Kobe Bryant chosen to All-NBA defensive team

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett have been selected to the NBA all-defensive first team for a record-tying ninth time.

Garnett and Bryant were joined by Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, who has won the last three defensive player-of-the-year awards and received the most points Monday.

Also selected for the first team were Miami Heat forward LeBron James and Celtics guard Rajon Rondo.

Garnett and Bryant tied Michael Jordan and Gary Payton for the most selections in NBA history.

The league’s coaches vote on the team.

The second team has Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, Hornets guard Chris Paul, Mavericks center Tyson Chandler, 76ers forward Andre Iguodala and Bulls forward-center Joakim Noah.

ETC.

Mariners cut Milton Bradley

Slumping Milton Bradley was cut by the Seattle Mariners, leaving the temperamental outfielder again looking for a new job.

The Mariners designated Bradley for assignment, giving them 10 days to trade or release him or send him to the minors. He was making $13 million this season.

The 33-year-old Bradley batted .218 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in in 28 games. He was suspended for one game last week for bumping an umpire, ejected Friday for arguing a called third strike and booed by home fans over the weekend for the perception he was not playing hard on defense.

Reigning American League most valuable player Josh Hamilton is set to start taking batting practice Friday, a month and a day after being injured. The Texas Rangers say their slugger will take batting practice provided he keeps progressing in his recovery from a broken bone in his right arm.

Brice Butler, a USC receiver who did not participate in spring practice and contemplated transferring, will remain with the Trojans, the school announced. “We are pleased with Brice’s decision to continue his development as a student-athlete at USC,” Coach Lane Kiffin said.

Butler, a fourth-year junior from Georgia, caught nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown last season. Butler’s father, Bobby, a former NFL player, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in January that Kiffin did not give his son a fair chance.

—Gary Klein

Texas A&M basketball Coach Mark Turgeon has agreed to take over at Maryland, calling it a “great opportunity.”

Turgeon was 97-40 in four seasons with the Aggies, leading them to four consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament. They were 24-9 last season, losing to Florida State in the second round.

The United States lost to Switzerland, 5-3, at Kosice, Slovakia, in hockey’s world championship, a defeat that leaves the Americans facing defending champion Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.

Andy Roddick extended his troubled start to the clay-court season with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Gilles Simon of France in the opening round of the Italian Open.