NBA-SCHEDULE
Warriors hammer Clippers…Spurs continue Hawk hex
UNDATED (AP) β The Golden State Warriors remain one of the NBA’s three unbeaten teams following a very convincing victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Warriors are 5-0 after Stephen (STEH’-fehn) Curry and Draymond Green led them to a 121-104 romp over the Clippers. Curry had 28 points and seven assists for the Warriors, who built a 25-point lead in the second quarter and held off the Clippers the rest of the way. Green scored a career-high 24 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists.
Golden State extended its best start in 20 years under new coach Steve Kerr.
Also in the NBA:
β Tim Duncan had 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Spurs hung on for a 94-92 triumph over the Hawks. Manu Ginobili (MAN’-oo jih-NOH’-blee) hit two free throws with 3.8 seconds left to allow San Antonio two beat Atlanta for the 17th straight time in Texas.
β Gordon Hayward drained a buzzer-beating jumper to lift Utah past Cleveland 102-100. Hayward and Derrick Favors each finished with 21 points to help the Jazz overcome LeBron James’ 31 points for the 1-3 Cavaliers.
β DeMarcus Cousins had 30 points and 11 rebounds, while Rudy Gay chipped in 29 points to lead Sacramento’s 131-109 rout of Denver. Darren Collison added 10 points and eight assists as the Kings improved to 4-1 for the first time in 13 years.
β Taj Gibson scored 23 points and Pau Gasol added 22 in Chicago’s 95-86 triumph at Milwaukee. Derrick Rose had 13 points and seven assists in 32 points after missing the Bulls’ previous two games with sprains in both ankles.
β Mike Conley had 24 points and 11 assists as Memphis downed Phoenix 102-91 to run its season-opening winning streak to a team-record five games. Courtney Lee pumped in 22 points and combined with Conley to score 17 of the Grizzlies’ 30 third-quarter points.
β Washington blew a 12-point lead in the second half before John Wall scored seven of his 31 points in overtime to lead the Wizards past Indiana 96-94. Wall also had 10 assists and six rebounds as the Wizards won their fourth in a row since a season-opening loss to Miami.
β Charlotte had dropped 16 straight regular-season games to Miami before Al Jefferson scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 96-89 triumph over the Heat. Kemba Walker had 16 points and seven assists, and Cody Zeller turned in another solid game off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds for the Hornets.
β Kyle Lowry scored 35 points and had a key steal in the closing minute to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 110-107 win at Boston. DeMar DeRozan had 23 points and Patrick Patterson added 14 for Raptors.
β Nikola Pekovic (PEK’-oh-vihch) converted a tiebreaking three-point play with 48 seconds left while Minnesota closed on a 9-0 run to beat Brooklyn 98-91. Kevin Martin led the Timberwolves with 26 points and rookie Andrew Wiggins added 17.
β Orlando picked up its first win by beating Philadelphia 91-89 on a buzzer-beating jumper by Tobias Harris. Nik Vucevic (voo-SEH’-vihch) scored 17 points and Channing Frye had 13 and 11 rebounds for the Magic.
β Derrick Rose helped the Chicago Bulls continue to make themselves at home in Milwaukee with a 95-86 win over the Bucks. Taj Gibson scored 23 points, Pau Gasol added 22 and Rose had 13 points and seven assists in 32 minutes for the Bulls, who have beaten the Bucks nine straight times in Milwaukee.
β Detroit knocked off New York 98-95 as Greg Monroe delivered 23 points and 18 rebounds in the Pistons’ first win of the season. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 points for the Knicks, who played while J.R. Smith served a one-game suspension for punching a player in the groin on Tuesday.
MLB-DRUG INVESTIGATION-RODRIGUEZ
Attorney: A-Rod admits to steroid use
MIAMI (AP) β A lawyer for the University of Miami’s former pitching coach says Alex Rodriguez admitted to federal investigators he used steroids.
Attorney Frank Quintero Jr. represents Lazaro Collazo in his defense of charges of conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs. Quintero has told The Associated Press that the New York Yankees third baseman confessed to steroids use, according to Drug Enforcement Administration documents provided by the government to lawyers in the case.
Rodriguez has denied using steroids supplied by the Coral Gables clinic Biogenesis of America and its owner, Anthony Bosch. The Miami Herald first reported Rodriguez admitted the steroids use in a January interview with DEA agents and prosecutors.
A spokesman for Rodriguez didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
NFL-RICE HEARING
Rice hearing starts
NEW YORK (AP) β Ray Rice has completed the first day of his appeal hearing after spending about nine hours Wednesday at the offices of former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones in New York.
A person familiar with the case told The Associated Press that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testified for more than two hours to begin the hearing. The source said Goodell spent much of his testimony under cross examination by Rice’s attorneys.
The hearing took place nearly two months after the former Pro Bowl running back was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and released by the Baltimore Ravens.
Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after a video of him hitting his then-fiancee was released publicly. Goodell originally had suspended the running back for two games.
Rice is seeking immediate reinstatement.
NFL-BILLS
Bills owners committed to new stadium, trying to cancel Toronto games
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) β The Buffalo Bills’ new owners are committed to building a stadium and also are working to end the team’s series of annual home games in Toronto.
