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Only two tournaments to go - the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Shell Houston Open - before The Masters arrives. Who is going to win this year? That's the question...

By DAVID MOORE DALLAS — Conventional wisdom states the Dallas Mavericks want no part of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.The logic is irrefutable, because no team in the Western Conference wants to open against the Lakers.But here’s the problem when people say the Mavericks must do all they can to avoid the No. 8 seed. It implies if they move up a spot or two or three, they will win.It might be a more competitive series, which in theory gives Dallas a better chance to win, but that doesn’t assure that it will advance.Say the Mavs finish with the fifth, sixth or seventh seed and open on the road.Will they be favored to beat San Antonio? New Orleans? Utah?No.Are the Mavericks playing better basketball than Houston or Denver these days?No again.The Mavs swept the season series from Portland and probably would be favored if the two teams met, but that would require they finish as the fourth and fifth seed.That scenario is unlikely. Avoid th

Carlos zambrano finished pitching Sunday and said, 'I'm ready to rock and roll.' He has two spring starts to go before he gets that chance, two weeks from today, in the Cubs' opener in Houston. But Zambrano's sense of anticipation is starting to spread like the recent flu bug in camp as the Cubs hit the home stretch of the longest spring training of their lives.

Ivan Rodriguez looked right at home with the Houston Astros.Making his spring training debut with his new team, Rodriguez stroked a single to center field in his first at-bat and helped Houston to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.The Astros plugged Rodriguez into the No. 2 spot in the lineup and the 14-time All-Star catcher finished 1-for-3 at the plate.'I feel good out there,' Rodriguez said. 'I'm just trying to get used to my new teammates, and so far it was good.

Two as in second place. That's where the Spurs are now after Houston won in San Antonio to take over the Southwest lead.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - Luis Scola scored the winning layup with 11.2 seconds left to fire the Houston Rockets into first place in the Southwest, knocking the San Antonio Spurs off the top with a 87-85 victory Sunday.

Luis Scola dropped in the winning layup with 11.2 seconds left after a bullet pass from Yao Ming, and the Rockets rallied in the fourth quarter to wrest first place in the Southwest Division from the Spurs with an 87-85 victory in San Antonio on Sunday. Ron...

Ivan Rodriguez caught on right away in his Houston Astros debut, while Ricky Nolasco and the Florida Marlins turned in a Grapefruit League no-hitter.Playing his ...

Houston SP Brian Moehler enjoyed his first game with Ivan Rodriguez behind the plate in an exhibition game against the Nationals on Sunday. 'He mixed the pitches up well. We seem to be on the right page,' said Moehler, who threw three hitless innings before leaving with a bruised pitching shoulder. 'I know it's difficult for him because he hasn't caught these guys before. It's a learning experience for him as well as us.'

The Rockets have taken the lead from the Spurs in the Southwest Division, writes John Hollinger.