PYEONGCHANG OLYMPICS
American Mikaela Shiffrin has won gold in the women's giant slalom in her Pyeongchang Olympic debut. She used a hard-charging final run to win her second career Olympic gold medal.
The 22-year-old American standout trailed by 0.20 seconds heading into the last run, but made up ground in no time by powering through ruts that had developed on the course.
Shiffrin finished 0.39 seconds ahead of Norway's Ragnhild Mowinckel at Yongpyong Alpine Center. Federica Brignone of Italy captured bronze, 0.46 behind Shiffrin's combined time of 2 minutes, 20.02 seconds. First-run leader Manuela Moelgg of Italy wound up eighth.
At the 2014 Sochi Games, Shiffrin won the slalom crown at age 18. She will defend that title Friday.
U.S. figure skater Nathan Chen is offering condolences to families of the victims of the Florida school shooting that killed 17 people. Chen skated in the Pyeongchang Olympics team competition where the U.S. won bronze, and he's due to skate in the men's individual competition starting Friday. The two-time U.S. champion was asked about the shooting during a pre-competition press conference.
"Truly my heart goes out to them," he said. "It's devastating. It's terrible that things like this keep happening."
In other competition:
Aksel Lund Svindal has won the men's downhill in Pyeongchang, making the 35-year-old Norwegian the oldest-ever Olympic gold medalist in Alpine skiing. Svindal was 0.12 seconds faster than Norwegian teammate Kjetil Jansrud down the 1 4/5-mile (2.9-kilometer) course at Jeongseon. Beat Feuz of Switzerland took bronze, 0.18 behind Svindal's time of 1 minute, 40.25 seconds.
Ragnhild Haga of Norway has won her first gold medal in the women's 10-kilometer freestyle at the Pyeongchang Olympics, dusting the field by more than 20 seconds. She finished in just over 25 minutes. Sweden's Charlotte Kalla won her second medal of the Olympic Games by finishing in second, while Norway's Mart Bjoergen and Finland's Krista Parmakoski finished tied for third with identical times of 25 minutes, 32.4 seconds.
Pierre Vaultier of France has defended his title in men's snowboardcross at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Vaultier barely qualified for the final after crashing during the semifinals but recovered to win his second Olympic gold medal with relative ease. Jarryd Hughes of Australia took silver, with Spain's Regino Hernandez earning a rare Winter Games medal for his country by taking bronze.
Aliona Savchenko and Bruno Massot of Germany have won Olympic pairs figure skating gold with a flawless, record-setting free skate. Savchenko and Massot scored 159.31 points in their program set to music by Armand Amar on the final day of pairs skating at the Pyeongchang Games. That gave them 235.90 points, catapulting them from fourth place after a shaky short program. It's Germany's first pairs gold since 1952.
China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, who led after the short program, recovered from a slow start to their free skate to score 153.08 points. But their early bobbles proved costly — they finished with 235.47 points, less than half a point off the top step of the podium.
Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford added a bronze medal after winning team gold with Canada.
NBA SCHEDULE
Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 10 assists, Serge Ibaka also scored 20 points and the Toronto Raptors cruised into the All-Star break with their seventh straight victory, 122-98 over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Lowry made four 3-pointers, and he and Ibaka each grabbed seven rebounds.
Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and nine rebounds to help the Raptors complete a four-game sweep against Chicago even though they only got seven points from four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. But Toronto shot just over 52 percent against a weak defense, sending the Bulls to their ninth loss in 11 games.
In other NBA games:
Despite 50 points by Kevin Durant, the Portland Trailblazers held on to win at home against Golden State, 123 to 117. Damian Lillard had 44.
James Harden had 28 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and the Houston Rockets fought off a late rally to get their 10th straight win, 100-91 over the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets are 44-13 entering the All-Star break after winning 17 of their last 19 games.
Ish Smith had 22 points and nine assists, Blake Griffin narrowly missed a triple-double and the Detroit Pistons ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Atlanta Hawks 104-98 on Wednesday night. Griffin finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, while Andre Drummond added 13 points and 15 rebounds for Detroit, which had seven players in double figures.
