HORNETS-HEAT
Bosh returns, Heat top Hornets 104-94 in season opener
MIAMI (AP) β Chris Bosh scored 21 points in his first game since getting sick last February, Dwyane Wade added 20 and the Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Hornets 104-94 Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
Gerald Green scored 19 off the bench and Luol Deng finished with 13 for Miami, which used a 26-6 run in the second quarter to take control and beat the Hornets for the 14th consecutive time at home.
The Heat made 12 of 20 shots from 3-point range, including one from Deng with 38.8 seconds left to help seal the win.
Al Jefferson scored all of his 17 points in the first half for Charlotte, which cut a 20-point second-half deficit to five in the final minute. Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 19 points, Jeremy Lin scored 17 and Marvin Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets.
LOUISVILLE-ESCORTS
Louisville’s Lewis: AD says Pitino ‘going to be our coach’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Louisville graduate transfer Trey Lewis says athletic director Tom Jurich has assured players that Hall of Famer Rick Pitino will remain the Cardinals coach amid escort allegations.
Speaking during the Atlantic Coast Conference media day Wednesday, Lewis says Jurich “explained to us that coach Pitino is going to be our coach.”
Lewis also says Pitino has told them “that he’s going to be here for a long time,” so players aren’t worried about his future.
Pitino isn’t attending the media day on the advice of counsel.
Lewis says he prays for Pitino all the time, but the coach is handling the turmoil well.
Allegations emerged earlier this month that an ex-staffer hired an escort and other dancers to strip and have sex with players and recruits from 2010-14.
NASCAR-ALLGAIER-JR MOTORSPORTS
Allgaier and sponsor Brandt headed to JR Motorsports in 2016
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β JR Motorsports has hired Justin Allgaier to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet next season in the Xfinity Series with sponsorship from Brandt.
The agriculture retailer has been Allgaier’s sponsor since 2011, the last two in the Sprint Cup Series with HSCott Motorsports. Brandt will sponsor Allgaier in 18 of the 33 Xfinity Series races next season.
Allgaier has three victories in the Xfinity Series in 174 career starts. He was rookie of the year in 2009 and finished a career-best third in the standings in 2011.
JR Motorsports previously announced Elliott Sadler would drive a second full-time entry for the team in 2016.
MIAMI-WYCHE
Miami suspends DL Michael Wyche after battery arrest
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) β Miami reserve defensive tackle Michael Wyche has been suspended indefinitely from the football team after being charged with battery in what police said was a domestic violence incident.
He was booked into jail at 4:50 a.m. Wednesday β his 23rd birthday β and being held on $1,500 bond, with court records showing his arraignment is currently scheduled for Nov. 18. Wyche was also ordered to stay away from the alleged victim.
The 6-foot-4, 345-pound Wyche appeared in four games for Miami this season. He did not play in any of the last three Hurricane games. He did not have an attorney and was being assigned a public defender, according to court records.
Miami plays Saturday at No. 22 Duke, the first game for interim coach Larry Scott.
FALCONS-GETTING OFFENSIVE
Even with Falcons’ success, Ryan knows he must play better
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) β Matt Ryan puts the blame squarely on himself for Atlanta’s offensive struggles the past three weeks.
The Falcons quarterback knows it’s all part of the territory.
While Atlanta (6-1) has already matched its win total for last season, the offense hardly looked sharp in wins over Washington and Tennessee and the only loss at New Orleans.
Ryan threw four interceptions in those games, giving him six for the season. He’s on pace for his lowest quarterback rating since 2009.
Assessing his performance Wednesday, Ryan said, “There’s been some good, there’s been some ugly. I’ve got to clean up the ugly.”
The Falcons haven’t lost faith in Ryan, saying they expect him to turn things around. He’ll get his next chance Sunday in a division game against Tampa Bay (2-4).
