NBA-SCHEDULE
Hawks down Warriors…Pacers end Cavs’ streak
UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have won a matchup of the NBA’s two best teams.
The Hawks had seven players score in double figures to lead a 124-116 triumph over Golden State. Jeff Teague (teeg) led Atlanta with 23 points and Kyle Korver had 17 as the Hawks moved past the Warriors in the battle for the league’s best record.
Klay Thompson scored 29 points and Stephen (STEH’-fehn) Curry had 26 for Golden State, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak is over after C.J. Miles contributed 26 points to lead Indiana past the Cavs 103-99. The Cavaliers led by one until George Hill converted a four-point play with 1:38 remaining. Hill finished with 20 points and David West had 20 points and 13 rebounds.
In other NBA action:
— DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points, Kyle Lowry had 21 and the Toronto Raptors rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 123-107. Greivis Vazquez scored 12 of his 17 in the fourth quarter to help the Raptors send the Clippers to their fourth loss in five games.
— James Harden scored 33 and Trevor Ariza (ah-REE’-zah) added 24 in Houston’s 117-111 verdict over Milwaukee. The Rockets hit 15 3-pointers and improved to 30-7 when they make 10 or more treys.
— Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard had the hot hand in San Antonio’s 98-85 romp over Miami, going 5-for-10 from 3-point range and scoring a game-high 24 points. Tony Parker added 21 points on 9 of 12 from the field for the Spurs.
— Ricky Rubio scored eight points in the final 1:47 to push Minnesota past Memphis 90-89. Rubio had 17 points and five assists despite appearing to re-injure the same ankle that kept him out for 42 games earlier in the season.
— Anthony Davis capped his 41-point outburst by canning a 3-pointer as time expired to give New Orleans a 116-113 triumph over Oklahoma City. Davis grabbed 10 rebounds to help the Pelicans overcome Russell Westbrook’s career-high 48 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.
— Marcus Morris scored 24 of his career-high 34 points in the first half of the Suns’ 100-93 triumph over Utah at Phoenix. Morris shot 5-for-6 from 3-point range in the first half and finished with a career-best 12 rebounds as the Suns ended a three-game skid.
— Orlando ended a 10-game skid and won its first game under coach James Borrego as Tobias Harris scored a career-high 34 points in a 103-97 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers.
— Brook Lopez scored 22 points and Jarrett Jack drained a clutch 3-pointer with 13.8 seconds left as Brooklyn beat New York 92-88.
— Detroit knocked off Denver 98-88 behind Greg Monroe’s 21 points and career-high 21 rebounds.
— Jared Sullinger’s 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists led Boston’s 107-96 triumph over Philadelphia.
NBA-PAUL-FEMALE OFFICIAL
Paul sticks to his assessment of female official
NEW YORK (AP) — Chris Paul says his problem with referee Lauren Holtkamp was with her call, not her gender.
The Los Angeles Clippers guard criticized Holtkamp on Thursday night after a 105-94 loss at Cleveland, saying she might not be ready for the big leagues after six seasons in the NBA Development League.
Paul and the Clippers were called for attempting to inbound quickly when Holtkamp stepped in. When Paul went to argue the call, Holtkamp slapped him with a technical.
He maintained on Friday that she made a bad call, while drawing a rebuke from the referees union and the backing of the female executive director of the NBA Players Association. The general counsel for the officials union said “the NBRA deplores the personal and unprofessional comments made by Chris Paul. She belongs.” Players union chief Michele Roberts countered the officials union portrayal of Paul by saying “any suggestion that Chris Paul would ever conduct himself in a disrespectful manner towards women is utterly ridiculous, outrageous and patently false.”
NBA-MAVERICKS-RONDO
Mavs’ Rondo out through All-Star break
DALLAS (AP) — Rajon Rondo (RAH’-zhahn RAHN’-doh) won’t return before the All-Star break as the Dallas point guard recovers from breaking the orbital bone of his left eye. The Mavericks say Rondo would miss the remaining three games before the break, starting Saturday night against Portland.
NFL-SUPER BOWL FINES
Four fined for last-minute scuffle
NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin has been fined $10,000 by the NFL for his role in a scuffle with 18 seconds left in the Super Bowl. Three other players received lesser fines. Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett and New England Patriots tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Michael Hoomanawanui (hoo-MAH’-nuh-wah-noo-ee) were fined $8,628 each.
NFL-PETERSON ARBITRATION
Peterson says he’s happy with “fair hearing, for once”
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL Players Association’s attempt to have Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson reinstated has been taken under advisement by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge David Doty (DOH’-tee) heard arguments from the NFLPA and the NFL on Friday, but did not provide a timetable for his decision.
Peterson has been suspended at least through April 15 after he was charged in a child abuse case last year, a case he resolved with a plea bargain.
NFL-STEELERS-BELL
Running back gets 15 months’ probation for DUI
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon (LAY’-vee-ohn) Bell will spend 15 months on probation in a first-offender’s program stemming from his arrest on marijuana possession and DUI charges with former teammate LeGarrette Blount. Bell’s driver’s license will also be suspended for 60 days.
Defense attorney Robert Del Greco Jr. says Bell is facing up to a two-game NFL suspension.
