NBA:
In the NBA, Boston topped Philadelphia 116-108, Milwaukee bested Brooklyn 129-125, Oklahoma City beat the Knicks 116-105, New Orleans won against Memphis 95-91, Minnesota beat Denver 112-99, Phoenix defeated the Lakers 137-101, Utah beat Portland 111-88, Detroit topped Dallas 98-91, San Antonio won against Orlando 107-79, Cleveland beat Indiana 113-104, Golden State blasted Sacramento 109-86, the Clippers beat Atlanta 99-84, Miami topped Houston 117-109, and it was Toronto over Charlotte 90-85.
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony has been added to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for Sunday's game at New Orleans. It's the 10th All-Star nod for Anthony, who will replace the injured Kevin Love of Cleveland. Only LeBron James has been selected to more All-Star games than Anthony among active players.
Philadelphia center Joel Embiid will not participate in the Rising Stars Challenge or the Skills Challenge at NBA All-Star weekend in New Orleans because of an injured left knee. Oklahoma City's Alex Abrines will replace Embiid on the World Team for Friday's Rising Stars game. Denver's Nikola Jokic will take Embiid's spot in the Skills Challenge on Saturday.
The Bucks say forward Jabari Parker underwent successful knee surgery and is expected back in approximately 12 months. Parker suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a loss to Miami last week. He tore the same ligament in 2014. Parker was averaging a career-high 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds as one of the Bucks' franchise cornerstones and the team's second-leading scorer
NHL:
In the NHL, Columbus beat Toronto 5-2, St. Louis blanked Detroit 2-0, Calgary topped Philadelphia 3-1, and it was Florida edged San Jose in overtime 6-5.
Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist has received a six-game suspension without pay from the NHL for high-sticking Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon in the face during Sunday's game. Nyquist was called for a double-minor after using the blade of his stick to spear Spurgeon just below his left eye. Spurgeon missed a few shifts while getting stitches in his cheek.
In other hockey news:
— Anaheim's Antoine Vermette is facing a suspension after slashing a game official in Tuesday's win over Minnesota. NHL rules state deliberately applying physical force on an official results in an automatic 10-game suspension.
— The Washington Capitals added defensive depth by acquiring Tom Gilbert from the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional draft pick. The 34-year-old Gilbert has one goal and four assists in 18 NHL games with the Kings this season.
NCAA:
President Donald Trump won't be filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket on ESPN this March, unlike his predecessor, Barack Obama. ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz says the network expressed its "interest to the White House in continuing the presidential bracket. They have respectfully declined."
In college men’s basketball, UAlbany beat UMBC 78-69, Vermont beat UMass-Lowell 87-66, Army snapped a three-game skid with a 52-47 upset of Holy Cross, Stony Brook defeated Hartford 66-54, and Duquesne snapped an eight-game skid, cruising past UMass 96-66,.
The 12th-ranked Duke Blue Devils hardly resemble the same squad that went 3-4 to open its ACC schedule. Duke picked up its sixth straight win and improved to 21-5 as Jayson Tatum scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half of a 65-55 triumph at No. 14 Virginia. Tatum hit three 3-pointers with the shot clock about to expire, all coming after the Cavaliers pulled within 43-42 in the second half. Luke Kennard's 16 points helped the Blue Devils pull even with Florida State and Louisville for second place in the conference, one-game behind North Carolina and one ahead of the Cavaliers.
In other top-25 finals:
— Joel Berry II dropped in 18 points and Luke Maye added a career-high 13 in 10th-ranked North Carolina's 97-73 crushing of N.C. State. The Tar Heels finished with a 60-22 edge in points in the paint and a 41-25 rebounding advantage that led to a 27-13 edge in second-chance points.
— Kevin Johnson had 14 points and 18th-ranked Cincinnati bounced back from Sunday's loss to SMU by whipping South Florida, 68-54. Gary Clark delivered 13 points and 14 rebounds in the Bearcats' 16th win in 17 games.
