NBA
Bryant's 40 lift Lakers; Clippers win draft lottery
Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, including six free throws in the final 30 seconds, to lift Los Angeles to a 105-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night after the Lakers trailed most of the game. Pau Gasol added 13 points and 14 rebounds and Derek Fisher had 13 points for the Lakers, who faced a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Gasol's two free throws tied the game for the last time at 99 before Bryant went to the line, offsetting a three-pointer by Chauncey Billups and a free throw by J.R. Smith. Carmelo Anthony (Towson Catholic) scored 39 points for the Nuggets.
DRAFT LOTTERY: : The Clippers won the lottery for the June 25 draft, moving up from the third-best chance to earn the top pick for the third time, earning the right to draft All-America forward Blake Griffin of Oklahoma, the national college player of the year who led the nation with 30 double doubles and 14.4 rebounds per game while averaging a Big 12-best 22.7 points as a sophomore. The Grizzlies vaulted to second and Thunder will pick third. The Kings, who had the best chance to win the lottery after finishing with a league-worst 17-65 record, fell to fourth, and the Wizards dropped from second to No. 5. The Clippers last had the No. 1 pick in 1998 and, perhaps predictably, blew it, taking eventual bust Michael Olowokandi.
76ERS: : Philadelphia interviewed Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis and Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey for its coaching vacancy.
Golf
Connelly tied for third in NCAAs at Caves Valley
Central Florida senior Stephanie Connelly (Northeast-Anne Arundel) shot an even-par 72 at the NCAA Division I women's championship at Caves Valley Golf Course in Owings Mills and is tied for third place after one round, two shots behind Catherine O'Donnell of North Carolina and Stephanie Sherlock of Denver. Connelly bogeyed the first two holes but had birdies on three holes on the back nine. "I putted and chipped pretty well," she said. "I didn't hit the ball great. When I hit it well, I was really close. I was pretty much getting up and down a lot of the time. I putted well and made a lot of good par putts. I wasn't always right next to the hole, but my speed was pretty good, but I just limited my mistakes."
U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING: : Professional Ki Moon of Ellicott City shot a 4-under 68 and earned the medal Monday at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana.
Colleges
