Spurs’ latest loss lets Bulls catch them for best record

With one game left in the NBA regular season, the Bulls and San Antonio Spurs still have something to settle.

After Kobe Bryant (27 points) and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated visiting San Antonio 102-93 Tuesday night, the Bulls — who beat the Knicks in New York — and Spurs were tied at 61-20 for best record in the NBA.

The Bulls will host the New Jersey Nets tonight, and the Spurs will play at Phoenix. If the teams finish with the same regular-season record, deciding home-court advantage in a possible NBA Finals matchup would get interesting. The teams split a pair of games during the regular season, and both went 23-7 against the other conference — meaning there ultimately could be a random draw to decide home court in the Finals.

college basketball

Walker won't be back

Kemba Walker said Connecticut's decision to put his name and number on the wall of its basketball arena helped him decide it was time to head to the NBA.

"It says 2008 to 2011 [on the banner], so it was like [coach Jim Calhoun saying], 'Let's get him out of here,'  " said the junior All-American, who announced he will enter the June draft. He has not hired an agent yet, but "there's no chance that I'm coming back," said Walker, a 6-1 guard who led the Huskies on an 11-0 postseason run that ended with a national championship.

Walker thanked Calhoun, who had advised him to leave.

◆ Butler junior Shelvin Mack, a 6-3 shooting guard, said he is declaring to enter the draft but has not hired an agent, making him eligible to return to school next season.

◆ Florida coach Billy Donovan said assistant Richard Pitino — son of Louisville's Rick Pitino — is leaving to become the associate head coach at Louisville.

◆ The NCAA plans to conduct its own investigation into an alleged gambling ring at San Diego but will wait until the FBI completes its work focusing on the alleged running of a sports betting business to affect the outcome of games.

miscellaneous

Welcome day for Serena

Serena Williams got out on a tennis court for what she called her "first day back" after a series of health problems, including blood clots in her lung. She has not played an official match since last July.

◆ Illinois said it will permanently remove about 2,200 seats from Memorial Stadium because the bleachers are getting too old to use — a move that will drop the stadium's capacity from 62,870 to about 60,600.

AP

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