AP-Sports Right Now
Update on the latest in sports:
NBA-SCHEDULE
Heat streaking...Sixers overcome 46-point barrage by Cousins
UNDATED (AP)— The Miami Heat have quietly put together the longest winning streak currently in the NBA -- eight games.
Goran Dragic (GOHR'-uhn DRAH'-gich) scored 20 points, Dion Waiters added 19 and the Miami posted a 104-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
James Johnson had 17, Rodney McGruder scored 13 and Hassan Whiteside added 12 for Miami. Waiters and Dragic combined to hand out 17 assists for the Heat, who took the lead for good with a 17-0 run late in the first half.
Miami outscored Brooklyn 33-12 from 3-point range.
In other NBA action:
— Robert Covington had 23 points and 10 rebounds to rally the Philadelphia 76ers to a 122-119 win over the Sacramento Kings. The Sixers overcame 46 points from DeMarcus Cousins and won again without injured center Joel Embiid (ehm-BEED'), who's out for three games with a knee contusion.
— Isaiah Thomas scored 24 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and the Boston Celtics held off the Detroit Pistons 113-109 to extend their winning streak to four. Thomas has scored at least 20 in his last 32 straight games.
— Dallas surprised Cleveland 104-97 as the Cavs were playing the second half of a back-to-back. Harrison Barnes led five Mavs in double figures with 24. Dallas has beaten San Antonio and Cleveland in consecutive games.
— Minnesota outlasted Orlando 111-105 in overtime. Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points and Ricky Rubio made a career-high six 3-pointers among his 22 points.
NBA-CAVS
No Love for Cavs
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers will be down one All-Star for the time being.
Kevin Love will sit out at least another game — and possibly more — because of recurring back spasms. The forward underwent an MRI on Monday, and although the team said the tests showed no structural damage, he will miss Wednesday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA-PISTONS-VAN GUNDY
Pistons coach rips Trump over travel ban
BOSTON (AP) — Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy calls President Donald Trump's travel ban "scary" and mentioned Japanese internment and Hitler's treatment of Jews while criticizing the policy.
The order temporarily suspends immigration from seven majority Muslim countries. On Monday in Boston, Van Gundy told reporters: "It's starting to get really, really scary stuff now. We're getting into the days of, now we're judging people by their religion — trying to keep Muslims out."
TRAVEL BAN-SPORTS
Travel ban shouldn't affect athletes coming to U.S.
DENVER (AP) — The government has told the U.S. Olympic Committee that the travel ban put in place over the weekend by President Donald Trump shouldn't impact athletes traveling to the United States for international events.
USOC leaders said the government told them it would work to ensure athletes from all countries would have expedited access to the United States for international competitions.
A World Cup archery event is scheduled for Las Vegas on Feb. 10.
Iran, one of the seven countries listed on the ban, fielded an archery team at last year's Olympics, though its status for World Cup is not known.
The U.S. wrestling team travels to Iran next month for a World Cup event and the head of the federation said plans are still in place for that trip.
MLB-CARDINALS
St. Louis hit hard for hacking Astros
NEW YORK (AP) — The Cardinals have been ordered by Major League Baseball to pay Houston $2 million dollars and give the Astros two picks in this year's draft for an employee hacking the Astros. Commissioner Rob Manfred also banned former St. Louis scouting executive Christopher Correa for life.
Correa pleaded guilty to five counts of unauthorized access of a protected computer from 2013 to at least 2014 and last July was sentenced by a federal judge to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay the Astros $279,038.65 in restitution.
MLB-MOVES
Report: KC connects with Moss
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Free agent Brandon Moss has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Royals. A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press about the move on condition of anonymity because Moss still must pass a physical to make the deal official.
Moss hit just .225 in 128 games with 28 home runs last season with St. Louis.
He is expected to take over for Kendrys Morales, who left the Royals as a free agent for a $33 million, three-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Elsewhere:
— Free agent outfielder Colby Rasmus and the Tampa Bay Rays have finalized a $5 million, one-year contract. The 30-year-old has a .241 career average. He hit .206 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs in 107 games last year with Houston.
— The Red Sox have gone to arbitration with left-hander Fernando Abad. The 31-year old was 1-6 with a 3.66 ERA last season in 57 relief appearances with the Twins and Sox. He feels he is worth $2.7 million while the Sox have countered with an even $2 million. Last season he earned $1.3 million.
— Kurt Suzuki and the Atlanta Braves finalized their $1.5 million, one-year contract, giving the team another experienced catcher to share time with Tyler Flowers. The 33-year old Suzuki hit .258 with eight homers and 49 RBIs last season with Minnesota. His career average is .256.
SUPER BOWL-MEDIA NIGHT
Falcons, Patriots on site
HOUSTON (AP) — Super Bowl week began with media night as both the Patriots and Falcons get ready to meet for the NFL title Sunday in Houston. Both teams are in the Super Bowl city for the week-long countdown to Super Bowl 51.
A man traipsing around Monday's Super Bowl opening night in a full-length gown declaring himself "The Empress of Austria, Elizabeth I" was the most outlandish character.
