Wednesday's Sports In Brief
NFL
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for a deadly late-night shooting, sealing the downfall of an athlete who once had a $40 million contract and a standout career ahead of him.
Hernandez, 25, who had been considered one of the top tight ends in professional football, shook his head, pursed his lips and sat down after the jury forewoman pronounced him guilty in the slaying of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old landscaper and amateur weekend football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee.
Hernandez's mother, Terri, and his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins, cried and gasped when they heard the verdict. Hernandez, his eyes red, mouthed to them: ''Be strong. Be strong.'' Lloyd's mother also cried.
Jurors deliberated for 36 hours over seven days before rendering their decision, which also included convictions on weapons charges.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Rex Ryan couldn't resist offering Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a throwing tip.
And the ever-outspoken Buffalo Bills new coach had much stronger words for his former player, New York Jets tight end Jace Amaro on Wednesday.
Ryan teased Brady, the four-time-winning Super Bowl champ, for bouncing the ceremonial first pitch into the dirt before the Boston Red Sox's home opener this week against Washington.
At least, Ryan noted, the pitch he threw at the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons' season opener last week got to the plate.
''Tom needs to keep his elbow up a little bit more, I think,'' Ryan said with a wide grin in opening his weekly news conference. ''And Tom likes taking advice from me I know. So I'm sure he'll be working at that.''
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NBA
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Russell Westbrook did everything in his power to drag the banged-up Oklahoma City Thunder to the playoffs for a sixth straight season.
Eleven triple-doubles, 16 technical fouls and one scoring title weren't enough in the rugged Western Conference. And now the Thunder are headed for the same place the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves are - the NBA's draft lottery.
Westbrook went out with a bang, scoring 37 points in Oklahoma City's 138-113 victory over the Timberwolves on Wednesday night that was rendered moot by New Orleans' playoff-clinching in over San Antonio.
The Thunder needed a win in the regular-season finale and a loss from the Pelicans against the Spurs to get into the playoffs. Westbrook locked up his first scoring title to hold up his end of the bargain, but the Pelicans beat the Spurs 108-103. That means the Thunder will miss the playoffs for the first time since Westbrook's rookie season in 2008-09.
NEW YORK (AP) - The Brooklyn Nets clinched the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, beating the Orlando Magic 101-88 on Wednesday night before the Memphis Grizzlies knocked off Indiana.
The Nets and Pacers tied at 38-44, and Brooklyn earned the No. 8 seed after winning the season series. The Nets will visit top-seeded Atlanta on Sunday for their playoff opener.
If Indiana won, the Nets would have missed the postseason for the first time since moving to Brooklyn in 2012.
Rookie Bojan Bogdanovic scored a career-high 28 points as Brooklyn snapped a two-game skid that put its postseason hopes in jeopardy after a playoff spot looked secure last week. The Nets would have been home despite a league-high payroll of nearly $90 million.
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BOXING
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Manny Pacquiao says he intends to put on a show when he faces Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2 1/2 weeks.
For the fans' sake, he really hopes Mayweather is also coming to fight.
Pacquiao radiated confidence and excitement Wednesday at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood before his latest workout in preparation for their bout May 2 in Las Vegas.
Both fighters kept their public comments civil and mostly respectful this week, but Pacquiao laughed when told that the defense-minded Mayweather had called him ''a very reckless fighter.''
Pacquiao says people love that aggression because it makes for exciting fights.
He also says he hopes Mayweather will abandon some of his usual caution, both because the fans would love it and because it would play into Pacquiao's plans perfectly.
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GOLF
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) - Masters champion Jordan Spieth is back to work this week at the RBC Heritage Classic after two days celebrating his victory at Augusta National and being showered with attention.
Spieth arrived at Sea Pines Resort late Tuesday night after a media whirlwind in New York since tying Tiger Woods' Masters record of 18-under 270 to capture the green jacket.
The 21-year-old said it was a dizzying stretch with 26 appearances and interviews in 25 hours. Paparazzi was on scene and snapping pictures during dinner, though Spieth said no one told anyone where they were going.
Spieth doesn't believe his success or the hoopla will change him. In fact, he maintained his commitment to the RBC Heritage in part because he wants to chase down Rory McIlroy for world No. 1.
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SOCCER
PARIS (AP) - Barcelona and Porto moved into good position to advance to the Champions League semifinals.
Lionel Messi set up Neymar for the first goal, Luis Suarez scored twice and Barcelona won 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
After Neymar slotted home in the 18th minute for the four-time champion, Suarez ducked and weaved through the defense in the 67th minute, then ghosted past defender David Luiz for a 3-0 lead in the 79th.
PSG scored in the 82nd when Gregory van der Wiel's long-range effort deflected in off Barcelona's Jeremy Mathieu. PSG lost a European home match for the first time in 34 games.
''When we play like that, it's tough to beat us,'' Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. ''3-0 would have been perfect.''
Barcelona, which last won the title in 2011, hosts the second leg of the total-goals series on Tuesday.
''We are not going to make the error of thinking that this is over,'' Enrique said.
Messi frequently dropped back to overwhelm a PSG midfield decimated by the absences of suspended Marco Verratti and injured Thiago Motta.