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#SportsReport: Brawl Overshadows Browns' Win Over Steelers

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The Cleveland Browns gave the type of performance that could have their fans thinking about the postseason once again. Baker Mayfield threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Browns ended the Pittsburgh Steelers’ four-game winning streak, 21-7. 

Mayfield was 17 of 32 passing for 193 yards and no interceptions to help Cleveland win their second straight and improve to 4-6. Nick Chubb had 92 yards rushing for the Browns, who intercepted Mason Rudolph four times and limited Pittsburgh to 236 total yards.

The game ended in a brawl after Cleveland defense end Myles Garrett ripped off Rudolph’s helmet and hit him in the head with it in the final seconds. Garrett faces a likely suspension for his actions, and Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey will likely be disciplined for kicking Garrett in the head. Rudolph was just 23 of 44 for 221 yards, including a third-quarter TD to Jaylen Samuels. Pittsburgh finished the game without Juju Smith-Schuster because of a concussion.

In other NFL news, Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery missed practice again Thursday because of an ankle injury as the team prepares for Sunday’s showdown with the Patriots. Jeffery has 34 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns for the 5-4 Eagles.

The NFL says 11 teams, including the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, have signed up to attend Colin Kaepernick’s workout in Atlanta on Saturday. The league said more teams are expected to attend the exiled quarterback’s audition and that former NFL head coach Hue Jackson will lead the drills. Kaepernick hasn’t played since 2016 when he helped start a wave of protests about social and racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem.

A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that wide receiver Antonio Callaway is facing a possible 10-game league suspension for another drug violation. Callaway served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse program earlier this season and was benched by Cleveland coach Freddie Kitchens for Sunday’s game against Buffalo because he didn’t get to FirstEnergy Stadium on time. The Browns released Callaway hours before their game Thursday against the Steelers.

NBA

The Knicks spoiled the return of Kristaps Porzingis to Madison Square Garden as Marcus Morris made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 13.2 seconds remaining to help New York get a 106-103 win against the Mavericks. Morris scored 20 points and Julius Randle had 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Knicks won for just the third time in 12 games. Porzingis finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for Dallas, while teammate Luka Doncic had 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his fifth triple-double of the season.

Nikola Jokic had 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Nuggets knocked off the Nets, 101-93. Denver trailed by 16 points in the third quarter before using a 19-6 run to work its way back. Paul Millsap added 18 points for the Nuggets, who held Brooklyn to 23% shooting in the second half.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reached the 30-point mark for the seventh time in 11 games to help the Milwaukee Bucks overcome another strong performance by the Chicago Bulls’ hotshot rookie. Antetokounmpo had 38 points and 15 rebounds as the Bucks downed the Bulls, 124-115 in Chicago. Eric Bledsoe added a season-high 31 points and eight assists in Milwaukee’s first game since losing starter Khris Middleton to a thigh bruise. Bulls rookie Coby White shot 5 of 8 from 3-point range in the first half, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to hit five 3-pointers in consecutive games. The 19-year-old seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft finished with a team-high 26 points, including six 3s.

Jrue Holiday scored 36 points and stole the ball from Paul George three times in the final minutes of the Pelicans’ 132-127 victory over the Clippers. Derrick Favors had 20 points and a career-best 20 rebounds in the first 20-20 game of his 10-year career. George contributed 33 points in 24 minutes of his Clippers debut after coming back from offseason shoulder surgery.

The Heat are 8-3 after rookie Kendrick Nunn scored 23 points to lead a 108-97 win over the Cavaliers. Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 15 rebounds for Miami, which led by 27 in the third quarter before Cleveland got within 10 midway through the final period. Rookie Tyler Herro returned from a one-game absence and finished with 16 points for the Heat.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored a season-high 30 points and Devin Booker added 27 in the Suns’ 128-112 win versus the Hawks. Dario Saric added 23 points after shooting 9 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range for Phoenix. The 7-4 Suns are off to their best start since opening 9-2 in 2009.

In NBA news, Nets guard Caris LeVert has undergone surgery to repair ligaments in his right thumb. LeVert was hurt Sunday in Phoenix and missed his first game of the season Tuesday in Utah. The Nets did not give a timetable for LeVert, who is averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists this season.

Carmelo Anthony is about to make a comeback. A person familiar with the details says the veteran forward is returning to the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers. The 10-time All-Star hasn’t played since a short stint with the Houston Rockets ended a little more than a year ago. The Blazers hope there is still enough game left in the 35-year-old Anthony to help them overcome a 4-8 start.

Hawks guard Kevin Huerter is expected to miss at least two weeks with a left rotator cuff strain. He also was diagnosed with a shoulder capsule strain when examined Thursday in Atlanta. Huerter left the team’s West Coast trip after he was hurt in Tuesday night’s 125-121 victory at Denver. He is averaging 9.3 points this season.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

In men's college basketball, Harvard beat Siena 59-56. 

In top-25 basketball, Cassius Winston and freshman Malik Hall each had big second halves to help third-ranked Michigan State avoid its second loss in three games this season. Hall hit a layup with 26 seconds to play and scored all 17 of his points in the second half of the Spartans’ 76-73 triumph at No. 12 Seton Hall. Winston contributed 17 of his 21 points after halftime, including two free throws with 3.4 seconds to play to push Michigan State’s lead to three points. Winston was playing his second game in less than a week after the tragic death of his brother Zachary, who was hit by a train. The Pirates lost despite Myles Powell, who poured in 37 points despite an ankle injury suffered in their previous game.

No. 15 Florida closed on an 11-3 run to pull out a 66-60 victory over Towson. Freshman Scottie Lewis scored 15 points in his first start to help Florida win for the second time in three games. Graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr. had 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Andrew Nembhard had 11 points and nine assists for the Gators.