NFL-COWBOYS
Randle being investigated after drug charge is dropped
UNDATED (AP) — Police say they are investigating a domestic abuse claim against Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle made by an ex-girlfriend a day after his arrest on a drug charge.
The 22-year-old mother of Randle’s child filed for a protective order Wednesday in district court in Wichita, Kansas, saying the incident occurred the same night Randle was arrested on a marijuana possession charge. No charges related to domestic violence have been file, and police have dropped the marijuana charge.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Blues’ streak ends
UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Blues had won seven straight over the last two weeks to pull even with Nashville for first place in the NHL’s Central Division. The Blues were unable to pass the Predators on Friday as Nick Foligno (foh-LEE’-nuh) scored twice and had an assist to lead Columbus to a 7-1 rout of St. Louis.
Ryan Johansen scored his first NHL short-handed goal and Corey Tropp tallied for the first time in 66 games to help the Blue Jackets halt the Blues franchise-record 13-game points streak.
St. Louis netminder Brian Elliott was pulled after giving up four goals on 14 shots.
Also on ice:
— Evgeny Kuznetsov (kooz-NET’-sahv) and Nicklas Backstrom scored shootout goals to send Washington past Anaheim 3-2. Jason Chimera (chih-MEHR’-uh) had a goal and an assist against the Ducks, who now lead the Western Conference by three points over St. Louis and Nashville.
— Pittsburgh is back atop the NHL’s Metropolitan Division after Sidney Crosby scored twice and had an assist in a 4-0 victory at Calgary. Marc-Andre Fleury handled 21 shots for his league-leading eighth shutout of the season and 36th of his career. The Penguins lead their division by one point over the New York Islanders and two over Washington.
— Chicago beat Winnipeg 2-1 on Brandon Saad’s (sahdz) goal at 3:01 of overtime. Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist as the Blackhawks dealt the Jets their sixth straight loss.
— Patrik Elias (EH’-lee-ahsh) scored his 400th career goal and Jaromir Jagr (YAH’-roh-meer YAH’-gur) netted his 716th as New Jersey downed Toronto 4-1. The Maple Leafs have set a franchise record with their 11th consecutive loss.
NHL-INJURIES
Jets’ Kane out up to 6 months…Rangers’ King Henry out at least 3 weeks
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane will undergo left shoulder surgery and be out of the lineup for four to six months. He has 22 points in 37 games this season and was a scratch for Tuesday’s game against Vancouver.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers say star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will be out for at least three weeks after being hit in the throat by a shot. The Rangers said Lundqvist sustained a vascular injury in a game last weekend against Montreal.
MLB-TRANSACTIONS
Arbitration updates
UNDATED (AP) — Toronto infielder Danny Valencia has won his salary arbitration case with the Blue Jays. Valencia was asking for $1,675,000 and the Blue Jays countered with $1.2 million. Valencia hit .258 last year with four homers and 30 RBIs in 284 plate appearances for Kansas and Toronto.
In other arbitration news:
— The Chicago Cubs and reliever Pedro Strop (strohp) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2,525,000. The 29-year-old right-hander was 2-4 with a 2.21 earned run average in 65 relief appearances last year, when he struck out 71 in 61 innings.
— Pitcher Danny Duffy has agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals worth $2,425,000, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing. The 26-year-old left-hander was 9-12 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts and six relief appearances last year for the American League champions.
PGA-FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
English on the ball
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Harris English is the leader through two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
English fired a 6-under 66 on the North course for a 10-under total. He’s two strokes ahead of Nick Watney, Martin Laird and Jhonattan Vegas. Watney is in the mix following a 7-under 65 on the North course.
Phil Mickelson called his putting “beyond pathetic” as he missed the cut for the second straight week. Mickelson’s even-par 72 left him +2, two shots below the cut line.
LPGA-BAHAMAS
Second round play in progress
Brittany Lincicome (LIHN’-sih-kuhm) and Sun Young Yoo topped the leaderboard when the second round of the Bahamas LPGA Classic was suspended because of darkness. Lincicome had a 7-under total with 13 holes left in her second round. She shot a 68 on Thursday. Yoo fired a 69 in the second to match Lincicome at minus-7.
Second-ranked Inbee Park, Dori Carter, Jenny Shin, Kelly Shon are 6-under.
Only half of the players were able to finish the second round Friday after rain delayed play Thursday.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Pernice leads Champions event
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Tom Pernice Jr. closed with a double bogey for a 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead Friday in the Allianz Championship.
Pernice was poised to walk off the course with a healthy lead before he hooked his drive into the water on the par-4 ninth.
Paul Goydos and Bart Bryant are tied with Pernice. Bryant had four birdies and an eagle as he tries to win for the second time on the Champions Tour. Goydos had seven birdies and a bogey.
ALPINE SKIING
Miller not sure of future
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Six-time Olympic medalist Bode (BOH’-dee) Miller of the US is uncertain as to what his future holds. In his first interview since surgery on his severed right hamstring tendon, Miller told The Associated Press he’s still contemplating whether to return next season or not. He added that if his recent crash at the world championships was indeed his last race, he’s all right with that because his career has been “an amazing ride.”
