Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesKobe Bryant and the two-time defending champion Lakers were shocked -- and swept-- by the Mavs in their Western Conference semifinal series.NBA: The two-time defending champions are out of the playoffs. In the finale of the four-game sweep Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks embarrassed the Los Angeles Lakers 122-86 to advance to the Western Conference finals. The Lakers proved to be sore losers. In the fourth quarter, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum delivered cheap shots to the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki and J.J. Barea respectively, which got both Odom and Bynum ejected. (Bynum walked off the court shirtless). It was likely Phil Jackson's last game; he plans to retire as Lakers' head coach. While he goes out with a figurative sock in the gut, he will always be one of the most storied coaches in NBA history.
The Atlanta Hawks drew even with the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in their Eastern Conference semifinal series following a 100-88 Hawks' victory Sunday night. The series is now tied at two games apiece.
The Memphis Grizzlies rallied from a 16-point third-quarter deficit Saturday to shock the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-93 in overtime. The Grizzlies are trying to be the first No. 8-seed to advance to the Western Conference finals. With a 2-1 second-round series lead, they're two wins away from accomplishing that feat.
A dislocated elbow would send most people straight to the hospital. Not Rajon Rondo. On Saturday, Rondo dislocated his elbow in the third quarter -- but returned to the game for the fourth quarter (his left arm dangling at his side) to lead his Boston Celtics to a 97-81 victory over the Miami Heat. Miami still leads the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1.
MLB: For the second time this week, there was a no-no in the majors (Francisco Liriano threw a no-hitter on Tuesday), as Justin Verlander no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday in a 9-0 Detroit Tigers' victory. It was the second career no-hitter for Verlander, who threw one against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007.
Kentucky Derby: It's no surprise that jockey John Velazquez won the 2011 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but it was a shock that he won it riding Animal Kingdom. Velazquez had been slated to ride pre-race fave, Uncle Mo, but the horse was scratched due to a lingering stomach problem. Animal Kingdom's rider, Robby Albarado, broke his nose when he was tossed from a horse and kicked in the face three days before the Derby. Velazquez took over as Animal Kingdom's jockey and won the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:02.04 in front of a record crowd of 164,858.
NHL: For the second time, the Detroit Red Wings fought off elimination. After the San Jose Sharks opened up their second-round series with three-consecutive wins over Detroit, the Red Wings have since won two straight, including a 4-3 victory Sunday, to close their series deficit to 3-2.
Last season, the Boston Bruins were up 3-0 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series until the Philadelphia Flyers came back to win four straight to take the series. No such luck for the Flyers this year. On Friday, the Bruins capped off a four-game sweep of Philadelphia with a 5-1 victory to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
