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WILD-BACKSTROM SURGERY

Wild goalie Backstrom has sports hernia surgery

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom has undergone sports hernia surgery.

The team announced that Backstrom's operation went as planned on Thursday morning in Philadelphia. The procedure was done by Dr. William Meyers.

The 35-year-old Backstrom aggravated the injury while warming up before Minnesota's first game of the Western Conference quarterfinal series at Chicago on April 30. Josh Harding was sent in to replace him, and Backstrom was unable to play the rest of the series.

The Wild have said Backstrom is expected to be fully recovered for the start of next season. Whether he's still in the net for them is another matter. Backstrom will become an unrestricted free agent in July. He has played all 7 of his NHL seasons with the Wild.

LYNX-GEMELOS

ACL tears behind her, Gemelos chases place in WNBA

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Jacki Gemelos has a sharp 3-point shot and a deft passing touch to offer the Minnesota Lynx as they set the 11-player roster for this season.

Determination might be her best asset.

Gemelos (jah-MEHL'-ohce) is a 24-year-old rookie trying to make it in the WNBA despite a series of devastating knee injuries that abbreviated her college career at USC.

Gemelos underwent in a 6-year span a total of 5 surgeries to fix torn anterior cruciate ligaments, three on her left leg and two on her right. The Lynx drafted her in the third round last season, but she wasn't ready to play.

Now she's in training camp trying to make a strong enough impression to land a spot on this 2-time defending Western Conference champion team.

SPURS-WARRIORS

Spurs hold off Warriors, advance to West finals

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The San Antonio Spurs held off a furious final rally to beat the Golden State Warriors 94-82 in Game 6 on Thursday night and advance to the Western Conference finals.

Tim Duncan had 19 points and six rebounds, Kawhi Leonard scored 16 points and the Spurs won the series in six games.

Tony Parker shook off a poor start to score 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. Tiago Splitter added a career-playoff high 14 points for San Antonio, which led by 13 late in the third quarter.

Stephen Curry shot 10 of 25 from the floor to score 22 points on a nagging left ankle. Jarrett Jack had 15 points as the injury-saddled Warriors wore down. The Spurs outshot Golden State 45% to 39%.

Second-seeded San Antonio will open the conference finals at home against Memphis on Sunday.

TIGERS-RANGERS

Rangers rock Verlander, give Darvish 10-4 win

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Geovany Soto ended Justin Verlander's night with a three-run homer that capped a seven-run third, and Yu Darvish lasted eight innings even though an anticipated pitching duel fizzled in the Texas Rangers' 10-4 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.

Soto's drive just over the wall in left field came after Verlander walked in two runs - he had three previous bases-loaded walks in his career. Mitch Moreland's two-out double broke a 3-all tie before Soto's drive put Texas ahead 8-3.

Darvish (7-1) won his fifth straight decision despite allowing two home runs for the third start in a row. Baseball's strikeout leader needed a career-high 130 pitches and matched his season low of 6 strikeouts.

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