NBA-SCHEDULE
Sixers’ skid finally ends
UNDATED (AP) β The Philadelphia 76ers have avoided a record they never wanted.
The 76ers were 0-for-17 and one loss away from tying the NBA mark for worst start before Michael Carter-Williams provided 20 points, nine assists and nine rebounds in an 85-77 victory at Minnesota. Robert Covington had 17 points for the Sixers, who overcame a comical start to build a 23-13 lead through one quarter.
The game had to be restarted 16 seconds in after officials realized both teams were lined up and shooting at the wrong ends of the floor. The Sixers were about to attempt a free throw when referee Zach Zarba stopped the game.
Also in the NBA:
β Brooklyn blew a 14-point lead in the final five minutes of regulation before knocking off San Antonio 95-93 in overtime, ending the Spurs’ eight-game winning streak. Mirza Teletovic (MEER’-zah teh-LET’-oh-vihk) had a season-high 26 points and a career-best 15 rebounds starting in place of Kevin Garnett.
β Toronto whipped Utah 123-104 as Kyle Lowry scored a season-high 39 points on 13-of-22 shooting. Greivis (GREE’-vihs) Vasquez and Lou Williams each had 17 points to help the Raptors send the Jazz to their seventh consecutive loss.
β The Clippers picked up their sixth straight win as Chris Paul provided 19 points and 10 assists in a 114-86 rout over Orlando. Blake Griffin finished with a game-high 21 points and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 16 rebounds in the blowout.
β Dallas downed Milwaukee 107-105 on a buzzer-beating jumper by Monta (MAHN’-tay) Ellis. He scored eight of his 23 points in the final two minutes to lead the Mavericks to their fifth straight win.
β James Harden scored 21 points and Houston ended the Grizzlies five-game winning streak by downing Memphis 105-96. Trevor Ariza (ah-REE’-zah) and Jason Terry added 16 to help the Rockets win without three starters, including Dwight Howard.
β Pau Gasol (pow gah-SAHL’) had 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls dealt Charlotte its 10th straight loss, 102-95. Joakim (JOH’-keem) Noah and Nikola Mirotic each posted double-doubles, with Noah delivering 14 points and 10 rebounds and Mirotic adding 11 points and 12 rebounds.
β Atlanta made it four straight wins as Jeff Teague scored 27 points and Kyle Korver scored 18 in a 112-102 triumph at Miami. Dennis Schroder scored 16 for the Hawks, who broke it open with an 18-5 run to end the third quarter.
β Bradley Beal scored 27 points and the Washington Wizards picked up their third straight win by trouncing the Los Angeles Lakers 111-95. John Wall’s 17 points and 15 assists helped the Wizards deny the Lakers their first three-game winning streak in more than a year.
β Jeff Green scored 32 points and Boston opened overtime on an 8-0 run to beat Detroit 109-102 and halt a five-game losing streak. Kelly Olynyk had 20 points and seven rebounds as the Celtics sent the Pistons to their 10th straight loss.
NBA-KINGS-COUSINS
Kings’ big man sidelined through weekend
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) β Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has been released from the hospital after receiving treatment for a viral infection that will keep him sidelined through the weekend.
He has missed the last three games with the illness and will sit out games Friday against Indiana and Saturday versus Orlando. Cousins is averaging career highs of 23.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks this season.
NBA-BUCKS-ILYASOVA
Milwaukee forward out indefinitely with broken nose
MILWAUKEE (AP) β Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova (ee-lah-SOH’-vuh) is out indefinitely after breaking his nose in Tuesday’s loss at Cleveland.
The Bucks say Ilyasova also showed symptoms of a mild concussion. He was hit in the face in the second quarter and spent the night at the Cleveland Clinic.
The Bucks said Ilyasova isn’t expected to go on the team’s trip to Dallas and Oklahoma City after that.
Ilyasova is averaging 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game.
NFL-BROWNS-HOYER STARTS
Hoyer hangs on to starting job with Browns
BEREA, Ohio (AP) β Brian Hoyer will be under center when the Cleveland Browns begin Sunday’s game against Indianapolis.
Browns coach Mike Pettine (PEHT’-ihn) chose him over Johnny Manziel (man-ZEHL’), saying Hoyer would be a better choice to lead the Browns down the stretch.
