NETS-HORNETS
Brook Lopez scores 34, Nets hold off Hornets 91-88
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Brook Lopez had 34 points and 10 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets handed the slumping Charlotte Hornets their fifth loss in their last six games, 91-88 on Wednesday night.
The 7-foot center came into the game on a tear, having scored at least 26 points in each of his last three games, including 31 on Monday night against Boston.
Deron Williams had 10 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds for the Nets, who have won five of their last seven.
Nets forward Thaddeus Young left the game late in the third quarter with a hyperextended knee and did not return. Team officials said X-rays were negative and he will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
Gerald Henderson and Al Jefferson each had 23 points for the Hornets.
NCAA-S CAROLINA-NEXT STEP
South Carolina set to take next step in women’s NCAA tourney
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β South Carolina coach Dawn Staley believes her team is ready to finally push past the Sweet 16 and go deeper in the NCAA Tournament.
The Gamecocks have reached the round of 16 three times in the past four years β and saw their NCAA runs end there.
South Carolina needed to pull off a major upset three years ago to get past top-seeded Stanford in Fresno, California. A year ago, though, it was the top-seeded Gamecocks who were upended by North Carolina.
Staley and her Gamecocks have bigger goals this year, they’ve have their sights set on a national championship from the beginning.
To take the next step, the Gamecocks (32-2) will have to get past North Carolina (26-8) on Friday night in Greensboro.
S CAROLINA-THORNWELL
South Carolina G Thornwell to have injections on sore knees
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β South Carolina coach Frank Martin says guard Sindarius Thornwell played all season with tendinitis in both knees and will need injections to help heal this offseason.
Martin said Wednesday that Thornwell chose to keep playing and working at practice instead of resting to ease the condition. Martin says Thornwell’s knees were sore during games and it caused him to lose some leg strength on his shot.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore entered this year as the team’s top returning scorer at 13.4 points a game. However, Thornwell’s average dropped this season to 11.1 points a game while starting every game for the Gamecocks, who finished 17-16.
Martin says Thornwell will have injections in each leg next week that is expected to help the healing his patella tendons.
NASCAR-PENALTIES
NASCAR issues penalties to No. 33 Cup team, Xfinity team
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) β NASCAR has fined and suspended the crew chief of a Richard Childress Racing-affiliated team.
The sanctioning body fined Slugger Labbe $50,000, suspended him the next three races and placed him on probation until Dec. 31. Car owner Joe Falk was docked 25 owner points.
The penalties stemmed from a rules infraction discovered during opening day inspection March 20 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Xfinity Series regular Brian Scott was driving the No. 33 Chevrolet at Fontana. The infraction involved the improper mounting and assembly of the car’s truck trailing arm.
NASCAR also issued behavioral penalties to five Xfinity crew members for failure to comply with a directive from track security during pre-race activities March 21 at Auto Club. The crew members β Mark Armstrong, Tyler Bullard, Nathaniel House, Jeremy Howard and Ryan Mulder β were working for driver Blake Koch’s No. 8 team.
Armstrong was fined $1,500 and suspended until April 21. Armstrong, Bullard, House, Howard and Mulder were placed on probation until the end of the year.
