The Los Angeles Clippers downed the Denver Nuggets 117-105 for their club-record 57th victory of the season Tuesday, while the New York Knicks, playing without the injured Carmelo Anthony, beat the Brooklyn Nets 109-98 to win the season series between city rivals.

Blake Griffin scored 24 points while picking up his 16th technical foul as Los Angeles led all the way.

Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro said Tuesday that it will not sign former France striker Nicolas Anelka because the player took too long to report to the club.

Atletico Mineiro director Eduardo Maluf told a media conference the player had until Monday to arrive and sign his contract. He said the club was advised by one of Anelka's agents that he would not be able to come to Brazil until the end of the week.

Wrapping up five days of relentless cross-examination of Oscar Pistorius at his murder trial, the chief prosecutor insisted Tuesday that the Olympic runner intentionally shot his girlfriend to death after they argued before dawn on Valentine's Day last year.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said he had no further questions after presenting the prosecution's case that Pistorius is lying in his account of mistakenly shooting Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door. Nel said the double-amputee runner killed her intentionally after a late night fight.

Out of the Champions League and stumbling in Spain, Barcelona faces Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final in likely its best chance to win some silverware this season.

Madrid will be without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barcelona arrives with its defense in tatters and Lionel Messi questioned for his recent dip in form.

Sebastian Giovinco and Fernando Llorente helped Juventus beat Udinese 2-0 on Monday and restore its eight-point lead at the top of the Serie A table.

With Carlos Tevez rested, Giovinco was handed a rare start and he put Juventus in front in the 16th minute, dribbling his way into the right of the area before curling a shot into the far corner.

The Washington Wizards downed an undermanned Miami Heat 114-93 on Monday to hand the Indiana Pacers the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Miami Heat opted to rest LeBron James and Chris Bosh as Trevor Ariza scored 25 points for the Wizards, who shot 59 percent and made 14 3-pointers and remained one game ahead of the Charlotte Bobcats in the race for the East's No. 6 seed.

Beach shorts over thermal underwear, wool hats instead of bikinis and not a grain of sand in sight: a new sport has emerged in the Alps and it's called snow volleyball.

Think of it as beach volleyball at 6,500 feet (2,000 meters), played on white powder with skiers whizzing by. 

Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps, who retired from the sport after taking six medals at the 2012 London Olympics, will make his competitive comeback next week at a U.S. Grand Prix series event in Mesa, Arizona, USA Swimming announced Monday.

The American returned to the anti-doping test program last year and his long-time coach, Bob Bowman, had indicated earlier that there would be a comeback, which could see the record 22-time Olympic medalist continue his career all the way to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Ferrari's Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali quit on Monday over the legendary Italian team's disastrous start to the 2014 season.

"It is time for a significant change," Domenicali, 48, said in a Ferrari statement announcing his resignation.

Embracing his teammates after a hugely significant win in the Premier League title race, Steven Gerrard looked to the skies and cried tears of joy.

A first championship in 24 years is tantalizingly in sight for Liverpool and its inspirational captain.