NBA-BULLS/CAVALIERS
Bulls win final game before the break
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls were winners in the final NBA game before the All-Star break.
Derrick Rose scored a team-high 30 points and had seven assists as the Bulls cooled off Cleveland 113-98. Tony Snell added 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting while starting in place of Jimmy Butler, who missed the game with a shoulder injury.
The Cavaliers lost for only the second time in 16 games despite LeBron James’ game-high 31 points. The Cavs played without Kevin Love, who sat out because of an abrasion in his right eye.
NBA-KINGS/KARL
Karl hired in turn-around job in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — George Karl is getting another chance to revive a struggling NBA franchise.
The Sacramento Kings have an agreement in principle to hire Karl as head coach. He is the sixth-winningest coach in NBA history and is expected to be on the sideline in their first game following the All-Star break against Boston in Sacramento next Friday.
The 63-year-old Karl has 1,131 victories as a head coach, with stops in Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle, Milwaukee and Denver. He’s earned a reputation for turning around teams. He was named NBA coach of the year with the Nuggets in 2012-13, his last season on the bench.
The Kings fired Michael Malone in December after an 11-13 start in his second season as coach. Tyrone Corbin has been their interim coach, but the Kings say he’s been relieved of his duties.
NFL-BRONCOS-MANNING
Manning discusses his future with Elway
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the meeting tells The Associated Press that Peyton Manning huddled with Broncos general manager John Elway on Thursday to talk about his future in football. No decision was announced on whether Manning would return in 2015 or retire.
Manning has been mulling his future since the Broncos were bounced from the playoffs last month by his old team, the Indianapolis Colts. Elway told Manning then that he wanted him back and asked him not to make a rash decision.
The meeting was first reported by the Denver Post.
NFL-PACKERS
McCarthy gives up calling offensive plays
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has made it official: He is relinquishing his job calling plays for Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense. McCarthy is handing off the play-calling duties to Tom Clements, whom he promoted from offensive coordinator to associate head coach. Receivers coach Edgar Bennett was named offensive coordinator.
McCarthy has called plays since being hired as coach in 2006.
NFL-RAMS
Cignetti promoted to OC
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Rams have promoted quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti to offensive coordinator. He replaces Brian Schottenheimer, who left in January to become offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia.
The Rams also said tight ends coach Rob Boras was promoted to assistant head coach for the offense.
NFL-LOS ANGELES
Plans advance to NFL stadium in LA
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A proposal to build an 80,000-seat stadium in the Los Angeles suburbs that could become the home of an NFL team has taken a step forward.
Los Angeles County election officials said Thursday they have verified enough petition signatures to allow the plan to go before voters in Inglewood, where the stadium would be built.
That vote could come in June.
If voters approve, stadium construction could begin in about a year.
TOP 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL
Zags crush Loyola Marymount
UNDATED (AP) — Third-ranked Gonzaga is the nation’s first men’s basketball team with 25 wins this season after a dominant performance on Thursday.
Kyle Wiltjer scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Bulldogs clobbered Loyola Marymount 80-51. Przemek Karnowski and Byron Wesley each scored 11 points for the Zags, who opened the game on a 20-0 run en route to their 18th consecutive win.
Gonzaga is 13-0 in the West Coast Conference and 25-1 overall.
In other top-25 action:
— Eleventh-ranked Utah thumped Stanford 75-59 behind Delon Wright’s 15 points. Dallin Bachynski finished with 13 points in the Utes’ 16th consecutive home win.
— Markus Kennedy scored 17 points and Nic Moore had 15 to lead No. 25 SMU past Houston 75-69. The Mustangs are first in the American Athletic Conference at 11-2.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Isles still top Metro…Habs catch Lightning…Predators win
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Islanders still sit atop the NHL’s Metropolitan Division after winning for the fourth time in five games.
Anders Lee scored twice and Jaroslav Halak (hah-LAHK’) stopped 32 shots in the Islanders’ 3-2 triumph over Toronto. The Isles blew a 2-0 lead in the second period before Lee notched his 18th goal of the season and fifth in six games.
Casey Cizikas (sih-ZEE’-kuhs) also scored for the Islanders, who lead their division by one point over Pittsburgh.
Also on NHL ice:
— The Penguins kept pace with the Islanders, although the Pens blew a 4-2 in the last five minutes of regulation before David Perron (peh-RAHN’) scored the lone shootout goal in a 5-4 triumph over Ottawa. Sidney Crosby scored twice and Kris Letang (leh-TANG’) added a goal and an assist to help the Penguins earn their fourth victory in five games.
— Montreal moved into a tie for the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference leads despite blowing 2-0 and 3-2 advantages in a 4-3 overtime loss to Edmonton. Anton Lander notched the game-winner 1:47 into the extra session after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins knotted the score with 25 seconds left in regulation. Max Pacioretty’s (pash-uh-RET’-eez) team-high 25th goal of the season put the Canadiens ahead 3-2 midway through the third period.
