NBA:
In the NBA, LeBron James scored a season-high 42 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their 18th victory in 20 games, 110-99 over Golden State and it was Phoenix over Oklahoma City in overtime 117-113.
The Chicago Bulls say Derrick Rose will have surgery Friday to repair a medial meniscus tear in his right knee. The organization sounded upbeat Thursday that the procedure won't prevent the star point-guard from suiting up again this season.
The 2011 NBA MVP played in only 10 games last season before having surgery for a similar injury in November 2013. He was averaging 18 points and five assists when he was diagnosed with the latest injury on Tuesday.
Richard Hamilton has retired from basketball. The former UConn and Detroit Pistons guard announced his decision yesterday during an appearance on ESPN's "His & Hers" show. He hadn't played in the NBA since 2012-13, when he ended an injury-plagued, two-year stint with Chicago. He was a three-time All-Star and spent 14 years in the league. Hamilton was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1999 Final Four, leading UConn to its first national championship.
NHL:
Over on the ice, the Rangers beat Arizona 4-3, Buffalo doubled up Vancouver 6-3, Montreal topped Columbus 5-2, Chicago blanked Florida 3-0, Toronto bested Philadelphia 3-2, St. Louis won against Winnipeg in a shootout 2-1, Minnesota doubled up Nashville 4-2, Detroit topped San Jose 3-2, and it was Ottawa over Los Angeles 1-0.
NCAA:
No. 3 Gonzaga ran its winning streak to 22 games with a 59-39 victory over San Diego. The Bulldogs improved to 29-1 and 17-0 in the West Coast Conference despite scoring a season-low 22 points in the first half.
MLB:
Former Boston Red Sox and New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez was at the New York State Capitol where he was honored by the Legislature for his on-field accomplishments and contributions to the Dominican community.
New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka threw 40 pitches in his third bullpen session yesterday and could be ready to throw batting practice early next week. Tanaka missed 2 1/2 months last season while rehabilitating a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He returned for two starts in late September, and Boston chased him with an eight-run second inning in his final outing.
Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Michael Saunders won't be able to play until the All-Star break after stepping on a sprinkler while shagging fly balls and tearing cartilage in his left knee. Saunders said he felt a pop after stepping on a sprinkler head Wednesday while going for a ball at the team's training facility.
The 28-year-old was acquired by the Blue Jays in December from Seattle for pitcher J.A. Happ and was projected to be a starter. Saunders hit .273 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 78 games with the Mariners last season.
The Milwaukee Brewers are keeping their closer. A person familiar with the agreement says the Brewers will re-sign free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez to a two-year, $13 million contract. The 33-year-old Rodriguez revived his career last season by converting 44 of 49 save opportunities while going 5-5 with a 3.04 ERA. The move solidifies a bullpen in which presumed closer Jonathan Broxton now figures to move back into a setup role.
NFL:
Adrian Peterson is a step closer to playing in the NFL again after a federal judge cleared the way for the Minnesota Vikings running back to be reinstated.
U.S. District Judge David Doty has ruled that an NFL arbitrator "failed to meet his duty" in Peterson's child abuse case that shook the league. The league suspended Peterson through at least April 15 under its personal conduct policy.
According to testimony at Aaron Hernandez's murder trial, the former New England Patriots player ran up a $243 bar tab and smoked marijuana in the hours before the boyfriend of his fiancee's sister was shot to death. Just over an hour before the killing of Odin Lloyd in June of 2013, video surveillance shows Hernandez walking unsteadily at a gas station and dancing near the gas pumps.
Golf:
Jim Herman fired a bogey-free 5-under 65 to take the first-round lead at the PGA's Honda Classic in Florida. Brendan Steele is one shot back and one ahead of Padraig Harrington, Patrick Reed and Martin Flores. Top-ranked Rory McIlroy struggled in his first round in the US this year, shooting a 3-over 73 that leaves him eight back.
Americans Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lang share the lead with Yani Tseng after the first round of the LPGA event being played in Thailand. Each shot an opening 6-under 66, with Tseng's round featuring seven birdies and a bogey. Lewis opened with an eagle and finished with six birdies, while Lang had five of her eight birdies on the back nine.
High School:
Saratoga Springs High School's hockey team is once again victors in the Section II Division I finals. The Blue Streaks beat Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa last night for their fifth win in six seasons.
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