NEW YORK (AP) — Russell Westbrook poured in 41 points to take MVP honors and lead the Western Conference to a 163-158 win over the East in the NBA All-Star game at Madison Square Garden. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard fell one shy of the All-Star game record of 42 points set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. Westbrook broke records with 11 first-half field goals and 27 points by intermission, doing it in just 11 minutes.
UNDATED (AP) — Fifth-ranked Wisconsin is 23-2 overall and 11-1 in the Big Ten after Frank Kaminsky’s 23 points and 11 rebounds led the Badgers past Illinoi 68-49. Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 17 points apiece as seventh-ranked Arizona clobbered Washington State 86-59. Jakob Poeltl had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead No. 11 Utah past California 76-61, and Seth Tuttle’s 22 points carried No. 13 Iowa State over Missouri State 68-57.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Gordon will start from the pole in the final Daytona 500 of his career next Sunday. The four-time NASCAR champ and three-time Daytona 500 winner secured the pole with Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson locking down the other front row spot. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin failed post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500 pole.
PEBBLE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Brandt Snedeker has won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for the second time in three years by breaking his own scoring record. Snedeker played bogey-free in closing with a 5-under-par 67 for a three-shot win over Nick Watney. He was 22-under for the tournament, topping the scoring mark of minus-20 set in 2013.
UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Blues have pulled within four points of Nashville for the NHL’s Western Conference and Central Division leads. Brian Elliott made 40 saves before stopping four of Florida’s five shootout attempts to secure the Blues’ 2-1 triumph over the Panthers. Anaheim remains five points behind the West-leading Predators after Alex Ovechkin (oh-VEHCH’-kihn) and Andre Burakovsky scored two goals apiece in the Capitals’ 5-3 triumph over the Ducks.
