The Boston Celtics own the NBA’s longest winning streak of the young season after holding off the Dallas Mavericks. Kemba Walker nailed three key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 29 points in the Celtics’ 116-106 downing of Dallas.
Jaylen Brown added 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Celts, who have won eight in a row since a season-opening loss to the 76ers. Luka Doncic led the 6-4 Mavericks with 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds, but Kristaps Porzingis scored just four points and went 1 for 11 shooting. It was Boston’s first game since learning Gordon Hayward would be out six weeks following Monday’s surgery on his fractured left hand. Hayward was injured in Saturday’s 20-point win at San Antonio.
Lou Williams scored 21 points and Kawhi Leonard just missed a triple-double against his old team as the Clippers ended the Raptors’ three-game winning streak, 98-88. Leonard finished with 12 points, 11 boards, nine assists and nine turnovers in his first game against the team he led to the NBA championship this year. The Clippers shot just 37% but dominated the boards, 66-38, led by 12 each from Patrick Beverley and JaMychal Green.
James Harden delivered 13 straight points in the fourth quarter and finished with a game-high 39 in the Rockets’ 122-116 victory at New Orleans. The Pelicans used an 11-2 run to get within 97-93 before Harden went on his scoring run during a 2:10 span. Russell Westbrook had 26 points and Clint Capela added 11 points and 20 rebounds to help the Rockets to their fourth straight win.
The Jazz had three players score more than 20 points in a 122-108 victory at Golden State. Rudy Gobert led the way with 25 points and 14 rebounds as Utah dropped the Warriors to 2-9. Donovan Mitchell had 23 and Mike Conley added 22 to help Utah improve to 7-3.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points and the Memphis Grizzlies put a damper on Tony Parker's jersey retirement by beating the San Antonio Spurs 113-109. Dillon Brooks had 21 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points and 12 rebounds for Memphis, which had lost two straight and five of six. Parker's uniform was lifted to the rafters alongside fellow Big Three members Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili following the game.
Andrew Wiggins scored 33 points and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 25 as the Timberwolves beat Detroit for the first time in nine tries, 120-114. Minnesota shot 8 of 10 from 3-point range in the first quarter and led 41-26. Blake Griffin made his season debut for the Pistons and finished with 19 points in limited playing time.
In NBA news, Bucks forward Khris Middleton is expected to be sidelined three to four weeks after suffering a left thigh contusion during Sunday’s win at Oklahoma City. Middleton started the Bucks’ first 10 games this season and is averaging 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists. The Bucks are 7-3 this season and have won five of their last six games.
Warriors star Stephen Curry said Monday he "definitely" plans to return this season from his broken left hand and is hoping to be back on the court at "some point in early spring." The two-time MVP said he needs a second surgery on his non-shooting hand, probably in early December. The next procedure will remove pins that were inserted during a Nov. 1 surgery that involved his hand and index finger.
NFL
The Seattle Seahawks are back in the hunt for the NFC West title after dealing the San Francisco 49ers their first loss of the season. The Seahawks picked up their second straight overtime win as Jason Myers nailed a 42-yard field goal to complete a 27-24 victory over the Niners. Meyers provided the winning boot after Chase McLaughlin missed a kick earlier in overtime. McLaughlin sent the game into OT by hitting a 47-yard field goal with one second left in regulation. Russell Wilson atoned for his interception early in overtime by scrambling 18 yards on third-and-3 to prolong the winning drive. Wilson was 24 of 34 for 232 and a touchdown for the 8-2 Seahawks, who are within one game of the division-leading 49ers. Chris Carson ran for 89 yards and one TD on 25 carries for Seattle. Jadeveon Clowney returned a fumble 10 yards for a touchdown late in the first half after San Francisco built a 10-0 lead. The fumble began a string of 21 straight points for Seattle, but the 49ers began to chip away when DeForest Buckner broke back a fumble 12 yards for a fourth-quarter score. Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 24 of his 46 passes for 248 yards, one TD and one interception. San Francisco was the last team to lose a game this season.
In NFL news, Jets tight end Chris Herndon will be out indefinitely with a broken rib and guard Brian Winters has a dislocated shoulder that will likely end his season. Herndon made his season debut Sunday and caught one pass for 7 yards in the Jets' 34-27 win over the Giants. Winters was hurt in the third quarter of the Giants game.
The Washington Redskins have named rookie Dwayne Haskins their starting quarterback for the rest of the season. Haskins is set to make his second NFL start on Sunday against the Jets as the team comes off its bye week. The 15th overall pick out of Ohio State is 27 of 44 for 284 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions in three appearances. Washington is 1-8 on the season.
Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock is returning to practice this week. Lock severely sprained his right thumb in a preseason game and went on injured reserve.
Former Lions receiver Charles Rogers has died. A woman who identified herself as Cathy Rogers, his mother, confirmed the death Monday. It was not immediately known where the 38-year-old Rogers died or the cause of death. A former high school coach tells MLive.com that Rogers died of liver failure and also had cancer.
NHL
The Washington Capitals were able to run their point streak to a dozen games on Monday, but their six-game winning streak is over. Nick Schmaltz and Conor Garland scored in the Coyotes’ two shootout attempts to complete a 4-3 win over the Caps. The Capitals thought they won in OT when T.J. Oshie scored, but the goal was wiped out after a replay review because the play was offside. Antii Raanta handled 31 saves as Arizona ended a three-game losing skid. Evgeny Kuznetsov scored twice and Oshie tied it with 1:16 left to send the game to overtime. Washington is 10-0-2 in its last 12 games and a league-best 13-2-3 this season.
Sebastian Aho scored twice and the Hurricanes ended their four-game losing streak by blasting the Senators, 8-2. Joel Edmundson had a goal and two assists for Carolina, while Warren Foegele, Ryan Dzingel and Martin Necsas each had a goal and an assist to help the Canes chase netminder Anders Nilsson in the second period. Petr Mrazek stopped 26 shots for his eighth win of the season.
In NHL news, Penguins star Sidney Crosby will miss Tuesday night's game against the Rangers because of an undisclosed injury. The two-time MVP left a 3-2 shootout win over Chicago on Saturday night in the third period. Crosby got tangled up with Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson and moments later took a shot from Gustafsson that smacked off his right foot. He then headed to the locker room. Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said Monday that Crosby will not travel with the club to New York. The Penguins also play Friday at New Jersey, but Sullivan did not explicitly say Crosby would miss both games.
The NHL has given Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno a three-game suspension for a hit that leveled Colorado Avalanche forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Foligno dropped Bellemare with the open-ice hit with his elbow to Bellemare's jaw at 17:15 of the second period Saturday.
The Coyotes signed general manager John Chayka to a long-term contract extension. Chayka has built the Coyotes into playoff contenders since becoming the youngest general manager in North American major sports history at age 26 in 2017. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Rogers SportsNet in Canada has fired hockey commentator Don Cherry for calling immigrants "you people" in a rant on television in which he said new immigrants are not honoring the country's fallen soldiers. The 85-year-old Cherry has provided commentary following the first intermission of "Hockey Night in Canada" for years.
MLB
The Baseball Writers' Association of America has begun to dole out its postseason individual honors, beginning with the American and National League rookies of the year. Astros designated hitter Yordan Àlvarez has been unanimously chosen AL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old Cuban received all 30 first-place votes after batting .312 with 27 homers and 78 RBIs despite playing 87 games after debuting in June. Àlvarez is the third Astro to win the award, following teammate Carlos Correa in 2015 and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell in 1991. Orioles left-hander John Means was second in the balloting, just ahead of Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe.
New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is the NL Rookie of the year after leading the majors with 53 home runs while batting .260 with 120 RBIs. He broke the major league rookie record for home runs set by New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in 2017. The player known as “Polar Bear” is the sixth Met to claim top NL rookie honors, joining Tom Seaver, Jon Matlack, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden and teammate Jacob deGrom. Alonso received 29 of 30 first-place votes, while Atlanta pitcher Mike Soroka picked up the other No. 1 vote. San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. was third in the balloting.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Unranked Winthrop has pulled off one of its more stunning regular-season victories in recent history. Chandler Vaudrin registered 19 points and Josh Ferguson had 14 points and seven rebounds as the Eagles knocked off No. 18 Saint Mary’s 61-59 on the Gaels’ homecourt. D.J. Burns added 12 points for Winthrop, which improved to 2-1. Jordan Ford had 22 points and six rebounds for the 1-1 Gaels, but he missed a shot in the final second.
Kentucky has climbed to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll. The Wildcats came away with 64 of 65 first-place votes by opening the season with a win over previous No. 1 Michigan State before downing Eastern Kentucky. Duke climbed two spots to No. 2 after beating Kansas in the Classic's another top-4 matchup. The Spartans dropped to third and are followed by Louisville and Kansas. North Carolina, Maryland, Gonzaga, defending-champion Virginia and Villanova rounded out the top 10.
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