Top National Sports Stories: Rockets dump Thunder…Saints get Peterson…Junior to retire from driving…Berry staying at UNC

UNDATED (AP) — The Houston Rockets have closed out a five-game series win against Oklahoma City, while the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz have taken 3-2 leads in the first round of the NBA playoffs. James Harden scored 34 points and the Rockets overcame Russell Westbrook’s 47 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to beat Oklahoma City, 105-99. Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard scored 28 points in the Spurs’ 116-103 win over Memphis, and the Jazz got 27 points from Gordon Hayward in a 96-92 decision over the Clippers in Los Angeles.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Running back Adrian Peterson has accepted a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints after playing his first 10 NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson has played just 21 games over the last three seasons, although he had 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing in 2015. Peterson will have a chance to face his old team in Week 1 of the upcoming season, Sept. 11 at Minnesota.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. has announced that he is retiring as a NASCAR driver at the end of the season, saying he wants to go out on his own terms. Earnhardt missed much of the 2016 season due to concussion-like symptoms, and he acknowledged Tuesday that the time off played a role in his decision. Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he is committed to participating in two Xfinity Series races next year and wants to remain active in NASCAR for many years to come.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina point guard Joel Berry II has done an about-face and withdrawn from the NBA draft. The most outstanding player in this year’s Final Four says he had reversed course after conferring with his family, adding that he can prepare for the NBA by playing “against the best college competition in the country.” Berry averaged 14.7 points and 3.6 assists in 38 games as a junior for the Tar Heels the past season.

CLEVELAND (AP) — An attorney for former Ohio State football star Gareon Conley says the player denies an accusation made in a police report that he sexually assaulted a woman. No charges have been filed. A Cleveland police report released Tuesday says the 23-year-old woman told officers that Conley sexually assaulted her in a hotel bathroom this month. The 21-year-old Conley was expected to be chosen in the first round of the NFL draft that begins Thursday.