In brief: Cuban ballplayer smuggler sentenced to 14-plus years

BASEBALL: The convicted ringleader of a smuggling organization that brought more than 1,000 Cubans into the U.S., some of them baseball players, including Texas Rangers outfielder Leonys Martin, was sentenced Monday to more than 14 years in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard rejected a request for leniency by Eliezer Lazo, whom she noted was paid $22,000 a month through the scheme – not counting the percentages of any professional baseball contracts the players signed. Prosecutors say Martin paid the Lazo group $1.2 million after signing with the Rangers in 2011.

Lazo, 41, will begin serving the sentence after finishing an unrelated five-year prison term for money laundering in a Medicare fraud case. In the smuggling case, he pleaded guilty in August to extortion conspiracy.

The Lazo organization smuggled Cubans by boat to Mexico for $10,000 each, more for the baseball players, according to court documents. They would then usually travel to the U.S. border crossing at Laredo, Texas, and ask to be permitted to stay in the U.S.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Davidson said migrants who couldn’t pay were held for ransom by armed guards, often threatened and sometimes beaten. Although Lazo did not participate in any violence, Davidson said he was well aware it was going on.

No evidence surfaced in the case that Martin or any of the other valuable Cuban ballplayers were mistreated. Only Martin has been identified by name in the Lazo case, but other Cuban stars such as Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig have also been smuggled through Mexico.

Rose’s return sparks Bulls past Pistons

NBA: Derrick Rose had 24 points and seven assists in his return to the lineup, and host Chicago beat Detroit 102-91.

Rose was 9 of 20 from the field in 33 minutes after being sidelined by sprained ankles. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 15 rebounds for Chicago, and Joakim Noah finished with 13 points, 14 boards and six assists.

• Cavaliers top Pelicans: LeBron James recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Kyrie Irving scored 27 of his 32 in the second half, leading Cleveland to a 118-111 win over visiting New Orleans.

• Pacers end skid: Roy Hibbert scored a season-high 29 points and A.J. Price added 22 to help Indiana beat the Utah Jazz 97-86 in Indianapolis, ending the Pacers’ six-game losing streak.

• Hawks defeat Knicks: Paul Millsap scored 19 points, Dennis Schroder had two big baskets in the final 2 minutes, and Atlanta beat host New York 91-85.

• Spurs finish strong: Kawhi Leonard tied his career high with 26 points despite playing with only one good eye, and visiting San Antonio closed with a rush to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 89-85.

Bruins down Devils, earn fifth straight win

NHL: Seth Griffith scored a highlight-reel goal to break a second-period tie, and Reilly Smith added another just 80 seconds later to lead Boston to a 4-2 victory over visiting New Jersey.

Griffith split two Devils as he crossed the blue line and, when New Jersey defenseman Marek Zidlicky spun him around, he slapped the puck backward between his own legs and the legs of goalie Cory Schneider.

• Hurricanes douse Flames: Justin Faulk had a goal and two assists and Jeff Skinner scored his 100th career goal and Carolina beat Calgary 4-1 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Djokovic opens in style at ATP finals

MISCELLANY: Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic extended his indoor winning streak with an impressive 6-1, 6-1 win over Marin Cilic in his opening round-robin match at the ATP Finals in London.

The top-ranked Serb has now won his last 28 matches indoors. He will next take on Stan Wawrinka, who made the most of Tomas Berdych’s error-laced performance in a 6-1, 6-1 win earlier Monday.

• Nadal to get treatment on back: Rafael Nadal’s doctor said the 14-time Grand Slam winner will receive stem cell treatment on his ailing back.

Angel Ruiz-Cotorro told the AP by phone that “we are going to put cells in a joint in his spine” next week in Barcelona.

• Real Sociedad signs Moyes: Spanish club Real Sociedad hired former Manchester United manager David Moyes, giving the Scotsman a chance to revive his soccer career after his failed stint at Old Trafford.

• WSOP resumes: The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas wraps up this week with nine young poker faces returning to vie for a $10 million top prize playing no-limit Texas Hold ‘em. Mark Newhouse was the first player to leave the final table after going all-in with 10.2 million chips, losing with a pair of 10s to a pair of queens, earning no additional winnings.