plead to play through any pain. As long as he can’t make it worse, Curry insists it will be hard to keep him off the court tonight.

“Oh, yeah, for sure,” coach Steve Kerr said of Curry campaigning to play.

Kerr called Curry’s status questionable again Sunday, when the point guard didn’t practice a day after hurting his right ankle late in the first half of a 104-78 win over the Rockets in the playoff opener.

Curry was undergoing treatment on the ankle Sunday and unavailable for interviews.

“He’s doing a little better than yesterday,” Kerr said. “He’ll get some rest, get off his feet and we’ll do the same thing tomorrow at shootaround and see how he’s feeling.”

Celtics: Guard Avery Bradley is likely out for the rest of the opening-round playoff series against the Hawks with a hamstring injury, coach Brad Stevens said.

Bradley went down with a severely strained right hamstring in the fourth quarter of Game 1.

Nets: Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson was hired as Brooklyn’s new coach. Atkinson spent the past four seasons in Atlanta. Before that, he was a New York Knicks assistant for four seasons.

Atkinson will remain with Atlanta through the playoffs.

Cavaliers 106, Pistons 101: Kyrie Irving scored 31 points in his first playoff game since being injured in last year’s NBA Finals and Kevin Love added 28, leading host Cleveland over Detroit in the opener of their first-round playoff series.

LeBron James added 22 points and 11 assists for the top-seeded Cavs, who got all they could handle from the

Heat 123, Hornets 91: Luol Deng scored 31 points on 11-for-13 shooting and Hassan Whiteside added 21 points and 11 rebounds in his postseason debut as host Miami wasted no time taking control of its first-round series with Charlotte.

Dwyane Wade scored 16 for the Heat, who set a franchise record for most points in a playoff game.

Nic Batum scored 24 points for the Hornets.

Spurs 106, Grizzlies 74: Kawhi Leonard had 20 points as host San Antonio handed Memphis its worst postseason loss in their series opener.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 points for the Spurs.

Vince Carter had 16 points to lead the Grizzlies.