HORNETS-RAPTORS
Kyle Lowry leads Raptors to record 49th win
TORONTO (AP) β Kyle Lowry scored 26 points and the Toronto Raptors wrapped up the regular season with their franchise record 49th victory, beating the Charlotte Hornets 92-87 on Wednesday night.
Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points, DeMar DeRozan had 16 and Terrence Ross 13 for the Raptors. They will open the playoffs at home Saturday against Washington.
Tory Daniels scored a season-high 24 points for Charlotte. Kemba Walker had 17 points, and Gerald Henderson 15 for the Hornets. They lost their last six games to finish at 33-29. After holding the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference on March 8, they lost 15 of 20 to fall out of postseason contention.
NASCAR-KYLE BUSCH
Busch has no timetable for return after Daytona wreck
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) β Kyle Busch says he knew immediately that his right leg and left foot were broken when he crashed his car into a concrete wall at Daytona International Speedway.
In his first news conference since the Feb. 21 crash, Busch walked the crowd frame-by-frame through a video of the accident that occurred in the closing laps of the season-opening Xfinity Series race.
Busch had a sharp recollection of the accident and everything he thought and did inside the car as it hurtled toward an inside wall.
He said he left the racing surface at 176 mph, and had only slowed to 90 mph when he hit the wall. Busch said he knew he was likely going to break one leg and removed his right foot from the brake pedal.
Busch said the g-force of the hit itself measured 90 Gs. He is not sure when he’ll be cleared to race again.
RBC HERITAGE-SPIETH
Masters champion Jordan Spieth back to work at RBC Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) β Masters champion Jordan Spieth is back to work this week at the RBC Heritage Classic after two days celebrating his victory at Augusta National and being showered with attention.
Spieth arrived at Sea Pines Resort late Tuesday night after a media whirlwind in New York since tying Tiger Woods’ Masters record of 18-under 270 to capture the green jacket.
The 21-year-old said it was a dizzying stretch with 26 appearances and interviews in 25 hours. Paparazzi were on scene and snapping pictures during dinner, though Spieth said no one told anyone where they were going.
Spieth doesn’t believe his success or the hoopla will change him. In fact, he maintained his commitment to the RBC Heritage in part because he wants to chase down Rory McIlroy for world No. 1.
NC STATE-LACEY
NC State’s Trevor Lacey declares for NBA draft
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina State says guard Trevor Lacey will enter the NBA draft.
Lacey announced his decision Wednesday in a statement issued by the school.
The 6-foot-3 Alabama native averaged 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his only season playing for N.C. State. He was an all-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team selection while helping the Wolfpack win 22 games and reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Lacey says this “the toughest decision of my life” but adds “pursuing this new journey in my basketball career is what is best for me.”
He averaged 9.3 points and shot 34 percent from 3-point range in two seasons at Alabama. He transferred to N.C. State in 2013 and sat out the 2013-14 season.
DUKE-JONES
Duke guard Tyus Jones latest Blue Devil to enter NBA draft
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) β Tyus Jones is the latest Duke freshman to jump into the NBA draft.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski announced the guard’s decision Wednesday.
Jones says in a statement issued by the school that he was “faced with the tough decision of returning to a place I love or pursuing the next dream.”
Jones was selected as the most outstanding player at the Final Four after averaging 13 points and 4.5 assists in six NCAA Tournament games. He led all scorers with 23 in the national championship game against Wisconsin.
During the past week, classmates Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow also declared themselves eligible for the draft. Seven Kentucky players also have entered the draft, three were freshmen.
Krzyzewski says Jones “could not have done a better job for us this past year.”