Dwight Howard had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets stopped a four-game slide with a 104-102 victory over the Orlando Magic. Kemba Walker had 20 points for Charlotte on 6-for-19 shooting, and Nicolas Batum added 14 points and seven assists. Mario Hezonja led Orlando with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but the Magic lost their third straight going into the All-Star break.
Ben Simmons had a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, J.J. Redick hit a crucial 19-foot, off-balanced jumper from the baseline with 19.4 seconds left and the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers came back from a 24-point second-half deficit to defeat the Miami Heat 104-102. Dario Saric added 19 points and Marco Belinelli scored 17 in his first game with the 76ers, who won their fifth straight and 11th in a row on their home court.
Victor Oladipo scored 25 points, Corey Joseph added 15 points and 11 assists, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Brooklyn Nets 108-103. Myles Turner had 11 points and 14 boards, and former Net Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 14 points for the Pacers, who won their third straight game as they head into the All-Star break.
Bradley Beal scored 36 points, and the Washington Wizards overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the slumping New York Knicks 118-113. Otto Porter Jr. added 22 points and Ian Mahinmi had 17 for the Wizards, who trailed 68-41 late in the second quarter. Washington then went on a 42-15 run to tie it at 83 with 3:32 left in the third. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 37 points — 32 in the first half — to lead the Knicks, who've lost a season-worst eight straight.
Anthony Davis had 42 points and 15 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Lakers 139-117. Davis went 15 for 18 from the field with three assists, three steals and two blocks. Jrue Holiday had 24 points and 11 assists, and reserve Darius Miller scored 19 points.
DeAndre Jordan had 30 points and 13 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Boston Celtics 129-119 night for their fourth victory in five games. Tobias Harris added 21 points, Danilo Gallinari had 20, and Lou Williams 19.
Paul George scored 28 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 points in his 17th triple-double of the season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder survived a second-half Memphis rally to beat the Grizzlies 121-114. Westbrook finished with 15 assists and 13 rebounds as Oklahoma City won for only the third time in the last nine games.
Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Royce O'Neale had a career-high 19 and the Utah Jazz won their 11th straight game, beating the Phoenix Suns 107-97. Derrick Favors had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 17 rebounds. Mitchell and Joe Ingles each had six assists.
Other news from around the NBA:
Second-year Warriors guard Patrick McCaw will miss at least four weeks after breaking a bone in his left wrist Monday night against the Suns. Golden State announced the injury ahead of a game at Portland before the All-Star break. McCaw will wear a cast for 10 days then be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team said.
TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Bryce Brown returned from a shoulder injury to score 18 points and make four 3-pointers in leading No. 10 Auburn to a 76-66 victory over Kentucky on Wednesday night.
The Tigers overcame a horrid shooting start to take control down the stretch, with some big baskets from Brown and clutch plays from Jared Harper.
Harper also scored 18 and had seven assists while making all nine free throw attempts for the league-leading Tigers.
Brown missed the Georgia game with a right shoulder injury and got off to a cool start against the Wildcats, who dropped their fourth straight.
He missed his first four shots but delivered a couple of big 3s in the second half. Auburn announced he would start shortly before the game.
Other Top 25 college games:
Phil Cofer scored 17 points, Trent Forrest added 16 and Florida State rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half to defeat 11th-ranked Clemson 81-79 in overtime. The Seminoles didn't take their first lead until 1:05 remaining in overtime when Forrest made a driving layup to put them up 75-74.
Grayson Allen scored 25 points and matched a career high with seven 3-pointers, helping No. 12 Duke beat Virginia Tech 74-52 on Wednesday night. Freshman Gary Trent Jr. added 19 points for the Blue Devils. Duke had little trouble despite playing their second straight game without freshman Marvin Bagley III, as the league's leading scorer and rebounder recovers from a sprained right knee.
Kyron Cartwright scored 17 points and Providence withstood several late surges to stun third-ranked Villanova 76-71. Rodney Bullock and Alpha Diallo each added 14 points for the Friars (17-9, 8-5 Big East), who snapped a five-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
Duncan Robinson scored 18 points and No. 22 Michigan beat Iowa 74-59. The Wolverines (won for the second straight game and the fourth time in five games.
