NW Sports from the AP

Date: 03/25/2013 06:29 AM

NW–SportsMinute/366
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Kevin Durant had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook scored 21 points and fueled a key third-quarter spurt that helped the Oklahoma City Thunder pull away for a 103-83 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers last night. Serge Ibaka added 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting for Oklahoma City, which entered the game 2½ games behind the San Antonio Spurs in the race for the Western Conference’s top playoff spot. Damian Lillard scored 19 points for Portland.

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Through all of his success in 18 seasons at Iowa State, a loss in 1999 still sticks with Bill Fennelly. That same game also sticks out to Georgia’s Andy Landers for completely different reasons – it was the last time the Lady Bulldogs reached the Final Four. The two long-tenured coaches will reacquaint themselves tonight when the fifth-seeded Cyclones face the No. 4 seed Lady Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament. The winner will advance to the regional semifinals across town at the Spokane Arena next Saturday night.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) – After skipping an outing because of a dead arm, Arizona Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley allowed four runs and six hits over 3 1-3 innings yesterday in an 8-4 win over the Seattle Mariners. Franklin Gutierrez homered leading off the game, and Kendrys Morales put Seattle ahead 4-1 with a three-run homer in the third. The Mariners have hit a major league-high 50 homers in spring training. Seattle starter Joe Saunders was hit hard, allowing eight runs, seven hits and four walks in five inning. He has an 11.57 ERA.

DENVER (AP) – Mason Raymond and Alexandre Burrows scored in the second period and the Vancouver Canucks moved into sole possession of first place in the Northwest Division with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche last night. Jason Garrison added a goal for the Canucks, winners of four straight. Vancouver moved ahead of idle Minnesota by two points for the conference lead. Cory Schneider made 26 saves in his fourth consecutive start. He is 5-0-1 with two shutouts against the Avs.

 

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.