FIFA chief Sepp Blatter on Wednesday condemned the deadly attacks at the Boston marathon, urging authorities to pull out all the stops in preventing such tragedies.

"What happened in Boston is a drama, a tragedy," the head of world football's governing body said in Spanish, speaking to reporters as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Cuba.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa launched his campaign to head Asian football with plenty of talk about match fixing, grassroots football and more equitable spending of revenues.

But when it came to human rights in his divided nation of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman had little to say.

The Los Angeles Clippers trounced the Portland Trail Blazers 93-77 on Tuesday for their sixth straight victory, on a night that saw the Celtics-Indiana Pacers game in Boston canceled in the wake of Monday's deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Caron Butler scored 18 of his 22 points in the third quarter, Blake Griffin added 16 points and DeAndre Jordan had 10 points and nine rebounds for the Pacific Division champion Clippers, who finished their home schedule with a 32-9 record.

From London to Sochi to Rio de Janeiro, the deadly bomb attacks on the Boston Marathon raised new concerns Tuesday over safety at major sports events around the world, including the Olympics and World Cup.

The twin bombings near the marathon finish line that killed three people and injured more than 170 people brought into sharp focus the security challenges facing next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2016 Summer Games in Rio.

Wales will have two teams in next season's Premier League after Cardiff gained promotion to the lucrative top flight on Tuesday for the first time in 51 years.

Cardiff, which was playing in the fourth tier and suffering severe financial hardship only 11 years ago, guaranteed a top-two finish in the League Championship thanks to its 0-0 draw against Charlton.

The Los Angeles Lakers' locker room had several conspicuous absences Sunday night. Kobe Bryant was at home after surgery on his torn Achilles tendon, and Steve Nash hasn't played in seven games.

Although Bryant's season is over, Dwight Howard insists the Lakers' fun has just begun.

The Miami Heat, resting LeBron James and most of their top players for the playoffs, earned a 96-95 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

Norris Cole stripped Kyrie Irving of the ball with 2.2 seconds left to give to give the Heat the win, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

Race organizers said the London Marathon would go ahead on Sunday despite the death of at least three people in explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, but police said they would review security plans.

British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that footage from the blasts was "shocking and horrific", and said that his thoughts were with those affected.

The twin blasts that killed three people and injured scores at the Boston marathon are a warning for Russia as it prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the sports minister said on Tuesday.

"For Russia, which will have to soon stage a number of major sporting events, this is a serious warning bell," RIA Novosti quoted Vitaly Mutko as saying.

Carlos Boozer turned his shoulder and knocked Dwyane Wade to the floor, while Nate Robinson shoved LeBron James in the same sequence.

It was physical, rugged and exactly what the Miami Heat needed as part of their preparations for the playoffs, which start this coming weekend. James scored 24 points and Wade finished with 22 as the Heat set a club record for home wins in an NBA season by beating the Chicago Bulls 105-93 on Sunday.