NBA-SCHEDULE
Hawks bounce back, beat Wizards
UNDATED (AP) — The Golden State Warriors continue to own the NBA’s best winning percentage following an exceptional shooting night by Stephen (STEH’-fehn) Curry.
The All-Star guard set season highs with 10 3-pointers and 51 points to lead the Warriors to their third straight win, 128-114 over Dallas. Curry was 16 of 26 from the field, including 10 of 16 from beyond the arc. It was the second-best offensive display of his career, topped only by his 11 treys and 54 points against the Knicks in New York nearly two years ago.
Klay Thompson added four 3-pointers and 18 points for the Warriors, who drained 19 of their 38 3-point heaves.
The Warriors are 39-8 following their third straight win and remain three games ahead of Memphis for the Western Conference lead.
In other NBA action:
— Jeff Teague (teeg) scored 26 points and Al Horford had 21 as Atlanta won for the 20th time in 21 games, downing Washington 105-96. Horford also grabbed 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who lead the NBA’s Eastern Conference at 41-9 following their third straight win over the Wizards.
— Toronto was 9-0 against Atlantic Division rivals until Jarrett Jack scored 24 points and Alan Anderson had 22 in Brooklyn’s 109-93 triumph over the Raptors. Toronto has dropped two straight since winning six in a row.
— Memphis claimed its eighth straight win as Zach Randolph contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds to a 100-90 triumph at Utah. Marc Gasol (gah-SAHL’) had a game-high 23 points to help the Grizzlies improve to 16-7 on the road.
— James Harden scored 15 of his 27 points in the second quarter of Houston’s 101-90 verdict over Chicago. The Rockets’ big men outscored the Bulls’ front court 50-28 to make up for a 60-47 rebounding disadvantage.
— San Antonio’s Tim Duncan had 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 110-103 decision over Orlando. Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and Tony Parker had 15 as the Spurs dealt the Magic their 10th straight loss.
— Russell Westbrook tied a career high with 45 points in leading Oklahoma City’s 102-91 triumph at New Orleans. The Thunder closed on a 13-0 run to pick up the win while Kevin Durant sat out for the fourth time in five games.
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nee ah-day-toh-KUHN’-boh) scored a career-high 25 points and Brandon Knight had 24 as Milwaukee outscored the Los Angeles Lakers 113-105 in overtime. Knight scored 12 points in the extra session to send the Bucks to their fifth straight win.
— Kevin Martin scored 30 points and Thaddeus Young contributed 16 in Minnesota’s 102-101 win over Miami. Ricky Rubio added eight points, chipped in nine assists and helped the Timberwolves erase a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
— Jared Sullinger hit two free throws with 22.8 seconds left to break a tie in Boston’s 104-100 triumph over Denver. Sullinger finished with 14 points after being benched at the start for showing up late for a walk-through.
— George Hill finished with 20 points and six assists in his return to the starting lineup as Indiana downed Detroit 114-109. Roy Hibbert had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and C.J. Miles added 15 points for the Pacers.
NBA-ALL-STAR
Coach Spike
NEW YORK (AP)— Spike Lee is going to be directing to the likes of Kevin Hart, Common, Anthony Anderson and Mo’Ne Davis — but instead of on a movie set, it will be on the basketball court.
The famed filmmaker is slated to coach the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which will kick off festivities for the All-Star weekend on Feb. 13-15. Lee, a New York Knicks fan, will coach with Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and ESPN Radio’s Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg.
The event, to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City and televised live on ESPN, will also feature actors Ansel Elgort and Chadwick Boseman, former NBA players and current WBNA stars.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Coach K passes Dean Smith
UNDATED (AP) — Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski (shuh-SHEHF’-skee) has picked up his ACC-record 423rd league win, passing North Carolina’s Dean Smith.
Quinn Cook scored all 17 of his points in the second half as the fourth-ranked Blue Devils pulled out a 72-66 win over Georgia Tech. Duke never trailed in the second half, but it never led by more than seven before improving to 19-3.
Justise Winslow added 15 points and fellow freshman Jahlil Okafor (jah-LIHL OH’-kah-fohr) had 14 for the Blue Devils.
