NW Sports from the AP

AP-NW–1st SportsMinute,432
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kobe Bryant scored 28 points, Andrew Bynum
had 14 points and 19 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers roared to
a 30-point lead early in the second quarter before holding on for a
103-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Pau Gasol (pow
gah-SOHL’) had 16 points and 12 rebounds in his first game since
Bryant criticized the Lakers’ front office for allowing Gasol to
dangle amid trade rumors. LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum
(bah-TOOM’) scored 18 points apiece for Portland.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Portland Trail Blazers say a procedure
to clear debris out of center Greg Oden’s left knee has resulted in
another microfracture surgery. He had the surgery yesterday in
Vail, Colo. Although it was originally expected to be an
arthroscopic procedure to clean out the knee, the surgeon
determined there was additional damage. The former No.1 pick in the
2007 NBA draft has now had two microfracture surgeries on his left
knee, and one on his right. Oden won’t play this season.

SEATTLE (AP) – Aaron Broussard had 16 points and eight rebounds,
and Seattle came back to beat UC Davis 73-59 last night. Eric
Wallace and Prince Obasi scored 12 points each and Cervante Burrell
had 11 points and five assists for the Redhawks, who have won seven
of their last nine. The Aggies, who had won three of their previous
four games following an 18-game losing streak, opened up a 14-point
lead in the first half, but Seattle cut its deficit to 35-30 by
halftime.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) – For Mike Carp and Carlos Peguero, Greg
Halman was a brother. Carp used the word in English. Fellow Seattle
Mariners outfielder Peguero offered its Spanish counterpart,
“hermano.” It was a fitting tribute to Halman, who spoke four
languages and was a cultural bridge in the clubhouse before he was
stabbed to death last November while in his native Holland. Carp is
remembering Halman this spring with a T-shirt that he gave to each
of his teammates that reads “Brother for life” in Dutch on the
front.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – The husband of former Alaska Gov. Sarah
Palin is competing in a 2,000-plus-mile snowmobile race. Todd Palin
is a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, which began Sunday with 31
two-person teams at Big Lake, north of Anchorage. One team has
since scratched. Race director Kevin says this year’s total purse
is expected to match last year’s record of $202,500. Todd Palin
last won in 2007. He and racing partner Scott Davis were among the
top 10 teams as of yesterday afternoon.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-02-21-12 0530EST