NBA
Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies were able to cool off the Denver Nuggets.
Gasol capped his 20-point night by hitting the go-ahead free throws with 4.6 seconds to play in the Grizzlies' 89-87 win over the Nuggets. Jaren Jackson Jr. also had 20 points and Gasol finished with 12 rebounds as Memphis improved to 4-0 at home.
The Nuggets saw their five-game winning streak end when Nikola Jokic missed a 3-point attempt before Denver's rebound tip was off the mark.
Gary Harris had a team-best 20 points for the Nuggets, who lost for just the second time in 11 games this season.
Checking out Wednesday's other NBA action:
Kawhi Leonard came back from a two-game absence to score 25 points and grab 11 rebounds in the Raptors' 114-105 victory at Sacramento. The two-time All-Star scored 10 points in both the second and third quarters while showing no effects from his ankle injury. Pascal Siakam scored 21 points and Serge Ibaka added 14 points with 14 rebounds as Toronto improved to a league-best 11-1.
Dennis Schroder scored a season-high 28 points in place of the injured Russell Westbrook as the Thunder handled the Cavaliers 95-86 in Cleveland. Schroder shot 11-for-19 in Oklahoma City's first game since Westbrook sprained his left ankle in Monday's victory. Paul George scored 18 points in the Thunder's sixth consecutive victory.
Joel Embiid scored 20 points and the 76ers withstood Victor Oladipo's season-high 36 points to win at Indiana for the first time in nine tries, 100-94 over the Pacers. Ben Simmons fell two assists shy of a triple-double, delivering 16 points and 10 rebounds as Philadelphia won for the first time in six road games this season. Oladipo scored 24 points in the first half on 10 of 16 shooting, and Domantas Sabonis finished with 16 points and 11 boards for the Pacers.
Hassan Whiteside just missed a rare NBA triple-double as he delivered 29 points, 20 rebounds and an NBA season-high nine blocks in the Heat's first win over the Spurs in four years, 95-88. Wayne Ellington scored 20 points and Justise Winslow added 16 for Miami, which had dropped its previous nine meetings with San Antonio. Josh Richardson added 14 points for the Heat, who were down to an eight-man rotation for the second half because of injuries and Dwyane Wade's missing the game for personal reasons.
LeBron James just missed a triple-double and Kyle Kuzma got hot down the stretch in the Lakers' 114-110 win against the Timberwolves. James scored nine of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and finished 10 rebounds and nine assists. Kuzma nailed four 3-pointers and scored six of his 21 points in the final two minutes as Los Angeles kept Minnesota winless on the road this season.
The Pelicans were 107-98 winners over the Bulls as Anthony Davis contributed team highs of 32 points and 15 rebounds. Jrue Holiday chipped in 17 points, 10 boards and nine assists to help New Orleans halt their six-game losing streak. Zach LaVine scored 22 and Jabari Parker had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, who have dropped five of six games.
Andre Drummond's 23 points and 19 rebounds carried the Pistons past the Magic, 103-96 in Orlando. Blake Griffin had 20 points as Detroit ended a five-game skid that followed a 4-0 start. The Magic opened the third period with three straight 3-pointers and a 27-9 run to take a 78-67 lead.
Donovan Mitchell returned from an ankle injury and contributed 23 points, seven assists and five rebounds to push the Jazz past the Mavericks, 117-102. Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots as Utah stopped a four-game losing streak. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 24 points, but Dallas lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 27 of his 34 points in the second half of the Knicks' 112-107 victory in Atlanta. Enes Kanter came off the bench to add 17 points and 11 boards, while Allonzo Trier had 16 points for New York.
Thursday on the court:
The Boston Celtics take on Phoenix at 9 p.m.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
No. 20 TCU was the lone top-25 men's basketball team in action Wednesday, and the Horned Frogs almost played themselves out of next week's poll.
TCU trailed by as many as 11 in the first half before pulling out a 66-61 triumph over Cal State Bakersfield. Desmond Bane scored 13 of his 14 points after halftime, including a tiebreaking layup with 2:48 remaining to put the Horned Frogs ahead to stay in their season opener.
MAAC:
Siena takes on George Washington at 7 p.m.
NHL
T.J. Oshie had a memorable third period as the Washington Capitals knocked off their bitter rival.
Oshie broke a 1-1 deadlock with 1:14 remaining before the Caps closed out a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh. The Capitals forward also took an elbow to the head from Evgeni Malkin, leading to the ejection of the Penguins star.
Alex Ovechkin tied the game with a power-play goal in the second period, John Carlson had two assists and Braden Holtby turned back 41 shots for Washington.
Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal for the Pens, who are 0-4-1 since a 4-0 road trip.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
Colton Sissons recorded his second career hat trick and the Predators improved to a league-best 12-3-0 with a 4-1 victory at Colorado. Sissons scored Nashville's first three goals before Nick Bonino picked up his third assist by setting up Ryan Hartman's empty-netter. Pekka Rinne handled 24 shots as the Predators dealt the Avalanche their fourth loss in a row.
