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TORONTO - Two games from the end of their NBA season, the Toronto Raptors prefer to see themselves as a work in progress, with every game being a chance to improve for next season.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Nationals aren't conceding anything to the Atlanta Braves, except perhaps for this: At this point in the season, it's pretty obvious which team is better than the other.

DENVER - A Colorado jury has awarded US$11.5 million to a man whose family sued helmet maker Riddell and his coaches over brain injuries from a high school football practice in 2008.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Ervin Santana kept the Kansas City Royals in the game, wiggling out of every jam that the Toronto Blue Jays created. Alex Gordon made all the work pay off.

BOSTON - Clay Buchholz was a nervous 23-year-old rookie when he threw a no-hitter in his second major league start. He was more relaxed when he nearly did it again Sunday.

WASHINGTON - Forget about last year. This season, the Atlanta Braves are looking very much like the team to beat in the NL East.

MIAMI - Roy Halladay found a remedy for his early-season woes — the Miami Marlins.

MIAMI - Carlos Boozer turned his shoulder and knocked Dwyane Wade to the floor, while Nate Robinson shoved LeBron James as the NBA's reigning MVP leaped near the basket. All in the same sequence, no less.

ST. LOUIS - Corey Crawford came away with the shutout in this one, not Brian Elliott. Chicago's goalie stopped 30 shots and Bryan Bickell and Marian Hossa scored to lead the Blackhawks to a 2-0 win over the St.

SAN DIEGO - San Diego Padres slugger Carlos Quentin on Sunday dropped his appeal and began serving an eight-game suspension for rushing the mound and inciting a brawl in which Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke broke his left collarbone.