NBA:
In the NBA, Boston topped Chicago 105-100, Utah beat New York 106-85, Toronto bested San Antonio 97-94, Minnesota defeated the Lakers in overtime 123-122, Houston won against Washington 109-103, Charlotte trumped Miami 99-81, Memphis squeaked by Detroit 93-92, the Clippers topped Milwaukee 109-95, and it was Atlanta over Dallas 98-95.
Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson has received a five-game suspension from the NBA for violating the terms of the league's Anti-Drug Program. Jefferson is currently out with a strained left calf, and the NBA says he won't begin serving the five-game suspension until he's healthy. The banned substance Jefferson used has not been disclosed.
NHL:
In the NHL, Boston beat Montreal 3-1, Vancouver edged the Rangers 2-1, Pittsburgh doubled up Colorado 4-2, and it was Edmonton over San Jose in overtime 4-3.
NCAA:
In women’s college basketball, No. 1 UConn humiliated Colgate 94-50.
A task force will study the college football bowl system and is intent on making changes after three teams with losing records qualified for one of the 40 bowl games. The NCAA has largely removed itself from the bowl business, allowing conferences, communities and television networks to create postseason games. Of the 127 FBS teams playing this season, 63 percent will play in bowls compared to a bit less than 50 percent 10 years ago.
In college men's basketball, Quinnipiac beat Hartford 68-66 last night. Giovanni McLean scored 22 points and hit a key jumper. McLean was 8 of 16 from the floor with four 3-pointers. James Ford Jr. added 14 points for Quinnipiac. Justin Graham scored 17 points to lead Hartford.
MLB:
The New York Mets have landed a second baseman, getting Neil Walker from the Pirates for left-handed starter Jonathon Niese. Walker won the Silver Slugger in 2014 and hit .269 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs for the Bucs last season. Niese was 9-10 with a 4.13 ERA for the National League champions last season.
The New York Yankees have dealt left-handed reliever Justin Wilson to the Detroit Tigers for minor league right-handers Luis Cessa and Chad Green. Of the two players Detroit gave up, only Cessa was on the 40-man roster, and he has never pitched in a major league game.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have completed a deal to acquire All-Star right-hander Shelby Miller from the Braves for overall No. 1 draft pick Dansby Swanson and two other players. A day after finalizing a $206.5 million, six-year contract with major league ERA leader Zack Greinke, Arizona sent outfielder Ender Inciarte and pitching prospect Aaron Blair to the Braves.
The Athletics have traded third baseman Brett Lawrie to the White Sox for right-hander J.B. Wendelken and minor league left-hander Zack Erwin. The Yankees have dealt lefty reliever Justin Wilson to the Tigers for minor league right-handers Luis Cessa and Chad Green. And the Mariners have acquired first baseman Adam Lind from the Brewers for minor league pitchers Daniel Missaki, Carlos Herrera and Freddy Peralta.
NFL:
Tonight on Thursday Night Football, Minnesota is in Arizona at 8:25.
Darrelle Revis is making his way back to the field — slowly but surely. The New York Jets rejoined his teammates yesterday, attending practice for the first time since suffering a concussion on November 22nd. Revis stretched and then sat in the rehabilitation area during the early portion of practice open to the media.
In other NFL news:
— Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Earl Watford will miss the rest of the season due to a hand injury. Coach Bruce Arians says an MRI showed that Watford has ligament damage. Watford started the first two games at left guard while Mike Iupati recovered from knee surgery.
— Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny has undergone surgery to repair a broken right hand, but hasn't been ruled out against Indianapolis. Jags Coach Gus Bradley said it's possible that Posluszny could play with his hand in a cast and heavily wrapped.
Boxing:
The International Boxing Federation has stripped newly crowned heavyweight champ Tyson Fury of its world heavyweight belt. The IBF says he violated rules by agreeing to meet the man he dethroned, Wladimir Klitschko, in a rematch in his next fight. The IBF says Fury should have fought its No. 1 contender and not Klitscho. The contract Fury signed gave Klitschko the right to exercise an option that called for an immediate rematch. By beating the former champ Fury took the IBF, WBA and WBO titles.
©2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.