COLLEGE FOOTBALL-BOWLS
La. Tech wins in Dallas
DALLAS (AP) β Kenneth Dixon scored one of his two touchdowns on an 80-yard reception and Xavier Woods scored on a 69-yard interception return to help Louisiana Tech beat Illinois 35-18 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
The Bulldogs also got touchdown runs of 16 yards from Jarred Craft and 28 yards from Blake Martin on a dark, overcast day at the Cotton Bowl.
Illinois struggled early with penalties and missed field goals, but got within three points on David Reisner’s 43-yard field goal early in the fourth quarters. But Dixon scored his second TD from one yard out with six minutes left to make it 28-18 and the Illini couldn’t answer.
Dixon became Louisiana Tech’s career leader in yards rushing, finishing with 63 for a total of 3,410 in three seasons. Louisiana Tech finished 9-5. Illinois wound up 6-7.
NFL-CHIEFS-SMITH
Smith has lacerated spleen.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) β Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith will miss Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers because of a lacerated spleen. He likely suffered the injury in last week’s loss to Pittsburgh. It was diagnosed until he had a scan Thursday after several days with what felt like a stomachache.
The quarterback will not need surgery and is expected to fully recover, but Smith would miss a potential playoff game.
Chase Daniels will start for Smith on Sunday.
NFL-PANTHERS-WILLIAMS
Williams likely to play for Carolina
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams is listed as probable for Sunday against Atlanta after missing the last three games with a broken hand.
Williams practiced fully all week despite having a cast on his hand. Coach Ron Rivera said there is still concern whether the franchise’s all-time leading rusher will be able to pass protect and catch the ball.
It’s expected the Panthers will rely heavily on Jonathan Stewart, who has averaged 109.2 yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry over the last four games.
NFL-CARDINALS-QUARTERBACK
Lindley is starter again
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) β Ryan Lindley will be back as the starting quarterback for Arizona when they face San Francisco Sunday with a chance to clinch the NFC West title.
Coach Bruce Arians initially said rookie Logan Thomas would start in Sunday’s regular-season finale at San Francisco. But he says he changed his mind based on Thomas’ performances in practice.
The Cardinals need a win, and a Rams upset of Seattle in order to clinch the division title.
Meanwhile, quarterback Drew Stanton is being treated for an infection in his right knee after having arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday.
NFL-BROWNS-QUARTERBACK
Shaw likely to start at QB for Browns
BEREA, Ohio (AP) β Browns rookie quarterback Connor Shaw will start the season finale on Sunday against Baltimore. Brian Hoyer is nursing a sore right throwing shoulder and was on the stationary bike during that portion of Friday’s practice that was open to the media.
Shaw and recently signed backup Tyler Thigpen were the only QBs on the field for practice.
Shaw will be the 22nd quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999.
NHL-DEVILS-DEBOER
Devils boot DeBoer
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) β The Devils have fired coach Pete DeBoer (deh-BOOR’), with the team in danger of missing the playoffs for a third straight season.
Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello (lam-uh-RIHL’-oh) would not say who will take over the aging team until he speaks on Saturday with the players.
New Jersey is 12-17-7 in an injury-plagued season. The Devils have not won consecutive games since early last month, going 3-8-5 in their last 16.
The 46-year-old DeBoer was hired in 2011-12 and immediately took the Devils to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings.
NBA-KNICKS-ACY SUSPENDED
Knicks Acy to sit one game
NEW YORK (AP) β Knicks forward Quincy Acy (AY’-cee) has been suspended one game without pay by the NBA for his flagrant foul against John Wall in a Christmas game.
The league says Wall has been fined $15,000 for escalating the confrontation by pushing Acy.
Wall was dribbling up the court when Acy knocked him down with a forearm shove late in the game. Wall got up and pushed Acy, who swung his arm and appeared to hit Wall behind the neck and was ejected.
Acy will miss the Knicks’ game at Sacramento on Saturday.
NBA-CAVALIERS-VAREJAO
No timetable for return following Achilles surgery
CLEVELAND (AP) β Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (VA’-reh-zhoh) has had surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon, an injury that ended his season and altered Cleveland’s title hopes. He was injured Tuesday night in a win over Minnesota.
The Cavs say Varejao’s operation was performed Friday at the Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Brian Donley, who was assisted by team physician Dr. Richard Parker. There is no timetable for his return.
Varejao has missed 166 games the past four seasons with injuries.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Nets edge Celtics
UNDATED (AP) β Jared Jack’s jumper from the lane with 28 seconds to play gave Brooklyn a 109-107 win over Boston. Jack finished with 27 points for the Nets who won their third straight.
Jared Sullinger had a chance to tie it for the Celtics, but his baseline, fallaway rimmed out at the buzzer. Sullinger finished with 19 while, Jeff Green had 22 for the Celtics who have dropped three in a row.
It’ll be a Southwest showdown in Memphis tonight when the Grizzlies host Houston as part of an 11-game NBA schedule. The suddenly slumping Grizzlies have lost three in a row and seen their lead in the Southwest Division shrink to just a half game over the Rockets. James Harden tops the league with a 27-point scoring average for the Rockets who also lead the NBA in 3-pointers.
The Atlanta Hawks are on fire heading into tonight’s home game against Milwaukee. The Southeast Division leaders have won five in a row and 14 of their last 15. The current winning streak has come against Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Dallas and the Clippers, and only two of the wins have come at home.
The defending NBA champ Spurs have hit a rare rough patch, losing five of their last six including at home to Oklahoma City yesterday. San Antonio will try to find some answers on the road at New Orleans. The Spurs will wind up playing a grueling 18 games in the month of December including seven back-to-backs.
NHL-PENGUINS-MUMPS
Two more Penguins have mumps
PITTSBURGH (AP) β Add forward Steve Downie and goaltender Thomas Greiss (GRYZ) to the list of Pittsburgh Penguins dealing with the mumps. The team says that both tested positive for the virus and will remain in isolation.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, forward Beau Bennett and defensemen Olli Maatta had previously been diagnosed with the ailment that has hit several NHL teams.
MLB-NATIONALS
Ex-Brave Uggla gets minor league deal
WASHINGTON (AP) β The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with second baseman Dan Uggla for a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training.
The Nationals also announced similar deals with reliever Heath Bell, third baseman Ian Stewart, first baseman Clint Robinson and right-handed pitchers Scott McGregor and Mitch Lively.
Uggla played in four games with San Francisco this year after being cut by Atlanta after the All-Star break. The 34-year-old Uggla finished the year batting .194. The Braves still owe him $13 million for 2015.
The 37-year-old Bell has 168 career saves.
