Roy scores 42, Blazers defeat Rockets 107-104

In the NBA, the Houston Rockets faced the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of their playoff series, looking to increase a 1-game advantage.

LaMarcusAldridge(left)andBrandonRoyofthePortlandTrail
BlazersblockoutShaneBattieroftheHoustonRocketsatthe
RoseGardenArena,onApril21,inPortland,Oregon.TheBlazers
won107-103totiethebest-of-seven-series1-1.(AFP/NBAE/Getty
Images/SamForencich)

But Rockets suffered a bad break when Dikembe Mutombo went down in the first quarter with a knee injury.

Both teams started hot in a back-and-forth first quarter. A three-pointer from Ron Artest saw the Rockets take the lead 22-17. But Mutombo hurt his left knee trying for a rebound, and had to leave the court in an obvious blow to the Rockets, who trailed after the first, 28-26.

The same story continued to unfold in the second quarter, with both sides finding themselves neck and neck at 39 each. But then Brandon Roy hit a late layup to make it 53-51 at the break. He and LaMarcus Aldridge scored the Blazers' final 19 points of the half.

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Higgins defeat Cope into last 8

Two-time world champion John Higgins avoided elimination at the World Snooker Championship. Higgins trailed 12-10 before winning the last three frames to beat unseeded Jamie Cope 13-12 in Sheffiled, England. With the win, Higgins books a place in last 8.

Higginstrailed12-10beforewinningthelastthree
framestobeatunseededJamieCope13-12in
Sheffiled,England.Withthewin,Higginsbooksa
placeinlast8.

The left bottom pocket seemed unkind to Higgins as he missed potting again and again. Cope potted this blue ball, and completed a break of 103 to go 12-10 ahead of Higgins with just one more frame to score an upset win. But this time around, the left bottom pocket turned against Cope.

The red ball just stopped at the mouth of the pocket. Higgins used the opportunity to turn the match around. He easily potted the ball, and the rest of the match was smooth sailing. He didn't give Cope any chance for a comeback. Even a delay caused by a sick spectator didn't distract his focus.

Higgins again potted the ball to the left bottom pocket and knew victory was at hand. He swept the last 3 frames to complete a remarkable come-from-behind win. He'll next meet Mark Selby in the quarterfinals.

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Genk suffer shock home defeat

To Belgium's Jupiler League, where Westerlo have pulled level on points with Racing Genk in the higher reaches with an emphatic away win against their rivals.

Coach Pierre Denier watched the home side fall behind shortly after the half-hour mark. Wouter Scheelen swung in a dangerous cross from the left and Wouter Corstjens headed in off the post.

Genk drew level inside four minutes through Stein Huysegems.

Westerlo hit back in the final five minutes of the opening half through the combination of Jaime Alfonso Ruiz and Obiora Odita.

Twenty minutes after the interval, the referee was convinced Genk captain Joao Carlos' challenge on the Nigerian was worthy of a penalty. Scheelen then converted from the spot kick to make it 3-1.

Ruiz then rounded off a hugely impressive 4-1 win for Westerlo in the dying seconds.

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