— Tampa Bay fell into a first-place tie with the Canadiens by losing 6-3 to St. Louis. Alex Steen provided a goal and two assists as the Blues improved to 14-2-1 in their last 17 games. Steen, David Backes (BAK’-ehs) and Paul Stastny (STAS’-nee) scored during a 3:08 span of the second period to put St. Louis ahead 5-1. It was head coach Ken Hitchcock’s 693rd regular-season win, passing Dick Irvin for fourth on the NHL’s all-time list.
— Nashville still tops the Central Division by four points over St. Louis after Pekka Rinne (PEK’-uh REE’-nay) stopped 32 shots in the Predators’ 3-1 triumph against Winnipeg. Shea Weber had a goal and two assists for the Predators, who still lead the Western Conference by three points over Anaheim.
— Francois Beauchemin (BOH’-sheh-mihn) and Matt Beleskey scored less than three minutes apart late in the second period to send the Ducks past the Hurricanes 2-1 in Carolina. John Gibson handled 35 shots as the Ducks ended a three-game losing streak and finished 2-2-1 on their road trip.
— The New York Rangers blew a 3-1 lead in the third period before Carl Hagelin (HAG’-lehn) scored the game-winner with 7:58 left in a 6-3 win at Colorado. Rick Nash netted his 34th goal and Kevin Hayes added a goal and two assists as the Rangers stayed four points off the Metropolitan Division lead.
— Mikko Koivu (MEE’-koh KOY’-voo) assisted on goals by Jason Pominville and Zach Parise (pah-REE’-say) as Minnesota downed Florida 2-1. Devan Dubnyk (DOOB’-nihk) stopped 26 shots and was perfect until Nick Bjugstad (BYOOG’-stad) scored midway through the third period.
— Tyler Toffoli (tah-FOH’-lee) registered his first career hat trick by scoring once in each period to lead Los Angeles past Calgary 5-3. Toffoli also had an assist as the Kings climbed within three points of the Flames in the battle for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
NHL-SUSPENSION
Roussel punished for cross-check
NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL has given Dallas Stars forward Antoine Roussel (roo-SEHL’) a two-game suspension for a hit under the chin of Boston defenseman Adam McQuaid. Roussel was assessed a five-minute major penalty for cross-checking and thrown out early in the first period of Dallas’ 5-3 win Tuesday night. He will miss games Friday against Florida and Saturday in Colorado.
MLB-ALL-STAR GAME-MIAMI
Miami to get All-Star game
MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball will announce on Friday that the 2017 All-Star Game will be hosted by the Miami Marlins.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred also will attend the event at Marlins Park, as will team owner Jeffrey Loria and the mayors of Miami, Miami-Dade County and Miami Beach.
The game will be hosted for the first time by the Marlins, who began play in 1993.
MLB-CONTRACTS
Royals, Herrera agree…Giants settle with McGehee
UNDATED (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations has told The Associated Press the Kansas City Royals and reliever Kelvin Herrera have agreed to a two-year, $4.15 million package that avoids arbitration. Herrera made just over $520,000 last year while recording a 1.41 ERA and a .214 batting average against in 70 regular-season games last year. He also had a 1.80 earned run average in the postseason as the Royals reached the World Series for the first time in 29 years.
Also in the majors:
— The San Francisco Giants and third baseman Casey McGehee (muh-GEE’) have avoided salary arbitration by working out a one-year, $4.8 million contract. The Giants acquired the 32-year-old from the Miami Marlins in December to replace Pablo Sandoval, who left as a free agent and signed with Boston. McGehee hit .287 with 29 doubles, four homers and 76 RBIs in his lone season with the Marlins.
— Former All-Star Rickie Weeks has agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. Weeks hit .274 with eight homers and 29 RBIs for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. He’s spent much of his career as a second baseman but will serve as a utilityman in Seattle.
— The Houston Astros have signed right-hander Roberto Hernandez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. The 34-year-old Hernandez went a combined 8-11 with a 4.10 ERA for Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
PGA-PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM
Hicks eagle earns part of lead
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Justin Hicks rolled in an 18-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to complete an 8-under 64 in the first round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. That earns him a share of the lead with J.B. Holmes.
John Daly capped off his 7-under 65 with a birdie on 18 for his lowest opening round in ten years. He’s tied for third with Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk), Brandt Snedecker and three others.
LLWS-US CHAMPION-RESIDENCY
Attorney gets into Little League controversy
CHICAGO (AP) — A high-profile Chicago attorney says he’s working with local Little League officials to investigate the international governing body’s decision to strip the Chicago team of its national title.
Attorney Victor Henderson says that he’ll look into Little League International’s ruling that local officials knowingly added ineligible players to the Jackie Robinson West team.
Little League International announced Wednesday that Jackie Robinson West was being stripped of its 2014 title because team officials falsified boundaries to include ineligible players and tried to persuade surrounding leagues to go along with the scheme.
