NBA:
In the NBA, Boston beat Detroit 102-95, Indiana bested Brooklyn 114-100, Golden State topped Washington 134-121, Oklahoma City won against Orlando 117-114, Miami defeated Dallas 93-90, San Antonio bested New Orleans 110-97, Utah trumped Denver 85-81, Chicago topped Sacramento 107-102, Minnesota beat the Clippers 108-102, Charlotte won against Cleveland 106-97, and it was Atlanta over Philadelphia 124-86.
NHL:
In the NHL, Buffalo doubled up Montreal 4-2, Tampa Bay beat Detroit 3-1, and it was Calgary over Carolina 4-1.
The New York Rangers have recalled forward Jayson Megna from the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack. Megna has skated in five games with the Rangers this season, registering a goal and an assist. The 26-year-old had nine goals and 12 assists in 38 games with the Wolf Pack.
The Buffalo Sabres and an upstate cancer center have announced a partnership aimed at helping hockey fans prevent and detect cancer. The educational campaign with Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo will span five seasons and carry the tagline: "One Goal: Inspire Cancer Cures." The Sabres and Roswell Park say hockey fans and audiences will be given tips on cancer prevention, early detection and risk reduction, and have access to free cancer screening programs. A free prostate cancer screening is planned for March 24 at the Sabres' arena, the First Niagara Center.
The NHL has suspended Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman 20 games for cross-checking a linesman during a game last week. Wideman was suspended for violating the league rule on physical abuse of officials after he struck linesman Don Henderson and knocked him down during the Flames' game against Nashville on Jan. 27. The suspension will cost Wideman $564,516 in salary and is the second-longest in NHL history for abusing an official. Gordie Dwyer of the Tampa Bay Lightning was suspended 23 games in part for abuse of officials during an exhibition game in 2000.
NCAA:
In college women's basketball, Number 1 UConn easily remained unbeaten with a 96-38 victory over Tulane last night. Breanna Stewart made her first seven shots in a 20-point performance. Moriah Jefferson scored 16 points, Gabby Williams 15 and Katie Lou Samuelson 14 for the Huskies, who led wire-to-wire and won by at least 40 points for the 14th time this season.
In men's college basketball, Massachusetts-Lowell beat Hartford 85-83 last night. Jahad Thomas scored 21 points including a layoff with two seconds left that lifted Massachusetts-Lowell to a victory. The River Hawks overcame a 37-point performance by Pancake Thomas, who shot 10 for 20 from the field and 15 of 17 from the free-throw line.
The Connecticut Sun have acquired the Number 4 pick in the 2016 WNBA draft from the Atlanta Dream in exchange for second-year forward-center Elizabeth Williams. The 6-foot-3 Williams averaged 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds as a rookie.
Michigan was the big winner in the battle to land the services of Rashan Gary. The defensive end from New Jersey has been considered the top recruit in the nation. Gary is one of five high-profile recruits from New Jersey to be part of coach Jim Harbaugh's highly rated class.
MLB:
Yoenis Cespdes says his first choice was to remain with the New York Mets. In his first public comments since agreeing to a $75 million, three-year contract, the outfielder maintained his welcome last summer was the key to his decision.
The Mets have settled their last salary arbitration case, agreeing to a $4.1 million, one-year contract with closer Jeurys Familia. The deal is $50,000 above the midpoint between the $4.8 million Familia wanted and the $3.3 million the Mets offered when the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month.
NFL:
The New York Jets have hired former Indianapolis Colts assistant Brant Boyer as their special teams coordinator, replacing the fired Bobby April on Todd Bowles' coaching staff. Boyer is a former NFL linebacker. He was the Colts' assistant special teams coach since 2012. He was also a training camp intern with Cleveland and the Giants.
Federal court papers state that former NFL star Darren Sharper has renewed plea negotiations with federal prosecutors and is preparing a trial defense. Those moves could indicate that his plea agreement in a drug and sexual assault case is off. Sharper had pleaded guilty as part of a deal involving charges in four states, but a federal judge deferred acceptance of the deal last year. He also has pleaded guilty or no-contest to similar charges in state courts in California, Arizona, Nevada and Louisiana.
FIFA:
Belgium has kept the No. 1 spot in the FIFA rankings among an unchanged top 18 for February. With no international matches played by the 20 best teams so far this year, Belgium still leads second-place Argentina and third-place Spain. World Cup champion Germany is No. 4, followed by Chile and Brazil in a top 10 dominated by European and South American teams. The three teams which made the biggest moves since the last rankings all come from Asia: Palestine at No. 110 (up 21 spots), Saudi Arabia at No. 55 (up 20 spots), and North Korea at No. 95 (up 18 spots).
Tennis:
Roger Federer has posted on his official website that he has undergone knee surgery and is expected to miss tournaments in Rotterdam and Dubai this month. The statement said the injury occurred last Friday, a day after his Australian Open semifinal loss to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
LPGA:
Ha Na Jang is the first-round leader at the LPGA's Coates Golf Championship in Ocala, Florida, Jang birdied the 18th for a bogey-free 65 and a three-stroke lead over six players. Top-ranked Lydia Ko had four birdies on the back nine for a 3-under 69.
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