— Semi Ojeleye scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half of 19th-ranked SMU's 80-75 comeback over Tulane. The Mustangs trailed by as many as 15 in the second half before Ojeleye scored the first eight points of a 13-0 run that put SMU ahead to stay.
— Seton Hall surprised No. 20 Creighton, 87-81 as Khadeen Carrington contributed 10 of his career-high 41 points in the closing minute. Angel Delgado added 17 points and 17 boards in helping the Pirates improve their shot at an NCAA tournament berth.
— Unranked Arkansas got its first road win over a ranked opponent in almost three years, 83-76 against No. 21 South Carolina. Jaylen Barford tied his career high with 23 points and Dusty Hannahs added 20 as the Razorbacks improved to 18-7 overall and 8-5 in the SEC.
— No. 23 Maryland was a 74-64 winner at Northwestern as Melo (MEH'-loh) Trimble scored a career-high 32 points on 12 of 17 shooting for the Terrapins. Anthony Cowan added 13 points and Damonte Dodd had 12 as the Terps moved into a tie with Purdue for second place in the Big Ten, a half-game behind Wisconsin.
— Avery Woodson scored a season-high 20 points and 24th-rated Butler stopped a two-game home losing streak by blasting St. John's, 110-86. Andrew Chrabascz delivered 15 of his 20 points by halftime.
— No. 15 Florida has lost center John Egbunu for the rest of the season after he tore the ACL in his left knee. Florida expects Egbunu to need 10 to 12 months to recover. The 6-foot-11 redshirt junior was injured in Tuesday's win over Auburn. He is averaging 7.8 points and a team-leading 6.6 rebounds this season.
NFL:
A person with direct knowledge of the New York Jets' plans say they have released left tackle Ryan Clady after just one season in which he played only nine games because of a shoulder injury. Clady was due $10 million next season — with a $1 million roster bonus due Wednesday — that made his return to New York under that contract unlikely. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Jets had not yet announced the move, which ESPN first reported.
MLB:
Reliever Fernando Salas and the New York Mets have finalized a $3 million, one-year contract. The deal had been agreed to February 3rd pending a successful physical and was completed Wednesday.
The New York Mets are returning to West Point to play Army in an exhibition game for the first time in 33 years. The Mets announced Wednesday that the game will be held at Doubleday Field at Johnson Stadium on March 31st at 3 p.m.
A state lawmaker whose district includes Cooperstown is making a strong pitch to have New York designate baseball as the official state sport. Senator Jim Seward, a Republican from Milford in Otsego County, tells the Citizen of Auburn newspaper that nearby Cooperstown is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Alex Reyes won't throw another regular-season pitch until next year. The St. Louis Cardinals right-hander will undergo Tommy John surgery as soon as Thursday. Reyes says he felt something was wrong with his arm while throwing at home before he reported to camp. The 22-year-old Reyes was 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA in five starts and seven relief appearances after making his major league debut last Aug. 9. He was a candidate for the final spot in the Redbirds' 2017 rotation.
Elsewhere in spring training news:
— Reliever Sergio Romo has signed his one-year, $3 million package with the Dodgers. Romo was 32-26 with a 2.58 ERA and 84 saves while winning three World Series titles in nine seasons with San Francisco.
— The Nationals and first baseman Adam Lind have finalized a one-year, $1.5 million deal. The 33-year-old hit .239 with 20 homers and 58 RBIs for the Seattle last season.
— Left-hander Travis Wood and the Royals have finalized a two-year, $12 million contract. The 30-year-old was 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in a career-high 77 appearances with the Chicago Cubs last season, holding lefties to a .128 average.
— Atlanta infielder Sean Rodriguez has had surgery to repair his left rotator cuff. Braves general manager John Coppolella has told The Associated Press that Rodriguez will be out for an indeterminate time, but might not miss the whole year.
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