Terry Pegula said the construction of a stadium was something the NFL emphasized during the sale process. The one answer the Pegulas couldn’t provide yet is a location, timeline or how the costs will be split.
As for playing games in Toronto, Terry and Kim Pegula are in talks with Rogers Communication to cancel the series that began in 2008. The Bills were scheduled to play four more regular-season games in Toronto before the series was postponed in March for this season.
NFL-INJURIES
Romo sits out London practice
LONDON (AP) β Dallas quarterback Tony Romo sat out the team’s first practice in London for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville because of his injured back. He stayed at the team hotel while the rest of the Cowboys worked out. Romo missed Sunday’s loss to Arizona with his third back injury in the last 18 months.
Backup Brandon Weeden took the snaps during practice on Wednesday.
Coach Jason Garrett remained optimistic that Romo would be ready for Sunday.
In other NFL news:
β Wide receiver Calvin Johnson is expected to return this week after missing the Detroit Lions’ last three games with an ankle injury. Johnson is back to his normal practice routine and will play Sunday when the Lions host the Miami Dolphins. The Lions won all three games Johnson missed, but they haven’t gained more than 400 yards since their victory over the New York Giants in Week 1.
β A person familiar with the diagnosis tells The Associated Press that Bills rookie receiver Sammy Watkins will be ready to play against Kansas City this weekend despite hurting his groin during Wednesday’s practice. Head coach Doug Marrone provided few details except to say Watkins didn’t finish practice. Marrone said it was too early to determine the severity of the injury.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Isles outlast Ducks…Habs top Sabres in shootout
UNDATED (AP) β The New York Islanders have ended a three-game losing streak by handing the Anaheim Ducks a rare loss.
The Isles blew a 2-0 lead in the second period before John Tavares scored a power-play goal 2:18 into overtime to lift New York past the Ducks 3-2 in overtime.
Tavares also scored the game’s first goal and linemate Kyle Okposo (oh-POH’-soh) added a goal and an assist to help the Islanders improve to 1-2 on their five-game, West Coast trip.
Matt Beleskey and Emerson Etem (EE’-tehm) scored for the Ducks, who dropped to 10-3-1.
Elsewhere in the NHL:
β P.A. Parenteau (PAR’-ehn-toh) scored in regulation before providing the deciding shootout goal in the Canadiens’ 2-1 victory at Buffalo. Parenteau snapped a scoreless tie 19 seconds into overtime, but the Sabres knotted the game on Drew Stafford’s power-play goal less than three minutes later.
β The New York Rangers beat Detroit 4-3 on Derick Brassard’s power-play goal 1:50 into overtime. Lee Stempniak (STEHMP’-nee-ak) gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead with 7:50 left in regulation, but Detroit got even for the second time when Tomas Tatar (tah-TAHR’) scored on a power play with 7.7 seconds remaining in the third period.
NHL-PENGUINS-FLEURY
Pens goalie gets new deal
PITTSBURGH (AP) β The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a four-year, $23 million contract extension that runs through the 2018-19 season. The 29-year-old Fleury was in the final season of a seven-year contract he signed in 2008. Fleury is 7-2 with 1.89 goals against average and three shutouts this season.
NASCAR-HENDRICKS-FINES PAID
Hendricks picks up tab
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The boss is ponying up for his crew.
Hendrick Motorsports will pay the $185,000 in fines levied against six crew members for their role in a post-race fight at Texas between Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski. NASCAR fined and suspended four Hendrick team members on Tuesday for Sunday’s fracas.
Hendrick Motorsports general manager Doug Duchardt said on Sirius XM that the organization would cover all the fines.
TENNIS-NADAL SURGERY
Nadal leaves hospital
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) β Tennis star Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-ehl nah-DAHL’) has been released from a Barcelona hospital, two days after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix.
He told reporters that everything went well and that it was an ordinary surgery. Nadal gave no timetable for his return to tennis, saying he would start training when he has recovered fully.
He will miss the ATP Finals in London that begin Sunday.
TENNIS-OUDIN
U.S. player to have heart procedure
UNDATED (AP) β American tennis pro Melanie Oudin (oo-DAN’) says she will have a procedure Thursday for a heart condition, and surgery later this month for an eye problem.
The 2009 U.S. Open quarterfinalist tells The Associated Press that for more than a year, she has been experiencing occasional “episodes” of an accelerated heartbeat, usually during or right after matches.
SOCCER-MESSI RECORD
Messi strikes again and again
AMSTERDAM (AP) β Lionel (lee-ahn-EHL’) Messi has equaled Raul Gonzalez’s Champions League scoring record of 71 goals with his second strike for Barcelona against Ajax (EYE’-ahks). Messi notched his 70th and 71st goals in his 90th match in Europe’s top club competition. Former Real (ray-EHL’) Madrid and Schalke striker Raul took 142 matches to reach his tally.
OBIT-HALSEY
Ex-big league pitcher dies in climbing accident
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (AP) β Former major league pitcher Brad Halsey has died in a recreational climbing accident. He was 33.
Police in Comal County said an investigation was still ongoing into Friday’s accident in the Texas Hill Country area. The Lux Funeral Home said services were pending.
Halsey went 14-19 in 88 games with the New York Yankees, Arizona and Oakland from 2004-06. The left-hander most recently pitched in the minors for the Yankees in 2011.
