Kobe Bryant scored 38 points and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Denver 104-100 on Tuesday, seizing a two games to none lead over the Nuggets in their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.

Bryant, who made 15-of-29 shots from the field, helped put the Lakers halfway to a berth in the second round heading into games at Denver on Friday and Sunday.

Deputy President of the Lebanese Basketball Federation Jawdat Shaker submitted his resignation Tuesday following what he described as “provocative and malicious decisions taken against some clubs,” which he strongly denounced in his resignation letter.

With one thumping header, Vincent Kompany may well have tilted the balance of football power in Manchester from red to blue.

Kompany's goal in first-half stoppage time was enough to give Manchester City a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Monday and put his team in position to secure a first Premier League title in 44 years.

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points and NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant added 26 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over defending champion Dallas 102-99 in an NBA playoff game.

The final eight Thunder points came from the free throw line as the hosts held off the Mavericks down the stretch to seize a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference best-of-seven series. Game three will be Thursday at Dallas.

Dwyane Wade scored 25 points while Chris Bosh added 21 points and LeBron James added 19 to power the Miami Heat over New York 104-94, extending the Knicks' NBA playoff winless streak to 12 games.

The Knicks suffered their 12th playoff loss in a row over multiple seasons, having not won a playoff game since 2001, to match the record NBA playoff losing streak established by the Memphis Grizzlies from 2004 through 2006.

Tiger Woods said he has solved the swing problems that led to his worst professional Masters finish in a video posted on his website Monday in which he answered questions from fans.

Woods accepted questions on his Twitter and Facebook pages, and answered a select few in a 14-minute video, with one of his responses touching upon the troubles off the tee that doomed his bid at Augusta National three weeks ago.

Germany forward Lukas Podolski is leaving Cologne to join Arsenal, the Bundesliga club said Monday, confirming the worst-kept secret in European football.

Podolski will make the switch in the summer, one year before his contract was due to expire. Cologne said the two clubs have agreed not to release details of the deal.

Maria Sharapova said she was happy to open her clay-court season by winning Stuttgart's WTA tournament as part of her French Open preparations and to break her losing streak in finals.

With the Madrid and Rome clay-court tournaments still to come before Roland Garros begins on May 27, the world number two said she still has plenty of work ahead of her as she bids to win the one Grand Slam which eludes her.

The Los Angeles Clippers stormed back from a 27-point second-half deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 99-98 in the first game of their NBA Western Conference first-round series.

Chris Paul's two free throws with 23.7 seconds left gave the Clippers the one-point lead, and Rudy Gay missed a jump shot as time expired that would have salvaged the victory for the Grizzlies on their home court.

Rafael Nadal is back on top of his mental and physical game after completing a fortnight of history-making with the Spanish king of clay adding another line for the record books.

The world number two on Sunday became the first man to win two separate events seven times, as he defeated battling compatriot David Ferrer 7-6 (7/1), 7-5 to win a seventh trophy at the Barcelona Open.