Hoyer has played poorly for a month, but the 7-5 Browns are sticking with him as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Also from the Browns, wide receiver Miles Austin has been placed on injured reserve after he sustained a kidney injury in Sunday’s loss at Buffalo.
In other NFL news:
β The Chicago Bears have signed veteran kicker Jay Feely with Robbie Gould (gohld) doubtful for Thursday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys because of a right quadriceps injury.
β Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller returned to practice Wednesday for the first time in six weeks since breaking his collarbone.
MLB-HOT STOVE LEAGUE
Twins announce $10.5M deal with Torii Hunter…Hochevar strikes it rich
UNDATED (AP) β The Atlanta Braves have found a replacement for recently-departed Jason Heyward, while the Baltimore Orioles lost another outfielder.
The Braves and free agent outfielder Nick Markakis (mahr-KAY’-kihs) have agreed to a four-year contract, pending a physical. The 31-year-old Markakis spent the first nine years of his career with the Baltimore Orioles. This past season, he batted .276 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs.
Markakis will take over in right field for Heyward, who was shipped to the Cardinals last month.
In other baseball news:
β Torii Hunter has signed the one-year, $10.5 million deal he accepted from the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Hunter hit .286 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs for the Tigers last year.
β The Seattle Mariners have traded outfielder Michael Saunders to the Toronto Blue Jays for veteran lefty J.A. Happ. Saunders appeared in 78 games and hit .273 with eight homers and 34 RBIs for Seattle this year, while Happ was 11-11 with a 4.22 ERA.
β Free agent reliever Jim Johnson has agreed to a one-year deal with Atlanta after going 5-2 with a 7.09 ERA in 53 1/3 innings for Oakland and Detroit last season. The Braves hope Johnson can replace Jordan Walden as the primary setup man for closer Craig Kimbrel.
β Right-hander Luke Hochevar (HOH’-chay-vur) and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal. The former No. 1 overall draft pick didn’t pitch this year following Tommy John surgery.
β Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span had surgery for a sports hernia, and the team expects him to be ready for spring training in February.
β The San Diego Padres have agreed to a one-year contract with shortstop Clint Barmes, pending a physical.
T25-FLORIDA STATE-WINSTON
Winston hearing completed
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) β A two-day hearing that could determine quarterback Jameis (JAY’-mihs) Winston’s future at Florida State has ended with no decision and no definitive timetable on when the case will be resolved. The hearing was held by the university about two years after a female student said Winston sexually assaulted her in December 2012. It was held to determine whether Winston violated any or all of four sections of the code of conduct two for sexual misconduct and two for endangerment.
Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Major Harding then has 10 school days to rule. The second-ranked Seminoles play Georgia Tech in the ACC title game on Sunday, one day before the College Football Playoff committee picks the four semifinalists for the national championship.
NFL-VIKINGS-PETERSON APPEAL
Peterson hearing continues Thursday
NEW YORK (AP) β Two people familiar with the case tell The Associated Press that Adrian Peterson won’t attend the conclusion of his suspension appeal hearing Thursday.
Peterson also skipped a disciplinary hearing at the league office last month before Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) suspended him for the rest of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The 2012 NFL MVP hasn’t played for the Minnesota Vikings since Week 1 after he was charged with child abuse in Texas.
NFL executive Troy Vincent is scheduled to testify on Thursday, according to someone who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side is discussing the case publicly.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-TOP-25 SCHEDULE
Duke wins at Wisconsin
UNDATED (AP) β The Duke Blue Devils have highlighted the latest ACC/Big Ten Challenge by winning a matchup of top-five teams.
Tyus Jones dropped in 22 points and the fourth-ranked Blue Devils shot 65 percent in beating the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers 80-70 in Madison. Rasheed Sulaimon (SOO’-lih-mahn) finished with 14 points and Jahlil Okafor (jah-LIHL’ OH’-kah-fohr) added 13 to help Duke improve to 8-0.
Also in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge:
β Malcolm Brogdon scored 18 points and Justin Anderson added 16 to lead seventh-ranked Virginia to a 76-65 win over No. 21 Maryland. The 8-0 Cavaliers entered the game with the nation’s top scoring defense before holding the previously-unbeaten Terrapins 13 points below their season average.
β Mike Gesell hit a driving layup for the go-ahead three-point play with 1:16 left to help Iowa upset 12th-ranked North Carolina 60-55 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Gesell finished with 16 points for the 6-2 Hawkeyes.
