NHL HOCKEY

BIRON STRONG AGAIN TO LIFT FLYERS TO 3-2 GAME 3 WIN

“Mar-ty! “Mar-ty!” “Mar-ty!” That’s a sound the Flyers want to hear all the way to the Stanley Cup. Martin Biron stopped 32 shots and the Flyers scored three goals in the second period to beat the Montreal Canadiens 3–2 last night, taking a 2-1 lead in their second-round series. Game 4 is tomorrow in Philadelphia. Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger and Scottie Upshall all scored goals on the first six shots of the second against 20-year-old Carey Price.

NBA BASKETBALL

SOURCE: SCOTT TO BE NBA COACH OF YEAR

New Orleans coach Byron Scott, who led the Hornets to their first playoff appearance in four years this season, has been chosen as the NBA coach of the year, the Associated Press has learned. A person with knowledge of the award spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because the league had not yet announced it. New Orleans sent a media advisory Monday afternoon, saying it planned a “major announcement” at 10 a.m. today following the Hornets’ gameday shootaround.

WIZARDS CENTER SAYS JAMES SHOULD STOP COMPLAINING

Overrated hasn’t worked. Now one of the Washington Wizards is calling LeBron James another name: Crybaby. Following Cleveland’s 100–97 win in Game 4 on Sunday, James, who has absorbed two flagrant fouls in this rough-and-tumble playoff series and has been banged around by the Wizards, was asked about Washington’s tough-guy tactics. “I guess that’s what they want to do,” he said, “hurt LeBron James in this series. It’s not working.” Yesterday, Wizards center Brendan Haywood, countered.

“Awww,” Haywood said, in a whiny, high-pitched voice to mock James. “They are trying to hurt me.”

TURKOGLU CHOSEN NBA’S MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Hedo Turkoglu, whose 19 points, five rebounds and five assists per game helped the Orlando Magic win their first division title in 12 years, was selected as the NBA’s most improved player Monday.

Turkoglu’s numbers marked career highs in each category, and dramatic improvements from 13 points, four rebounds and three assists last season. He earned back-to-back Eastern Conference player of the week awards in late January and early February and was named player of the month for April.

FOOTBALL

RAIDERS RELEASE RHODES

The Oakland Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, two days after using their top draft pick to take big-play back Darren McFadden.

Oakland had a glut at running back after the draft and began addressing it almost immediately by announcing the team cut ties with Rhodes. The Raiders still have two backs with 1,000-yard seasons on their roster in Justin Fargas and LaMont Jordan, as well as last year’s fourth-round pick Michael Bush.

BASEBALL

BRAVES’ SMOLTZ TO HAVE SHOULDER EXAMINED

After lasting only four innings Sunday in New York, Braves pitcher John Smoltz returned to Atlanta yesterday and is to have his troublesome right shoulder examined today. Smoltz gave up seven hits and four runs in the 6-3 loss to the Mets. He has had concerns about the right shoulder since spring training.