NBA:
In the NBA, Dallas topped New York 91-89, Golden State won against Utah in overtime 103-96, Toronto beat Atlanta 105-97, Denver bested Memphis 109-105, the Clippers defeated Minnesota 99-79, San Antonio topped New Orleans 100-92, Milwaukee trumped Phoenix 105-94, Sacramento beat Washington 120-111, and it was the Lakers over Miami in overtime 102-100.
D'Angelo Russell says he must rebuild the Los Angeles Lakers' trust in him after taking an unflattering video of teammate Nick Young, and has apologized profusely for the embarrassing incident. The rookie point guard says he has no idea how the video became public. He intended it to be a joke between two easygoing teammates.
Four fans trying to get an autograph from Stephen Curry fell out of the stands when a railing dislodged before the Utah Jazz hosted the Golden State Warriors last night. Curry had just finished his pregame routine, which draws many fans at Warriors games, when he stopped to take a picture and sign a few autographs at the opening of the tunnel. One fan went to first aid on his own and the other three were treated, released and returned to their seats. Curry autographed an item for the three fans who did not leave the scene. A Jazz spokesman says the team will re-evaluate the safety measures around the court.
NHL:
In the NHL, Ottawa beat Winnipeg 2-1, Anaheim cleared out Calgary 8-3, and it was Philadelphia over Washington in a shootout 2-1.
NCAA:
Army West Point Athletics has announced that Jimmy Allen will be the new head of men’s basketball. He will be the school’s 31st head coach. He spent six seasons with the Black Knights under Zach Spiker’s coaching staff. Previously he served 6 years at Army’s rival Navy as an assistant.
The University of Connecticut's basketball arena will get a new $10 million roof this summer. The school's Board of Trustees approved the project yesterday. The dome has an unusual roof, made up of metal triangular panels wrapped in fabric. The fabric inside the Gampel Pavilion has begun to deteriorate, tear and flake off.
Meanwhile UConn is holding a send-off rally for its women's basketball team, which is heading to its ninth straight Final Four. The team will be leaving for Indianapolis at about 1 p.m. today. Fans are asked to gather outside Gampel Pavilion to cheer the team as it boards the busses for the airport. The Huskies play Oregon State in a national semifinal on Sunday.
In coaching news:
— Providence coach Ed Cooley has signed a long-term contract extension that he hopes will keep him at the school for the remainder of his coaching career. School officials announced the deal yesterday. Specific terms were not released, but Cooley says he's excited to "be at Providence College for life."
Herb Sendek has been introduced as the new men's basketball coach at Santa Clara. He's charged with building a program that can compete with Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and BYU in the top-heavy West Coast Conference. The Broncos have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1996. Sendek has built NCAA Tournament teams at each stop in his 22-year head coaching career. After starting at Miami of Ohio he then turned around struggling programs at North Carolina State and Arizona State.
— Providence coach Ed Cooley has signed a long-term contract extension that he hopes will keep him at the school for the remainder of his coaching career. Cooley also announced that he and his wife, Nurys, would donate $500,000 to the academic portion of a planned student development center. The Friars finished 24-11 this season and made their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Cooley was hired in 2011 and signed an extension in 2013.
— The University of San Francisco has hired now former Columbia coach Kyle Smith to replace the fired Red Walters. Smith led Columbia to a record of 25-10 this past season and the championship of the CollegeInsiders.com tournament.
St. John's baseball coach Ed Blankmeyer earned his 700th career victory with a 9-5 win over Wagner. Blankmeyer is in his 21st season with the Red Storm. He has a record of 700-430-4 — all at St. John's — and is the winningest coach in the program's history.
NFL:
The New England Patriots have signed defensive back E.J. Biggers. He was a free agent who played seven seasons with Tampa Bay, Washington and Philadelphia. In 92 career games, Biggers has 279 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The Detroit Lions have signed guard Geoff Schwartz. The team made the move Wednesday, adding a player with starting experience to bolster its depth on the offensive line. Schwartz started 11 games last year for the New York Giants before breaking his left leg, ending his season. He has started 39 games in his career, including 16 in 2010 for Carolina, and has played in 74 games over six seasons with the Giants, Panthers, Kansas City and Minnesota. Carolina drafted the former Oregon standout in the seventh round in 2008 and he spent that year on its practice squad.
Bills offensive tackle Jordan Mills is staying in Buffalo after signing the team's qualifying offer. Mills was a restricted free agent, whose rights were retained by the team on March 7. Mills had five starts in 10 games with Buffalo after the Bills signed him off the Detroit Lions' practice squad in October. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by Chicago, and spent his first two seasons playing for the Bears. He provides the Bills depth on a line that's set to have all five starters return from last season.
Horse Racing:
Three-time Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel has ended his tremendous career as a jockey. Nicknamed "On the Rail Borel," the 49-year old has retired after winning 5,146 races in a career that covered 33 years. He remains the only jockey to win three Kentucky Derby races in four years.
