NBA
Derrick Rose turned back the clock Wednesday and gave the type of performance that had people projecting him as a perennial NBA most valuable player.
The 30-year-old point guard poured in 34 of his career-high 50 points in the second half to lead the Timberwolves past the Utah Jazz, 128-125 at Minnesota. Rose was in tears after the game as he walked off the court serenaded by chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the home crowd. He has been derailed by injuries since he was the 2011 NBA MVP.
Rose hit a basket down low with 30 seconds remaining to put Minnesota up for good. He made two free throws with 13.8 seconds left to make it a three-point game.
Minnesota played without the All-Star Jimmy Butler, who sat out with what the team described as "general soreness."
Also around the NBA Wednesday:
Stephen Curry nailed seven 3-points and finished with 37 points and nine assists in the Warriors' sixth straight win, 131-121 over the Pelicans. Kevin Durant added 24 points and eight assists, while Draymond Green contributed 16 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for his first double-double of the season.
LeBron James capped his 29-point performance by hitting a game-winning free throw with 2.1 seconds left as the Lakers held off Dallas, 114-113. JaVale McGee added 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who squandered a 13-point lead in the final four minutes before halting a two-game skid.
The Nuggets pulled out a 108-107 win over the Bulls on Paul Millsap's putback with 0.1 seconds left in overtime. Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 12 rebounds in Denver's sixth victory in seven games.
Domantas Sabonis matched his career high with 30 points and Victor Oladipo scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter of the Pacers' 107-101 victory against the Knicks. Oladipo delivered a pair of 3-pointers and a dunk after Indiana fell behind 97-94 with 3:08 remaining.
The Spurs blew out the Suns, 120-90 in Phoenix as DeMar DeRozan scored 20 of his 25 points by halftime. LaMarcus Aldridge added 24 points for San Antonio, which led by 31 in the second quarter.
Spencer Dinwiddie's 25-point performance included a 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left that gave the Nets a 120-119 win over the Pistons. Joe Harris added 23 points for Brooklyn, which trailed by six heading into the fourth quarter before dealing Detroit its third straight loss since a 4-0 start.
Thursday on the court:
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Clippers at 7 p.m.
The Boston Celtics take on Milwaukee at 8 p.m.
MLB
One of the most popular players in San Francisco Giants history has died.
The team has announced that Hall of Famer Willie McCovey has died at age 80.
McCovey belted 521 home runs and drove in 1,555 runs in a 22-year career spent primarily with the Giants from 1959-80. He was the National League MVP in 1969 after topping the circuit with 45 home runs, 126 RBIs, a .453 on-base percentage and a .656 slugging average.
McCovey was the 1959 NL Rookie of the Year despite appearing in just 52 games that season. He took Giants fans by storm by going 4-for-4 with two triples in his first game and hitting .354 with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs that year.
The first baseman/outfielder also played for the Padres and Athletics.
The Giants said the fearsome hitter passed "peacefully" Wednesday afternoon "after losing his battle with ongoing health issues." He had been getting around in a wheelchair in recent years because he could no longer rely on his once-dependable legs, yet was still regularly seen at the ballpark in his private suite.
McCovey's prodigious shots to right field were a longtime staple at Candlestick Park. When the Giants moved to their current ballpark, the water beyond the right-field wall was dubbed "McCovey Cove."
Price stays in Boston:
It was a perfect day for Boston Red Sox fans, and it began with David Price announcing that he is staying put.
The World Series star said he is declining a contract option that would have allowed him to become a free agent. Price will earn $127 million over the next four years under the seven-year, $217 million contract he signed with Boston before the 2016 season. He has gone 31-19 with a 3.74 ERA in three seasons with the Red Sox.
Price was outstanding during the Fall Classic, winning each of his starts and compiling a 1.98 ERA over 13 2/3 innings.
Price made the announcement before the Red Sox began their parade through Boston following their World Series win over the Dodgers.
Confetti cannons boomed and huge crowds of fans cheered wildly as duck boats ferried the team on a trek through the city marking the team's fourth World Series championship in the past 15 years.
Meanwhile, Red Sox manager Alex Cora, one of the team's championship trophies and a bystander have been hit by errant beer cans thrown during the team's victory lap through downtown Boston. Cora is named in court records Wednesday as the victim of a beer can thrown by a 19-year-old spectator during the World Series celebration. Cora wasn't seriously hurt, and the trophy sustained minimal damage, but the beer thrower faces an assault and battery and other charges.
In other MLB news:
The Dodgers and ace lefty Clayton Kershaw have agreed to extend the deadline on his option decision by 40 hours until 1 p.m. PDT Friday. Kershaw can opt out of the last two years and $65 million of his contract to become a free agent for the first time in an 11-year big league career spent entirely with the Dodgers. He was 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA this season.
The Yankees have declined their $12.5 million option on outfielder Brett Gardner, but he's staying put after accepting a one-year, $7.5 million package. The 35-year-old Gardner hit .236 with 12 homers, 45 RBIs and 95 runs last season, losing playing time following the acquisition of Andrew McCutchen in August.