Also in top-25 play:
— Ryan Arcidiacono (ahr-see-dee-ah-KOH’-noh) scored 18 points and Darrun Hilliard had 12 to lead seventh-ranked Villanova to a 70-52 win over Marquette. Arcidiacono hit four of Villanova’s 11 3-pointers.
— Tenth-ranked Notre Dame held off Boston College 71-63 as Jerian Grant and Steve Vasturia scored 17 points apiece to help the Fighting Irish improve to 21-3. Zach Auguste added 16 points for the Irish, who rebounded from Saturday’s loss to Pittsburgh.
— Fred VanVleet made two free throws with 4.6 seconds left to help No. 16 Wichita State secure a victory over Bradley, 62-59. Ron Baker had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists as the Shockers rebounded from their first Missouri Valley loss in two years.
— Dez Wells scored 23 points and No. 17 Maryland improved to 19-4 by outlasting Penn State 64-58. Former Nittany Lion Jon Graham scored 12 of his career-high 16 after halftime.
— Melvin Johnson scored 17 points as 18th-rated VCU beat George Mason 72-60. JeQuan Lewis added 13 points as the Rams won for the 11th time in their last 12 games.
— Rico Gathers finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds as 19th-rated Baylor thumped TCU 77-57. Kenny Chery opened the scoring with a 3-point and a three-point play to jumpstart his 13-point night.
— Purdue beat a ranked team for the third straight time as Rapahel Davis scored 20 points in the Boilermakers’ 60-58 victory against No. 20 Ohio State. Purdue held on after scoring 10 straight points to take a 52-44 lead.
— Providence strung together a 20-6 run in the second half of a 74-71 triumph against No. 24 Georgetown. Ben Bentil had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Friars’ second win over the Hoyas this season.
— Oklahoma State upset No. 25 Texas 65-63 behind Phil Forte’s two free throws with 2.1 seconds left in overtime. Le’Bryan Nash scored 17 points as the Cowboys handed the Longhorns their fourth consecutive loss.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-SYRACUSE
Orange ban themselves from the postseason
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse University says it has instituted a self-imposed postseason ban for the current men’s basketball season as part of its case pending before the NCAA Committee on Infractions. The ban also includes the ACC tournament.
The school initiated the case, which includes academics, when it self-reported potential athletic department violations to the NCAA in 2007. School officials say none of the conduct occurred after 2012 and no current student-athlete is involved.
Coach Jim Boeheim (BAY’-hym) says he’s disappointed, especially for senior Rakeem Christmas, but supports the decision.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-KANSAS STATE-SUSPENSIONS
Wildcats’ top scorer among two suspended
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Kansas State has suspended leading scorer Marcus Foster and backup forward Malek Harris for violating team rules.
Coach Bruce Weber did not provide any further details in the release from the school, but he says he hopes the players “will learn from this experience and make the necessary progress to rejoin our team.”
Foster averages 14 points per game and leads the Wildcats with 54 3-pointers.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-SIGNING DAY
UNDATED (AP) — Southern California and Alabama are getting high marks following their acquisitions on Signing Day. The Trojans topped the Rivals and Scout team recruiting rankings as of 6 p.m., while the Crimson Tide led the ESPN and 247Sports standings. Defensive end and consensus top recruit Byron Cowart selected Auburn, and linebacker Roquan Smith declared he was going to UCLA.
SUPER BOWL-PARADE
Celebration for the champs
BOSTON (AP) — Several feet of snow didn’t stop thousands of fans of the New England Patriots from lining a parade route in Boston. The fans turned out to celebrate their team’s big win in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Well-wishers blew kisses, pumped their fists and screamed themselves hoarse from behind barriers as the team rolled through downtown aboard the World War II-style amphibious “duck boat” vehicles that have become a staple of the city’s championship parades.
SUPER BOWL-LYNCH
Silence is indeed golden
NEW YORK (AP) — By uttering his now classic phrase, “I’m just here so I won’t get fined,” Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has indeed avoided being fined by the NFL. League spokesman Michael Signora said in a statement that Lynch fulfilled the obligation to attend all media sessions prior to Seattle’s 28-24 loss to New England.
