HAWKS-HORNETS
Horford, defense lead Hawks to 94-92 win over Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Kent Bazemore scored 20 points, Al Horford added 16 points and 12 rebounds and the Atlanta Hawks held on to beat the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in three days 94-92 on Sunday.
The Hornets had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but Kemba Walker’s 17-footer from the left wing hit the back rim and bounced out. Walker also missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds of Charlotte’s 97-94 loss to Atlanta on Friday night.
Jeff Teague had 18 points and Paul Millsap added 16 points, including a key 3-pointer to give Atlanta the lead for good with less than a minute to play.
Walker finished with 17 points and Nicolas Batum added 16 points and eight assists for winless Charlotte. Al Jefferson contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets.
NASCAR-MARTINSVILLE
Gordon wins Martinsville to earn spot in championship finale
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) β Jeff Gordon will race for a fifth NASCAR championship in his final season, in large part because Matt Kenseth knocking out both of Roger Penske’s cars Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.
Kenseth acted on his three-week grudge against Joey Logano by intentionally wrecking Logano as Logano tried to win for the fourth consecutive time in NASCAR’s playoffs. The act knocked Logano out of a race he had dominated and handed the win to Gordon.
Gordon picked up his first victory of the season β ninth at Martinsville β and first in 39 races.
The four-time NASCAR champion had to earn the win after a caution with seven laps remaining set up one final restart. Gordon held off Jamie McMurray over the final two laps.
LIGHTNING-HURRICANES
Callahan, Stamkos score in 2nd as Lightning beat Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β Ryan Callahan and Steven Stamkos scored in the second period to give Tampa Bay the lead and the Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Sunday night.
J.T. Brown and Tyler Johnson scored in the third to help Tampa Bay snap a four-game losing streak and beat Carolina for the 10th time in the last 12 meetings. Andrei Vasilevsky finished with 31 saves.
Eric Staal, Kris Versteeg and Jordan Staal scored for the Hurricanes, who snapped a three-game winning streak. Cam Ward stopped 27 shots.
Callahan tied it 38 seconds into the second and Stamkos gave the Lightning the lead with 1:06 left in the period. Brown and Johnson made it 4-1 before the midpoint of the third.
Versteeg’s snap shot pulled Carolina within two with about 4 1/2 minutes to go and Jordan Staal closed the scoring with 1 second left in the game.
T25-COLLEGE FB POLL
Buckeyes, Bears, Clemson, LSU AP top 4; CFP ratings coming
UNDATED (AP) – Ohio State, Baylor, Clemson and LSU remain the top four teams in The Associated Press Top 25 as the College Football Playoff selection committee prepares its first rankings.
There was little change in the poll with five of top 10 teams having an open date.
Ohio State, which suspended quarterback J.T. Barrett for this week’s game against Minnesota for being cited for operating a vehicle while impaired, was off Saturday and retained all 39 of its first-place votes.
North Carolina entered the ratings at No. 21 after beating Pittsburgh and Texas A&M is back in at No. 25 after defeating South Carolina.
Duke and Pittsburgh dropped out.
The first selection committee top 25 will be released Tuesday night. The pairings for the College Football Playoff will be revealed Dec. 6.
NC STATE-RICHARDSON SUSPENDED
NC State suspends Will Richardson for rules violation
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina State says starting offensive lineman Will Richardson has been suspended from the team for violating undisclosed team rules.
Coach Dave Doeren announced the suspension Sunday.
Richardson is a redshirt freshman who has started all eight games at right tackle for the Wolfpack (5-3, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference).
