Seven-time defending champion Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Novak Djokovic got their clay-court seasons off to a good start with comfortable wins in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.

Djokovic opened with a 6-1, 6-4 win against Andreas Seppi of Italy and his archrival Nadal followed up by beating Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-4, 6-3.

Belgium's Kim Clijsters announced on Tuesday that she will bypass the clay season, including the French Open, in the hope of recovering from a hip injury in time for the grass season and the Olympic Games.

"The rehabilitation process following Kim's hip injury is going more slowly than expected," read a statement on the former world number one's website.

Tony Parker scored 29 points and added 13 assists to spark San Antonio past the Los Angeles Lakers 112-91, lifting the Spurs to the best record in the NBA's Western Conference.

Tim Duncan contributed 19 points while Argentina's Manu Ginobili added 15 as the Spurs won for the 18th time in their past 21 games, improving to 44-16 to edge past Oklahoma City, 44-17, for the top spot in the West.

Chelsea believe they can stymie the jaw-dropping goalscoring exploits of Lionel Messi and pull off an unlikely upset against Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals Wednesday.

Messi took his season's tally to an astonishing 63 goals in 52 games at the weekend with a double strike in Barcelona's win over Levante, leaving him just four shy of Gerd Muller's all-time single-season European record of 67.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has insisted the Spanish giants can turn things around in the return leg despite losing 2-1 at Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal.

Germany striker Mario Gomez hit an 88th-minute winner in Tuesday night's first leg to put Bayern in pole position to reach the May 19 final at their own Allianz Arena stadium against either holders Barcelona or Chelsea.

Vicente del Bosque revealed on Tuesday that he has renewed his contract as Spain coach, which could see him remain in the post until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

His contract had been due to expire after Euro 2012, which runs from June 8 to July 1 in Poland and the Ukraine.

Struggling Washington upset injury-nagged NBA win leader Chicago 87-84 while the Miami Heat, also without a key star, rallied late behind LeBron James to defeat host New Jersey 101-98.

As a result, the Heat closed the gap on Chicago in the fight for the best overall record in the Eastern Conference and a home-court playoff advantage into the NBA Finals, Miami improving to 43-17 while the Bulls fell to 46-15.

Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger has insisted Bayern Munich must make home advantage count against Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg.

"It's all or nothing on Tuesday," said the Germany star, with Munich's Allianz Arena set to also host this year's Champions League final on May 19.

Last weekend's postponed Italian Serie A program will now be played on April 24 and 25, the Italian Football League confirmed on Monday.

It means Italian top flight clubs will all play five times within a two week period starting this weekend.

Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba was finally discharged from a London hospital on Monday following his recovery from a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

The 24-year-old was left fighting for his life after collapsing during the first half of Bolton's FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on March 17, which was subsequently abandoned.