Mohaymen has been set as the morning line favorite over Nyquist in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby showdown between the unbeaten 3-year-olds. Mohaymen snared the No. 9 post at Wednesday's draw at Gulfstream Park and will open with even-money odds. Nyquist will start from the No. 4 spot and is the second choice at 6-5 in the 10-horse field. Mohaymen has won all five of his starts. Nyquist is unbeaten in six races. The two are considered the top contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby, and Saturday's race will be the last prep for both before the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. The third choice was Fellowship, with early odds of 15-1.
Skating:
Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu skated the latest flawless program of a brilliant season to take a large lead after the short program at the world championships. The Japanese star scored 110.56 points yesterday in Boston to lead defending champ Javier Fernandez by more than 12. Hanyu effortlessly landed two quadruple jumps while his main rivals fell.
Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France lead after the short dance as they defend their title at figure skating's world championships. They were followed by two American teams in the first worlds in the U.S. since 2009. Papadakis and Cizeron scored 76.29 points yesterday in Boston with their waltz and march.
MLB:
The Tampa Bay Rays beat a Boston Red Sox split squad 4-3 yesterday. Drew Smyly pitched four hitless innings and struck out seven in his final spring training start for Tampa Bay. Boston's Hanley Ramirez had two hits, including a RBI double, to raise his spring batting average to .320. Travis Shaw singled to drive in the second of three runs the Red Sox scored off reliever Enny Romero in the seventh.
The Pittsburgh Pirates played to a 4-4, nine-inning tie yesterday with a Boston Red Sox split squad. Red Sox starter David Price went four innings and gave up a run on four hits, walked one and struck out three. The left-hander will next pitch on Monday in the season opener against the Cleveland Indians. Ryan Hanigan and Blake Swihart hit back-to-back RBI singles in the first inning. Chris Young had an RBI triple in the fifth.
Yankees reliever Andrew Miller broke his non-pitching wrist when he was struck on the right arm by a line drive in the seventh inning of New York's 2-0 win over the Atlanta Braves yesterday. The left-hander threw his glove and walked into the Yankees' dugout after pinch-hitter Willians Astudillo's comebacker went off his arm, just above the wrist.
The Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 12-1 yesterday in the final spring training game for both teams. Mets starter Matt Harvey allowed three runs and two hits in two innings. Harvey was scratched from Tuesday's start because of a blood clot in his bladder. Noah Syndergaard threw three innings out of the bullpen and gave up two runs — both coming on a home run by Jayson Werth.
Meanwhile Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard expects a hostile reception when he takes the mound on Tuesday in Kansas City. Syndergaard's first pitch in Game 3 of the World Series last fall was a 98 mph fastball that went over the head of Alcides Escobar. The Mets went on to a 9-3 win, their lone victory against the Royals.
After allowing iPad Air 2s with restrictions in dugouts during the final two weeks of last season and the postseason under a pilot program, Major League Baseball reached a deal with Apple that gives iPad Pros to all teams this year along with a new scouting, analytics and video app called MLB Dugout. Each team's devices, which can be used in dugouts and bullpens, have been customized to use the club's proprietary statistical report and advance scouting videos along with MLB's Statcast system, which launched last year. The deal was announced Wednesday.
Prosecutors in Hawaii are moving to dismiss a domestic abuse charge against suspended Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes (RAY'-uhs) because his wife isn't cooperating. The prosecuting attorney says Reyes' wife won't talk to prosecutors or return to Maui. Reyes was scheduled to go to trial April 4. He pleaded not guilty to abusing a family or household member. The former New York Mets shortstop was arrested Oct. 31 at a resort and according to a recording of a 911 call released by police, a hotel security guard reported the woman had injuries to her leg and scratches on her neck.
In other spring training news:
— Rockies reliever Jason Motte has a shoulder strain and manager Walt Weiss says it's possible Motte will miss next week's season-opening series against Arizona. The Rockies signed Motte away from the Cubs with a two-year, $10 million deal in December. He was competing with newly acquired Jake McGee for the closer's job. Motte has a 9.53 ERA in six spring appearances and hasn't pitched since March 24.
— The Seattle Mariners have rounded out their bullpen just before the start of the season by acquiring right-hander Nick Vincent from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named. He appeared in 26 games in four stints with the Padres last season.
— The Indians have set their rotation for the new year. Following ace Corey Kluber (KLOO'-bur) will be Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Cody Anderson and Josh Tomlin. Left out, headed to the bullpen, is Trevor Bauer, who had been considered the No. 4 starter on the team after winning 11 games last season.
— The Cubs have re-signed outfielder Shane Victorino to a minor league deal. The move comes a day after they cut the veteran and the whole process saves the club some money.
Olympics:
The wife of a 1984 Olympic medalist David Laut was found guilty Wednesday of murdering him in what she claimed was a self-defense shooting following years of abuse. The Ventury County Star reports that 58-year-old Jane Laut was convicted of first-degree murder of David Laut and could face 50 years to life in prison. They had been married 29 years. Laut was the high school sweetheart of David Laut, who won a bronze medal in the shot put at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
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