Niemi gets shutout, ‘Hawks end skid at 3 (AP)
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville wasn’t sure who he would start in goal in the Blackhawks’ second road game in two nights. Antti Niemi was the right choice. Playing in back-to-back contests for just the second time this season and coming off a loss Tuesday night at St. Louis, Niemi made 21 saves for his seventh shutout of the season and third in seven games to help Chicago beat Minnesota 4-0…
Cavs squeak past improved Bucks 101-98 (AP)
The Milwaukee Bucks have climbed in the standings — and in stature. In fact, they’ve risen so far, so fast that their confident coach felt as if his young squad handed a victory to the NBA’s best team. “We should have won that game,” Scott Skiles said following a tough, 101-98 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Durant’s 37 carry Thunder over Celtics (AP)
The young Oklahoma City Thunder needed to beat just two more teams to reach their goal: wins against every club in their two seasons since moving from Seattle. And not just any ordinary teams. On Wednesday night, the Thunder completed the feat by edging the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics 109-104. Just five days earlier they beat the other, the Los Angeles Lakers — last season’s champions.
Bryan Cranston eyes Hanks-Roberts film (Reuters)
Reuters – Bryan Cranston is in final negotiations to co-star with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in “Larry Crowne.” Hanks also is directing the comedy-drama, which he co-wrote with Nia Vardalos.
James unlikely to play for US at worlds (AP)
LeBron James has a busy summer ahead. Maybe too busy to play basketball. Cleveland’s superstar said Wednesday night that he’s “probably not playing” for Team USA this summer in the world championships in Turkey. James, who was a captain on the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, is eligible for free agency after the season and is scheduled to film a movie.
Brit actor Alex Pettyfer is "Number Four" (Reuters)
Reuters – Alex Pettyfer, the British actor making his American feature debut this summer opposite Vanessa Hudgens in “Beastly,” is in talks to nab the lead role in “I Am Number Four,” based on the upcoming young-adult science-fiction book by James Frey and Jobie Hughes.
Lightning defeat lethargic Penguins 2-0 (AP)
The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t recognize some of the Tampa Bay players. Worse still, the Penguins didn’t recognize their own game against an opponent they figured to beat. Steven Stamkos scored his 46th goal to edge within one of NHL leader Sidney Crosby and the Lightning prevented Pittsburgh from gaining ground in the Eastern Conference race, beating the lethargic Penguins 2-0 on Wednesday…
Staal, Ward lift Hurricanes by Canadiens (AP)
Cam Ward kept the Carolina Hurricanes in the game through an abysmal opening period. That gave Brandon Sutter and Eric Staal a chance to put a dent in Montreal’s drive for a playoff spot while keeping the Hurricanes’ slim postseason hopes alive. Staal scored 2:55 into the third period and Ward made 34 saves to lead Carolina to a 2-1 victory over the Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Sandra Bullock Makes a House Call in Hollywood
Thar she goes!
A Mercedes-Benz carrying Sandra Bullock, who hasn’t been seen in public since reportedly moving out of the Orange County home she’d been sharing with Herr Husband,…
Hawks hand Lakers second straight loss (AP)
The Atlanta Hawks are looking to make a lengthy run in the NBA playoffs. Their bench sure appears deep enough for the long haul. Joe Johnson scored 25 points despite an aching thumb, but it was the Atlanta reserves who came up big against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Maurice Evans scored 18, Jamal Crawford added 14 and Zaza Pachulia chipped in with his first double-double in more than a year, leading…