The event, which is the first availability with the teams during Super Bowl week, was held at Minute Maid Park, where the Houston Astros play.
While media mingled with players on the field, 10,204 fans filled the stands to get a glimpse of the players.
SUPER BOWL-FALCONS
Falcons Muslim receiver sidesteps religious talk
HOUSTON (AP) — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu wants no part of talking about his religious beliefs as he prepares for his first Super Bowl appearance.
Sanu, a practicing Muslim, said at Monday's opening night that though President Donald Trump's executive order banning immigration for seven majority Muslim countries was "a very tough situation" and "hard for me to talk about right now," that he prayed the country and world would "unite as one."
He said he is trying to place his focus on football instead.
Sanu said his mother is travelling to the game from Sierra Leone, which is not one of the countries affected by the executive order.
NFL-RAIDERS
Casino mogul pulls out of Vegas stadium deal
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has pulled out of a plan to build a $1.9 billion domed stadium for the NFL's Oakland Raiders to move to Las Vegas.
In a terse statement, Adelson declared that he had been excluded from talks before the team sent a lease proposal last week to the public board that will own the 65,000-seat stadium.
Adelson had pledged $650 million and the Raiders $500 million, with the stadium authority putting up $750 million in Las Vegas tax revenues.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's office says the proposal now is for the Raiders to invest $1.15 billion and accept operating responsibilities.
The Raiders had no immediate comment.
NFL-TEXANS
Texans add Welker to coaching staff
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans have added Wes Welker to their coaching staff as an offense and special teams assistant.
Welker wrapped up a 12-year playing career in 2015. He had 9,924 yards receiving and scored 50 touchdowns playing for five teams, including spending six seasons with the New England Patriots.
T25-KANSAS-BRAGG
Jayhawks Bragg charged
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas forward Carlton Bragg has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and remains suspended indefinitely from the third-ranked Jayhawks.
A Lawrence court official confirmed that Bragg was given a notice to appear in court after police said they found two glass smoking devices with residue inside. The paraphernalia was found last month while university police were investigating a reported rape at McCarthy Hall, which houses the basketball team on campus.
The drug case is not related to the alleged rape case at the housing complex.
T25-NORTH CAROLINA-PINSON
Tar Heels Pinson out again
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — No. 12 North Carolina won't have swingman Theo Pinson for a second straight game because of an ankle injury.
Coach Roy Williams says that Pinson will miss Tuesday night's game against Pittsburgh.
The 6-foot-6 Pinson rolled his right ankle last week in a victory over Virginia Tech and did not play in Saturday's loss at Miami.
He missed the first 16 games after October surgery for a broken bone in the same foot.
T25 MEN'S BASKETBALL-POLL/SCHEDULE
Blue Devils prevail...Gonzaga new No. 1
UNDATED (AP) — The 21th-ranked Duke Blue Devils have posted back-to-back victories for the first time since early January. Duke defeated 20th-ranked Notre Dame 84-74 behind Grayson Allen's 21 points. Jayson Tatum had 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Luke Kennard and Matt Jones each added 16 points for the 17-5 Blue Devils.
For the second time in school history Gonzaga (gahn-ZAG'-uh) is the top team in The Associated Press Top-25 men's basketball poll. The Bulldogs replace Villanova, which lost to Marquette last week. Gonzaga takes over the top spot with an unblemished record of 22-0.
The Bulldogs received 46 first place votes to six for second-ranked Baylor, nine for third-ranked Kansas and four for No. 4 Villanova.
The Zags are the fifth school to reach the No. 1 ranking this season following Duke, Kentucky, Villanova and Baylor.
Rounding out the top five this week is Arizona.
The second five consists of Louisville, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Wisconsin and UCLA.
In College Basketball, Siena beat Quinnipiac last night 84-75
ALBANY, N.Y. (January 30, 2017) – A keynote presentation by Michael Sam, an NCAA All-American football player and LGBT athlete, will highlight the University at Albany’s annual recognition of Sexuality Month in February.
Sam’s lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom. It is free and open to the public. An autograph session and reception will follow the event.
Michael Sam is an American football defensive end who made history when he came out as gay ahead of the 2014 NFL Draft. Since his announcement, he has become an icon and pioneer for the LGBT community.
NHL-BREAK
Let the second half begin
UNDATED (AP) — Second-half play in the NHL will start Tuesday night with 14 games.
The Washington Capitals start the stretch run leading the league and the Eastern Conference with 72 points, while Minnesota is tops in the Western Conference with 69. While the Caps top the Metropolitan Division and the Wild tops the Central, the leading team in the Atlantic is Montreal, with San Jose on top in the Pacific.
Few teams are out of the postseason race, and nearly every club is about to begin 10 weeks of high-stakes play. Most teams reported back to work on Monday morning, and the league schedule resumes Tuesday with 28 of the 30 teams in action.
Nobody is an overwhelming title favorite yet. The Canadiens' seven-point lead in the Atlantic is the biggest edge in a division race. The competition for the Presidents' Trophy is still wide-open as well: There are 10 teams within nine points of Washington's league-leading 72 in the chase for home-ice advantage in the postseason.
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