Jerian Grant scored a career-high 27 points and Demetrius Jackson added a career-best 22 to help Notre Dame came away with a victory in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, beating No. 19 Michigan State 79-78 in overtime. Jackson’s three-point play 2:19 into overtime put the Fighting Irish ahead by five.
Elsewhere:
β Delon Wright hit a jumper with 14 seconds left in overtime to give No. 25 Utah a 69-68 victory against eighth-ranked Wichita State. Wright finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists in helping the Utes send the Shockers to their first regular-season loss since March 2013.
β Darrun Hilliard and Dylan Ennis each scored 15 points to lead 10th-ranked Villanova’s 84-70 win over La Salle. Josh Hart and JayVaughn Pinkston each added 12 points for the 7-0 Wildcats, who shot 7-for-14 from 3-point range.
β No. 23 Butler beat Indiana State 77-54 behind 14 points apiece from Kellen Dunham and Roosevelt Jones. The Bulldogs sealed it with a 7-0 run that made it 53-34 with 11:44 to play.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Canadiens fall after making plans for Beliveau tribute
UNDATED (AP) β The Montreal Canadiens have capped a rough 24 hours for the franchise by losing for the fourth time in five games.
They took the ice in Minnesota, one day after Canadiens legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau (zhahn BEH’-lih-voh) died at age 83. Beliveau was honored with a moment of silence before the Habs suffered a lackluster 2-1 loss to the Wild.
Jason Zucker and Jason Pominville provided the Wild’s scoring in their seventh victory in 10 games. Darcy Kuemper (KEHM’-pur) had a shutout until Alex Galchenyuk (gahl-CHEHN’-yuhk) beat him with 58 seconds remaining.
Before the game the Canadiens announced that Beliveau will “lay in wake” at the Bell Centre on Sunday and Monday before his funeral on Wednesday afternoon. A bronze statue of the legendary team captain will be on display across from the Bell Centre’s main entrance until Saturday.
Elsewhere on ice:
β Anaheim took over the Western Conference lead and sent Philadelphia to its sixth straight loss by downing the Flyers 5-4 on shootout goals by Jakob Silfverberg and Corey Perry. Ryan Getzlaf (GETS’-laf) and Pat Maroon each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead before Wayne Simmonds scored with 2.6 seconds left in regulation.
β Kris Versteeg scored 59 seconds into the third period before Patrick Kane added a pair of tallies to push Chicago to its seventh victory in eight games, 4-1 over St. Louis. Antti Raanta (AN’-tee RAHN’-tah) had 40 saves in his first start since Corey Crawford was sidelined by a left foot injury.
β Winnipeg beat Edmonton 3-2 on Mathieu Perreault’s (peh-ROHZ’) goal 17 seconds into overtime. Jacob Trouba (TROO’-bah) had a goal and an assist against the Oilers, who are 0-8-3 since Nov. 9.
NHL-NEWS
Kings give extension to Martinez
UNDATED (AP) β Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alex Martinez has agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract extension. Martinez scored two series-ending overtime goals in the playoffs last season, completing victories in the conference finals and Stanley Cup finals. He has 25 goals and 37 assists in 221 career NHL games, all with Los Angeles.
In other NHL news:
β The New York Islanders are putting defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Lubomir Visnovsky (LOO’-boh-meer vihs-NAHF’-skee) on the injured list and recalling defenseman Griffin Reinhart under emergency conditions from Bridgeport of the AHL. Boychuk has already missed three games because of a lower-body injury, and Visnovsky has an upper-body injury that has kept him out of two games. The Isles also activated forward Michael Grabner, out all season following hernia surgery.
β Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is expected to be sidelined 2-to-3 weeks after injuring his left foot when he missed a step while leaving a recent concert. The Blackhawks have recalled Scott Darling from the minors.
β Pittsburgh Penguins forward Robert Bortuzzo has been suspended two games by the NHL for an illegal hit on New Jersey’s Jaromir Jagr on Tuesday night.
NASCAR-STEWART-SURGERY
Tony Stewart has 4th surgery on right leg
LAS VEGAS (AP) β Tony Stewart has undergone a fourth surgery on the leg he broke last year during a sprint car race in Iowa.
Stewart broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg during the Aug. 5, 2013, crash and underwent two surgeries immediately after the accident, including one to insert a metal rod inside the tibia.
