NBA-SCHEDULE
Balanced Cavs go for two wins in two nights
UNDATED (AP) — There’s just one game on the NBA schedule before the league takes its All-Star break, which this year runs through next Wednesday. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who placed seven players in double figures in beating Miami 113-93 last night, try to enter the break on a three-game winning streak when they travel to Chicago to play the Bulls. The Bulls also have won three in a row.
The actual All-Star game is Sunday night in New York. But there are advance festivities, including a U.S. vs. world rising stars game Friday night and the skills and slam-dunk competition Saturday night.
NBA-SILVER
Commissioner says Year 2 time for “action”
NEW YORK (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says his second year on the job needs to be how to improve the game, not merely how to increase revenue.
He tells The Associated Press, “I think the Year 2 needs to be one in which we’re focused on action.”
Silver mentions possible changes to the format of the draft lottery, creating a schedule that can reduce the number of back-to-backs and stretches of four games in five nights, the way the playoffs are seeded, and increasing the NBA’s role in youth basketball.
Silver’s first year following David Stern was a massive success in many ways. He succeeded with the ouster of Donald Sterling and the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion to Microsoft mogul Steve Ballmer and extensions of the league’s national TV contracts in deals that will be worth more than $2.6 billion.
T25-SCHEDULE
‘Zags go for No. 25
UNDATED (AP) — Third-ranked and once-beaten Gonzaga tries for its 18th straight victory and 25th overall when the ‘Zags play Loyola Marymount tonight in West Coast Conference action. Gonzaga already has beaten Loyola Marymount by 17 points on the road back on Jan. 17.
That’s one of three games involving teams in the AP Top 25. Elsewhere, No. 11 Utah is home against Stanford. Finally, Larry Brown’s 25th-ranked SMU Mustangs are on the road at Houston.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Islanders try to maintain slim lead
UNDATED (AP) — The surprising New York Islanders, who are holding a slim one-point lead over Pittsburgh in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division, have a very winnable game tonight to maintain their grip on the top spot. The Isles are home against the skidding Toronto Maple Leafs, who’ve lost 12 of 13 and enter tonight’s play with a 23-28-4 mark.
That’s one of nine games on the NHL slate. The Montreal Canadiens, fresh off their come-from-behind 2-1 win over Philadelphia Tuesday night, are trying for their fourth straight win when they host Edmonton.
Pittsburgh, which posted a 4-1 victory over Detroit last night, tries for the second half of a back-to-back when the Penguins visit Ottawa. Elsewhere, it’s cellar-dwelling Carolina hosting Anaheim, red-hot St. Louis on the road at Tampa Bay, Nashville home against Winnipeg, Florida at Minnesota, the New York Rangers visit Colorado and the L.A. Kings hosting Calgary.
PGA-PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM
Time for the celebs to give it a whack
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — There’s double entertainment on the PGA Tour this week with the AT&T Pebble Bach National Pro-Am. In addition to being a regular Tour stop for the pros, there’s a host of celebrities to watch for three days taking their hacks along three courses on California’s Monterey Beach peninsula.
Last year at Pebble Beach, Jimmy Walker won for the third time in his first eight starts in the wraparound season. He closed with a 2-over 74 for a one-stroke victory. Walker already has won the Sony Open in Hawaii this year.
Dustin Johnson, the 2009 and 2010 Pebble Beach winner, is making his second start after a six-month leave of absence because of “personal challenges.” He missed the cut last week.
Last week Jason Day won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, beating J.B. Holmes with a par on the second hole of a playoff.
PGA-WOODS
Woods on Woods: “Unacceptable”
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Don’t look for Tiger Woods this weekend at Pebble Beach. The world’s former No. 1-ranked golfers says his game is “not acceptable” for tournament golf and won’t return until he thinks it is.
Hopeful of having injuries behind him, Woods made a horrific start to the new year. He shot a career-high 82 in the second round of the Phoenix Open to miss the cut by 12 shots. And then he withdrew after 11 holes of ordinary golf at Torrey Pines because of tightness in his back from a fog delay.
Woods said on his website the last two weeks have been disappointing, especially at Torrey Pines, where he is an eight-time winner. He said he never wants to withdraw, but recent injuries have allowed that to happen too often.
Woods said his latest injury was not related to the back surgery he had last spring. He said he’s feeling better every day with physical therapy.
TENNIS-HEWITT
Ex-Grand Slam champ testifies at rape trial
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former Grand Slam tennis champion Bob Hewitt has testified at his rape trial in South Africa, denying he sexually abused three girls he coached decades ago and saying the mother of one of his alleged victims supports him.
Hewitt, one of the world’s best doubles players in the 1960s and 1970s, testified for the first time at the trial in Johannesburg.
He said the mother of one of his accusers “has supported me that I did not do anything to her daughter.”
The 75-year-old Hewitt is charged with two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of minors in the 1980s and 1990s.
TENNIS-THAI OPEN
Hantuchova into quarters
PATTAYA CITY, Thailand (AP) — Two-time champion Daniela Hantuchova (han-TOO’-koh-vuh) of Slovakia beat Zheng Saisai of China 7-6 (5) 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at the Thailand Open.
The 31-year-old recovered from going down 2-0 in the first set to win in 1 hour, 36 minutes and reach her first quarterfinal since Morocco last April.
GOLF-THAILAND
American Lipsky 1 shot back
PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN, Thailand (AP) — Former British Amateur champion Michael Hoey shot an 8-under 64 today to set a course record and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Thailand Classic. American David Lipsky is among three players one shot back.
SKATING-FOUR CONTINENTS
Americans lead in short dance
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Olympic bronze medalist Denis Ten took a commanding lead after the men’s short program at the Four Continents figure skating competition.
In the short dance competition, Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates had the lead with 70.38 points.
