Monday’s Sports In Brief

NBA

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - His voice cracked first. Then, his eyes got red. Finally, Stephen Curry cried.

He had felt this way in the past - when he barely received any scholarship offers out of high school, when some questioned whether his game could translate from tiny Davidson College to the NBA, when he sat in a doctor’s office searching for answers on how to fix his troublesome right ankle.

Curry could let it all out and laugh now. This was a time for celebration.

The Golden State Warriors point guard won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award Monday, the biggest moment yet of a young career already full of overcoming obstacles.

Curry received the Maurice Podoloff Trophy in a packed hotel ballroom below Golden State’s downtown Oakland practice facility. He shook his head in disbelief as he was announced as the winner of the league’s top individual honor.

BOXING

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Manny Pacquiao could face disciplinary action from Nevada boxing officials for failing to disclose a shoulder injury before his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar said the state attorney general’s office will look at why Pacquiao checked “no” a day before the fight on a commission questionnaire asking if he had a shoulder injury.

Pacquiao could face a possible fine or suspension for not answering the question accurately on a form he filled out just before Friday’s weigh-in. He would go on to lose a unanimous decision to Mayweather in the richest fight ever.

Meanwhile, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache told ESPN.com that Pacquiao will undergo surgery later this week to repair a “significant tear” in his rotator cuff. ElAttrache examined Pacquiao on Monday at his Kerlan Jobe Orthopedics office in Los Angeles.

BASEBALL

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Craig Counsell enjoyed a solid but unspectacular major league career, hitting .255 over 16 seasons. He is confident he will have more success as a manager.

Counsell was hired to replace Ron Roenicke as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Counsell, a 44-year-old Milwaukee native, spent the final five seasons of his career with the Brewers, retiring after the 2011 season.

Counsell was a winner in his debut Monday night when the Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 to improve to 8-18 - still the worst record in the majors despite a three-game winning streak.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Catching prospect Austin Hedges has joined the San Diego Padres, his first call-up to the major league roster.

Hedges left his Triple-A El Paso team in Sacramento and drove to the Bay Area where he met the Padres on Monday in San Francisco. They were set to open a three-game series against the World Series champion Giants on Monday night. He made his major league debut and struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth against World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner.

Hedges batted .324 with eight doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs in 21 games at Triple-A. He had the fourth-best batting average for a catcher in the Pacific Coast League.

HOCKEY

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - After a 28-year run, Lou Lamoriello is stepping down as the New Jersey Devils general manager and handing the job to Ray Shero.

The 72-year-old Lamoriello announced the change, noting that he will remain as president of hockey operations. He said he has considered stepping down for a while and that he was not forced out by ownership after missing the playoffs the past three seasons.

Lamoriello has led the Devils since 1987, guiding them to three Stanley Cup titles, five Eastern Conference titles and nine division championships in 21 playoff appearances.

GOLF

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The match that didn’t happen in San Francisco will be available in stroke play at The Players Championship this week. Match Play winner Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Jordan Spieth are in the same group for the opening two rounds.

McIlroy is a four-time major champion who stretched his lead at No. 1 in the world with his victory Sunday in the Match Play Championship. Spieth is No. 2 in the world. He was eliminated before the weekend at the Match Play.

Jason Day is the third member of that group.

Tiger Woods is competing for the first time since he tied for 17th in the Masters. He was in the same group as U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer and Adam Scott. Kaymer in the defending champion at The Players.