No. 18 Saint Mary’s was an 81-63 winner against Long Beach State as Tommy Kuhse had a career-high 20 points and eight assists. Matthias Tass added 22 points and five rebounds for the Gaels, who never trailed in the first game since dropping their home opener.

Zeke Nnaji shot 8-for-8 while furnishing 26 points and 11 rebounds in No. 19 Arizona’s 87-39 thrashing of San Jose State. The Wildcats held the Wildcats to 23% shooting, including 2 for 18 from 3-point range.

In college basketball news, freshman James Wiseman has withdrawn his lawsuit against the NCAA and Memphis while officials work to resolve the case. Wiseman will be allowed to practice with the team, although the university has declared him ineligible. Memphis says it supports Wiseman’s decision and believes it’s in the best interest of both the freshman and the Tigers’ basketball team to resolve his eligibility status through the NCAA process. The NCAA had informed Memphis that Wiseman was likely ineligible for receiving what it deemed to be impermissible benefits from Penny Hardaway before the former NBA star became Memphis’ coach. The university says it is immediately applying for Wiseman to be reinstated.

NHL

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been trying to rediscover the potent attack that led them to the NHL’s Presidents Trophy last season. They found it against the Rangers tonight, tying a team record for goals in a 9-3 drubbing in Tampa Bay. Five Lightning players scored at least three points, led by Nikita Kucherov with a goal and three assists. Alex Killorn delivered two power-play goals and an assist, while Steven Stamkos and former Ranger Kevin Shattenkirk each had a goal and two assists. The Lightning’s only other nine-goal game occurred during the 2003-04 season against the Penguins. Tampa Bay also matched a club mark with five power-play goals.

Carolina blew leads of 3-1 and 4-3 before Dougie Hamilton’s ninth goal of the season pushed the Hurricanes past the Sabres, 5-4. Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen each had a goal and two assists as the Canes won their second straight since a four-game skid. Buffalo is 0-4-2 in six games since a 9-2-1 start.

Connor McDavid exploded for two goals and four assists to lead the Oilers’ 6-2 romp over the Avalanche. McDavid provided two goals and two assists while Edmonton was building a 4-1 lead 16 minutes into the game. Leon Draisaitl finished with five assists and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added two goals in the Oilers’ third win in four games.

Third-period goals by Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry send the Jets to a 4-3 win at Florida. Scheifele broke a 2-2 tie with 5:08 remaining before Lowry added an insurance goal. Patrik Laine had three assists as Winnipeg handed the Panthers just their third regulation loss in their last 16 games.

Dallas is 6-0-1 in its last seven games after Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist in their 4-2 victory at Vancouver. Justin Dowling, Alexander Radulov and Blake Comeau also scored for the Stars, whose hot streak follows a 4-8-1 start.

Jordan Greenway scored on a deflection with 7:49 remaining to lead the Wild past the Coyotes, 3-2. Zach Parise had a goal and an assist and Kevin Fiala scored for the fourth time in six games for Minnesota.

Brent Burns scored on the power play and Evander Kane had a short-handed goal in the third period of the Sharks’ fifth consecutive win, 5-3 against the Ducks. Tomas Hertl scored twice against Anaheim, which ends up 2-3-2 on its season-long seven-game homestand.

Alex Iafallo scored 23 seconds into overtime to complete the Kings’ 3-2 win against the Red Wings. Los Angeles forward Adrian Kempe scored with 1:48 remaining in the third period to tie the game at 2-all.

In NHL news, Penguins star Sidney Crosby will be out at least six weeks after what the team said was a successful core muscle injury repair Thursday. General manager Jim Rutherford says the procedure was performed by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia. The 32-year-old Crosby leads the team in scoring with five goals and 12 assists in 17 games despite dealing with a sports hernia since training camp.

MLB

Baseball’s MVPs have been announced, and both come from Southern California ballclubs. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has captured the American League MVP for the third time in his career, while Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger is the National League Most Valuable Player. Trout is the sixth player to win at least three AL MVPs, joining Alex Rodriguez and Hall of Famers Jimmie Foxx, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. The 28-year-old Trout had another outstanding season, batting .291 with a career-high 45 home runs, 104 RBIs and 27 doubles while battling injuries this year. He led the league in on-base percentage, slugging and OPS in winning the MVP for the third time in six seasons. Trout got 17 of 30 first-place votes in balloting. Astros infielder Alex Bregman was second with the other 13 first-place votes. Bellinger got 19 of 30 first-place votes after hitting .305 with 47 home runs, 115 RBIs and a 1.035 OPS. He’s the 10th different Dodger to win MVP and first since Clayton Kershaw in 2014. Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich was second in the voting after winning the award last year. Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon finished third.

In other MLB news, Twins pitcher Jake Odorizzi and White Sox designated hitter José Abreu have accepted qualifying offers to stay with their current teams rather than test the free agent market. Odorizzi was 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA in 30 starts last season, striking out 178 over 159 innings. Abreu led the American League with 123 RBIs while batting .284 with 33 home runs, 38 doubles and an .834 OPS.

Reliever Will Smith has become the first of the 168 free agents to switch teams by agreeing to a three-year, $40 million contract with the Braves. Smith spent the last 2 ½ seasons with the Giants and was 6-0 with a 2.76 ERA and 34 saves in 63 games this year. He took over as San Francisco’s closer in July 2018.

MILITARY ACADEMIES

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has issued new guidelines that will allow athletes attending the nation's military academies to seek waivers to delay their service and play professional sports immediately upon their graduation. A memo signed by Esper requires athletes going pro to get approval from the defense secretary. It says they must eventually fulfill their military obligation or repay the cost of their college education. The memo was obtained by The Associated Press.

© The Associated Press 2019. All Rights Reserved.