Update on the latest sports
NBA-SCHEDULE
Leonard, Clippers pull away from Knicks for 129-115 win
UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers have leapfrogged ahead of the Utah Jazz in the battle for the NBA’s best record.
The Clippers won for the 10th time in 11 games by downing the Knicks, 129-115. Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard scored a 28 for the Clippers, and hit a season high for points, shot 54% overall and nailed 17 3-pointers. The offensive eruption came against a team that had been limiting opponents to 42.6% shooting.
Reggie Jackson finished with 18 points and Paul George added 17 to help the Clippers improve to 16-5.
Julius Randle had 27 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, while rookie Immanuel Quickley added 25 points.
The Clippers took over first place in the NBA’s overall standings when the Nuggets ended Utah’s 11-game winning streak, 128-117.
Nikola Jokic (nih-KOH’-lah YOH’-kihch) matched his career high with 47 points on 17 of 26 shooting, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Jokic had 33 points by halftime and finished with 12 rebounds and five assists.
Will Barton added 18 points, and Jamal Murray had 16 to help the Nuggets win for the sixth time in seven games.
Bojan (BOY’-ahn) Bogdanovic led the Jazz with 29 points.
NBA-NEWS
Herro questionable for Monday
UNDATED (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is expected to be sidelined two to three weeks because of a Grade 1 tear of his left calf muscle.
Smart missed the final 10 1/2 minutes of Boston’s 96-95 loss to the Lakers on Saturday night after he was helped off the court following a collision with Montrezl Harrell underneath the basket. Smart’s injury will mean yet another adjustment to a Celtics lineup that was playing with its projected starters Smart, Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Daniel Theis for just the second time this season.
In other NBA news:
— Heat guard Tyler Herro (HEE’-roh) has revealed that someone who lives with him tested positive for COVID-19. Herro is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report for Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. Herro was not with the team for practice Sunday.
T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Buckeyes batter Spartans
UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State is the latest men’s basketball team to rough up Michigan State.
E.J. Liddell and Justin Ahrens carried the 13th-ranked Buckeyes to a 79-62 rout of slumping Michigan State. Liddell had 20 points and eight rebounds while helping the Buckeyes hold the Spartans to 25% shooting in the second half. Ahrens hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first half and finished with 17 points in Ohio State’s third win in a row and sixth in seven games.
The Spartans couldn’t bounce back from Thursday’s 30-point loss to Rutgers, shooting 32% as a team. Joshua Langford had a team-high 14 points for Michigan State, which is 2-6 in the Big Ten.
In Sunday’s other top-25 action, Sixth-ranked Houston is 15-1 overall following its eighth straight win, 70-48 against SMU. Marcus Sasser scored 19 points for the Cougars, who shot just 34% but held the Mustangs to 32% from the field. Justin Gorham had nine points and 17 rebounds in helping the Cougars earn their 20th consecutive home win.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-RICHMOND-COVID-19
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Richmond is the latest men’s basketball team to pause all activities in response to the results of Sunday’s COVID-19 testing and contact tracing in the Spiders’ program.
The decision comes two days after No. 22 Saint Louis opted to return home from Richmond without elaboration, but without playing because of concerns raised by its medical staff.
The 10-4 Spiders have now paused three times for COVID-related concerns.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Panthers continue strong start
UNDATED (AP) — The Florida Panthers remain one of the more pleasant surprises from the early part of the NHL season.
The Panthers remain one of two teams without a regulation loss, improving to 5-0-1 with a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings. Patric Hornqvist, Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe (vur-HAY’-gee) scored to back Chris Driedger (DREE’-gur), who finished with 32 saves.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Nino Niederreiter (NEE’-dur-eye-tur) provided the tying goal with 2:35 left in regulation before Vinvent Trocheck (TROH’-chehk) netted the deciding shootout tally in the Hurricanes’ 4-3 win over the Stars. Jordan Staal and Brock McGinn also scored as Carolina beat Dallas for the second consecutive day.
— Michael McLeod and Miles Wood each scored twice to lead the Devils over the Sabres, 5-3. McLeod put the Devils ahead for good with his second goal at 10:40 of the third period.
NHL-RANGERS-DEANGELO
Rangers waive DeAngelo
NEW YORK (AP) — The slumping New York Rangers have placed defenseman Tony DeAngelo on waivers, one day after he struggled in a 5-4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh. DeAngelo was on ice for four of the Penguins’ goals in that defeat. He also was benched by coach David Quinn earlier this season for a third-period unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and complaining loudly to the referees after drawing a holding penalty.
MLB-NEWS
MLB proposes delaying start to April 28, cut to 154 games
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has proposed a one-month delay in starting spring training due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and pushing back opening day to April 28. That’s according to two people familiar with the plan who tell The Associated Press the regular season would be cut from 162 games to 154.
The playoffs would be expanded from 10 teams to 14 and the designated hitter would extend to the National League for the second straight season. In addition, MLB would keep the experimental rules for seven-inning doubleheaders and beginning extra innings with a runner on second base.
Eleswhere in the majors:
— The Twins have finalized a one-year, $10.5 million contract with shortstop Andrelton Simmons, enhancing their infield defense as they seek a third straight AL Central division title. The four-time Gold Glove award winner will allow Jorge Polanco to move to second base and form a strong tandem on the left side with third baseman Josh Donaldson.
PGA-FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN
Reed earns comfortable win at Torrey Pines
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Patrick Reed pulled away for a five-shot victory in the Farmers Insurance Open.
Reed closed with a 4-under 68 at Torrey Pines, making an eagle on the par-5 sixth and finishing off his ninth PGA Tour title with a birdie on the 18th.
The former Masters champions finished at 14 under after a consistent four days at the blufftop municipal courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Tony Finau (FEE’-now), Xander Schauffele (ZAN’-dur SHOW’-flee), Ryan Palmer, Henrik Norlander and Viktor Hovland tied for second.