NFL-COLTS
Jackson charged with assault
WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in Washington, D.C., have arrested Indianapolis Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and charged him with assault after an argument over a parking space. A police report shows Jackson was arrested on the misdemeanor charge Tuesday after a driver told police that Jackson punched him in the face and head during a dispute over a parking space.
NFL-COWBOYS
Dallas back arrested
UNDATED (AP) — Dallas running back Joseph Randle has been arrested for the second time in less than four months, this time on suspicion of marijuana possession after a domestic violence call to police in his hometown in Kansas. Wichita police spokesman Lt. James Espinoza says Randle was arrested early Tuesday after the mother of Randle’s child called 911 to report she fought with him in a hotel room.
Randle was arrested on a misdemeanor shoplifting charge at a Dallas-area mall in October.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Pens, Rangers win
UNDATED (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins have regained first place in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division, with the New York Rangers sitting just two points back.
Evgeni Malkin returned to the Pens’ lineup and scored the game-winner in the second period of a 2-0 shutout of Edmonton. Marc-Andre Fleury handled 22 shots for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season and 35th of his career.
Former Oiler David Perron (peh-RAHN’) also scored for the Penguins, who moved one point ahead of the idle New York Islanders for the division lead.
Rick Nash scored his 32nd goal and the Rangers picked up their third straight win by downing Boston 3-2. The Bruins led 2-1 until Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan (STEH’-pahn) scored about 10 minutes apart in the second period.
Cam Talbot stopped 18 shots in place of Henrik Lundqvist, who sat out because of an undefined neck injury after being struck in the throat by a puck on Saturday.
Also on ice, Kris Russell, Jiri Hudler (HOOD’-lur) and Mason Raymond scored during an 8:35 span of the second period to push Calgary past San Jose 3-1. The Flames moved into a three-way tie with the Sharks and Vancouver for second place in the Pacific Division.
NHL-PREDATORS
Good news for Predators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (PEH’-kuh REE’-nay) is set to return to the lineup after missing eight games over three weeks with a knee injury. Coach Peter Laviolette (lah-vee-uh-LET’) says Rinne will be back between the pipes Thursday night against Anaheim.
CANDLESTICK PARK
Iconic stadium coming down
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Crews have started tearing down San Francisco’s storied Candlestick Park, the former home of the Giants and 49ers. In place of the old park, houses, a hotel and a shopping center will be built. The “Stick” opened more than 50 years ago and was known for its chilly conditions brought by whipping winds and fog from San Francisco Bay. The Beatles held their last live concert there in 1966.
OBIT-CHARLIE SIFFORD
PGA Tour pioneer dead at 92
UNDATED (AP) — Charlie Sifford, who only wanted a chance to play and broke the color barrier in golf as the first black PGA Tour member, died Tuesday night at 92. The PGA of America announced his death. He recently had suffered a stroke.
Sifford challenged the Caucasian-only clause and the PGA rescinded it in 1961. He won the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969. He also won the 1975 Senior PGA Championship, five years before the Champions Tour was created.
Last November, President Barack Obama presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
MLB-NEWS
Britton gets new pact
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton has avoided salary arbitration by accepting a one-year pact worth $3.2 million. Britton became the Orioles’ closer last year and was 3-2 with a 1.65 ERA and 37 saves in 41 chances for the AL East champions. Outfielder Alejandro de Aza (ah-leh-HAHN’-droh day AH’-zah) is the Birds’ only remaining player in arbitration.
Also in the majors:
— Prosecutors in Cleveland say they won’t file charges against Indians pitcher Danny Salazar, who was the subject of a sexual-assault investigation. Salazar is expected to compete for a starter’s job at spring training after going 6-8 in 20 starts last season.
— The San Jose City Council wants the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a lawsuit that aims to stop Major League Baseball from blocking the Oakland Athletics’ proposed move to the city. The A’s have been unable to go to San Jose because the San Francisco Giants have territorial rights over Santa Clara County and object to the move.
