Everton manager David Moyes was expected to be named the new manager of Manchester United on Thursday, after Alex Ferguson sent shockwaves through world soccer by announcing his retirement from the role.

Tottenham surrendered the initiative in the race for Champions League qualification despite coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at top-four rival Chelsea in a pulsating English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Ray Allen scored 21 points in only 19 minutes, LeBron James finished with 19 points and nine assists, and the Miami Heat led by as many as 46 on the way to a 115-78 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night that tied their Eastern Conference series at a game apiece.

Real Madrid delayed Barcelona's claim to the Spanish league title by trouncing 10-man Malaga 6-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Rafael Nadal made a comfortable start to his quest for a third Madrid Masters title on Wednesday but Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka slumped to a shock exit.

Andres Torres lined a game-ending single to right field with two outs in the 10th inning, lifting the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday to avoid a sweep.

An apparent game-tying homer by Oakland's Adam Rosales was ruled a double by umpires in the ninth inning, and the Cleveland Indians held on to beat the Athletics 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Alex Ferguson is retiring at the end of the season, bringing a close to a trophy-filled career of more than 26 years at Manchester United that established him as the most successful coach in British soccer history.

Wigan's Premier League survival hopes took a major hit by losing 3-2 at home to Swansea on Tuesday, while Manchester City secured its place in next season's Champions League with a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points, 16 during a 30-2 New York onslaught in the second half, the Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 105-79 on Tuesday night to even the Eastern Conference semifinals at one game.