The Ducks pulled out a 3-2 win over Calgary on Ryan Getzlaf's goal 6 ½ minutes into the third period. Mark Jankowski tied it for the Flames with a short-handed tally before Getzlaf beat Mike Smith just 27 seconds later. Jakob Silfverberg and Adam Henrique also scored for Anaheim, and Ryan Miller stopped 37 shots.
Thursday on the Ice:
The Boston Bruins host Vancouver at 7 p.m.
The Philadelphia Flyers go against Arizona at 7 p.m.
The Buffalo Sabres take on Montreal at 7:30 p.m.
The New York Islanders face off against Tampa Bay at 7:30 p.m.
Oilers' Lucic fined $10K for hit on Lightning's Joseph:
Edmonton Oilers forward Milan Lucic has been fined $10,000 by the NHL for roughing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mathieu Joseph.
Lucic was assessed minor penalties for interference and roughing, as well as a 10-minute misconduct, for a hit on Joseph in the third period of Edmonton's 5-2 road loss to the Lightning on Tuesday.
NFL
The New Orleans Saints' potent passing attack may have become even more explosive.
The Saints have signed veteran receiver Dez Bryant for the remainder of the season. Bryant spent his first eight years in the NFL with Dallas and caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six touchdowns for the Cowboys last season before he was released in a salary cap move.
It remains unclear to what extent Bryant will play when the Saints visit Cincinnati on Sunday.
Brees has thrown for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in half the team's eight games this season, a major reason for their 7-1 start. New Orleans is third in the NFL with 279 points.
In Thursday’s NFL action:
The Carolina Panthers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:20 p.m.
In other NFL news:
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been ruled out of Sunday's game at Green Bay because of a throwing shoulder injury. Backup Brock Osweiler will make his fifth consecutive start. Coach Adam Gase says the goal is for Tannehill to return for the Indianapolis game Nov. 25. The Dolphins have a bye next week.
Jets’ rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has a boot on his right foot and isn't practicing, leaving his status for the team's game Sunday against Buffalo in doubt. Darnold was injured during the Jets' 13-6 loss at Miami last Sunday but finished the game. If he is unable to start, 39-year-old backup Josh McCown would take his place.
Dolphins’ safety Reshad Jones is expressing no regrets and offering no explanation for mysteriously taking himself out of last weekend's win over the Jets. He watched the second half from the sideline and now says he and the Dolphins are now on the same page, and that he'll play Sunday at Green Bay.
Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey and cornerback E.J. Gaines have been placed on injured reserve. Kirksey hurt his hamstring during Sunday's loss to Kansas City and Gaines suffered his second concussion in three weeks.
The Falcons have signed defensive end Bruce Irvin to a one-year deal, reuniting the veteran with coach Dan Quinn. Irvin was cut by the Raiders on Saturday and became a free agent after clearing waivers on Tuesday with $3.8 million remaining on his contract.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The University of Maryland has fired two trainers that were involved in the treatment of Jordan McNair after he collapsed on the field and subsequently died of heatstroke.
Maryland has not formally announced the decision and has never named the trainers placed on paid leave. However, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press in August that football athletic trainer Wes Robinson and director of athletic training Steve Nordwall had been placed on leave following McNair's death.
Athletic department spokesman Dustin Semonavick said Wednesday, "The trainers that were previously on administrative leave are no longer employed at the university."
MLB
Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson is expected to be ready for spring training following surgery Monday to remove a loose body in his left wrist.
The 24-year-old Swanson hit .238 with 14 home runs and 59 RBI in 136 games last season. He was left off the National League Division Series roster against the Dodgers after tearing a ligament in his left hand late in the season. His hand and wrist were examined at the time.
Also around the majors:
Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez will undergo surgery this week to remove loose debris from his non-throwing shoulder. The recovery is expected to be about three months, putting him on target to be ready by opening day.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman says CC Sabathia will retire after next season. The six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner is 246-153 in 18 major league seasons with a 3.70 ERA and 2,986 strikeouts, including 129-80 in a decade with the Yankees.
The Dodgers have exercised their 2019 contract option on manager Dave Roberts while continuing to work on a long-term deal. Roberts just finished his third season as the Dodgers' skipper and has led the team to the last two National League pennants before losing the World Series each time.
NASCAR
Kevin Harvick's shot at a NASCAR Cup title may have ended with a failed inspection.
Harvick has been stripped of his automatic berth in the championship race after NASCAR ruled his car had an illegal spoiler when he won at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday. He enters this weekend's race at Phoenix fourth among the remaining eight playoff drivers, three points above the cutline.
Harvick must also close out the final two races of the season without crew chief Rodney Childers and car chief Robert Smith, who were suspended due to Sunday's infraction.
Joey Logano is the lone driver to have locked up one of the four spots in next weekend's championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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