Royals reliever Wily has agreed to a $3.25 million, one-year contract, ensuring one of the few bright spots in the team's shaky bullpen will be back next season.
Two people familiar with the deal tell the AP that Nationals reliever Trevor Rosenthal has agreed in principle to a contract for 2019. The former Cardinals closer missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery.
The Cubs have exercised their $10.5 million option for the 2019 season on pitcher Jose Quintana, who 13-11 with a 4.03 ERA in 32 starts this season.
Indians outfielder Leonys Martin has OK'd a one-year, $3 million contract for next season.
The Blue Jays have exercised their $8 million option on first baseman Justin Smoak and declined their option on infielder Yangervis Solarte.
Brian McCann will be available in free agency after the Astros declined their $15 million club option on the catch.
The Pirates have declined their 2019 options on second baseman Josh Harrison and third baseman Jung Ho Kang.
Brewers pitching coach Derek Johnson is leaving the team.
Longtime player and Coach Bill Fischer died Tuesday at 88, according to the Royals. Fischer spent more than seven decades in a pro baseball career interrupted by a stint in the Marines.
NFL
The Miami Dolphins will continue to play without their No. 1 quarterback.
Ryan Tannehill has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Jets, meaning Brock Osweiler will make his fourth consecutive start. Tannehill was limited in practice Wednesday as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.
The Dolphins are 4-4 this season, 1-2 with Osweiler under center.
In other NFL news:
The Oakland Raiders take on the San Francisco 49ers at 8:20 p.m.
The Patriots have placed defensive back Eric Rowe on injured reserve with a groin injury. Rowe sat out Monday's win at Buffalo and has missed four of the past six games.
Buffalo has filled a gaping hole at quarterback by signing Matt Barkley to join Nathan Peterman on the depth chart. Bills rookie starter Josh Allen will miss his third game with a sprained right elbow, and the status of veteran backup Derek Anderson is uncertain after he suffered a concussion against the Patriots Monday night.
Bears coach Matt Nagy says right guard Kyle Long is week to week with a foot injury that could prompt the team to place him on injured reserve. Long suffered a tendon injury in his right foot during the closing minutes of Sunday's win over the Jets.
The Jaguars have signed free-agent quarterback Landry Jones, although they expect Blake Bortles to start their next game Nov. 11 at Indianapolis. Bortles injured his non-throwing shoulder against Philadelphia in London last weekend.
Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Jack Patera has died at 85, according to the team. Patera was the Seahawks first head coach in 1976 and led the team to a 35-59 record in parts of seven seasons, including back-to-back 9-7 campaigns in 1978-79. Before that, he was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings following a seven-year playing.
T25-COLLEGE BASKETBALL
An Arizona Board of Regents says University of Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller's job is not in jeopardy following a meeting to discuss new allegations raised against the program during a federal trial.
Three men were found guilty of funneling secret payments to top-level recruits to influence their choices of schools, agents and apparel companies.
Testimony accused Arizona of multiple payments to recruits, including to former player and No. 1 overall NBA pick Deandre Ayton.
Elsewhere in college basketball:
Virginia Tech has suspended guard Chris Clarke indefinitely. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior has averaged 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists during his career and is the most versatile player on the 15th-ranked Hokies. The team gave no reason for the punishment.
Durkin done:
The University of Maryland has done an about-face.
Head football coach D.J. Durkin has been fired, one day after being reinstated by the state's board of regents. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada is expected to resume the role of interim coach after leading the Terrapins to a 5-3 record so far this season.
Durkin was placed on administrative leave Aug. 11 while the board awaited results of a report on the culture of the program. Durkin and the training staff came under fire after a player died two weeks after suffering from heat stroke following a spring practice.
After receiving that report, the board decided to bring him back, saying he was "unfairly blamed for the dysfunction in the athletic department." But Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was among numerous local politicians who criticized the board's decision.
NHL
The Nashville Predators have activated Vezina Trophy winning-goaltender Pekka Rinne from injured reserve and reassigned netminder Troy Grosenick to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee.
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has compiled a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage in five games this season.
Canucks double up Hawks
The Vancouver Canucks won Wednesday's lone NHL game as Jake Virtanen scored twice and Brendan Gaunce got the go-ahead goal midway through the third period of a 4-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. Gaunce also had an assist in his first game with the Canucks this season, one day after he was recalled from the minors. Antoine Roussel also scored for the Canucks, and Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves.
In other NHL news:
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick is out indefinitely following surgery on a torn meniscus. Quick has appeared in just four games this season for the Kings, going 0-3-1 with a 4.55 goals-against average. He has allowed 14 goals in three games since missing five contests with a lower body injury.
Thursday on the ice:
The Islanders host Pittsburgh at 7 p.m.
Buffalo faces off against Ottawa at 7:30 p.m.
The New Jersey Devils take on Detroit at 7:30 p.m.
The New York Rangers go against the Anaheim Ducks at 10 p.m.
The Flyers will play San Jose at 10:30 p.m.
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