Trevon Bluiett followed his worst shooting performance of the season with a 37-point barrage, and No. 4 Xavier held on for a 102-90 victory over Seton Hall, securing the Musketeers' hold on first place in the Big East. Xavier has won nine in a row heading into its showdown with No. 3 Villanova on Saturday at the Cintas Center.
Kendall Stephens tied his career-high with 21 points and Caleb Martin also had 21 to lead No. 24 Nevada past Boise State 77-72. Nevada never led by more than six points in a physical game and held Boise State leading scorer Chandler Hutchinson to 13 points, well below his 20.3 average. Boise State lost at home for the first time this season, ending a school-record 13-game home winning streak.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NCAA
George Washington defeated UMass Amherst 83-72.
NC State men’s basketball topped Syracuse 74-70/
George Washington women's team beat UMass Amherst 55-49.
NHL SCHEDULE
Nazem Kadri had three goals and two assists, Frederik Andersen made a career-high 54 saves and the surging Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 on Wednesday night.
Patrick Marleau added a goal and two assists and Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist as Toronto closed out a perfect five-game homestand. It was Kadri's fourth career hat trick, and the five points set a career high.
The Blue Jackets recorded 50 or more shots for the third straight game, making them the first team to accomplish the feat in the post-expansion era (since 1967-68). Nick Foligno had a goal and two assists, and Joonas Korpisalo made 22 saves.
In other NHL action:
Semyon Varlamov made 43 saves for his first victory in more than a month and the Colorado Avalanche matched the franchise record of 10 straight home wins, beating the Montreal Canadiens 2-0. Carl Soderberg and Alexander Kerfoot scored to help Colorado match the longest home winning streak in franchise history, set in 1994-95 when the team was the Quebec Nordiques.
Nick Bjugstad had a goal and an assist, and the Florida Panthers overcame a shaky start to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3. The Panthers trailed 2-1 midway through the first period, but battled back with three straight goals, the last two just 1:11 apart.
NFL-NEWS
Former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel says he's making a football comeback. Manziel tweeted Wednesday morning that he has signed with the developmental Spring League in Austin, Texas, which will play from March 28 to April 15. The league is designed for players hoping to impress NFL scouts.
In other NFL news:
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has his man to snap the ball for the next several seasons after center Daniel Kilgore received a three-year contract extension. The deal takes Kilgore through the 2020 season. Last week, Garoppolo signed a $137.5 million, five-year contract.
The New York Jets has promoted quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates to offensive coordinator.
Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn has made three additions to his staff, including running backs coach Bernie Parmalee.
The Buffalo Bills have hired Terry Robiskie to be their receivers coach in the latest offseason shuffle of Sean McDermott's staff.
The Bengals have signed former New York Giants tackle Bobby Hart.
MLB-NEWS
Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia won his salary arbitration case against the team and will get a raise to $6.7 million instead of the club's $5.85 million offer.
Garcia was a first-time All-Star last year, when he was second in the AL batting race and set career bests with a .330 average, 18 homers and 80 RBIs. He made $3 million.
Players now lead 8-6 with arbitration decisions.
In other baseball news:
Catcher Chris Stewart has agreed to $575,000, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. The 35-year-old hit .183 in 51 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. He is a seven-year major league veteran.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge took batting practice for the first time since left shoulder surgery and said he is on track to play on opening day. Judge hit a rookie record 52 home runs last year and was a unanimous pick for AL Rookie of the Year.
Pitcher Bud Norris and the St. Louis Cardinals finalized a $3 million, one-year contract as the team started spring training workouts. The 32-year-old right-hander led the Los Angeles Angels with 19 saves in 23 chances last season. He went 2-6 with a 4.23 ERA in three starts and 57 relief appearances.
Former major leaguer John "Tito" Francona, the father of Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, has died. He was 84. The Indians said the elder Francona died unexpectedly at his home in New Brighton, Pennsylvania on Tuesday night.
Former All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza has pleaded not guilty to drug charges following his arrest for allegedly possessing 44 pounds of suspected cocaine. Loaiza appeared in San Diego County Superior Court on Wednesday. He could face up to 20 years and eight months in prison if convicted.
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