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NBA-SCHEDULE
Leonard gets nice reception in Toronto before beating Raptors
UNDATED (AP) — Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard was greeted by a very appreciative fan base as he played his first game in Toronto since signing a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Clippers over the summer.
Leonard picked up his NBA championship ring and was well received following a video tribute to the All-Star forward. He also scored 23 points to help the Clippers down the Raptors, 112-92.
The sold-out crowd roared with approval as Leonard embraced each player in turn before guard Kyle Lowry presented him with his ring. After slipping it on, the Finals MVP raised his arms and waved.
Lou Williams had 18 points and Maurice Harkless added 14 in the Clippers’ third straight win.
Pascal Siakam (see-A’-kam) scored 24 points and Norman Powell had 22 as the Raptors lost for the fourth time in five games, including three straight at home since a 9-0 start in Toronto.
Checking out Wednesday's other NBA action:
— The Rockets squeezed out a 116-110 win over the Cavaliers as James Harden delivered 55 points, 20 in the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook added 23 points for Houston, which closed on a 9-2 run to send Cleveland to its eighth consecutive loss.
— Aaron Holiday contributed 11 of his 18 points while the Pacers outscored the Celtics, 38-22 in the fourth quarter of a 122-117 comeback over Boston. Malcolm Brogdon dropped in 29 points to help Indiana overcome Kemba Walker’s 44-point barrage for Boston.
— The Nets ended their three-game winning streak by wasting a 20-point lead in a 113-108 home loss to the Hornets. Devonte' Graham poured in 27 of his career-high 40 points in the second half, including a step-back jumper followed by a deep 3-pointer to give Charlotte a 111-106 lead with 22 seconds remaining.
— The Lakers were 96-87 winners at Orlando behind LeBron James’s triple-double of 25 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds. Anthony Davis had 16 points and 12 rebounds to help Los Angeles win for the 13th time in 14 games.
T25 BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Arizona rolls to 10th win
UNDATED (AP) — No. 15 Arizona is 10-1 after rebounding from Saturday’s 63-58 loss to 11th-ranked Baylor.
Josh Green and Chase Jeter had 15 points each in the Wildcats’ 99-49 dismantling of Nebraska-Omaha. Nico Mannion had 13 points and 11 assists for Arizona, which opened with 15-4 run and led 43-23 at halftime after making 19 of 27 shots.
Dylan Smith scored all 14 of his points by intermission as the Wildcats coasted in their first game at McKale Center in 17 days.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Caps continue master of Bruins
UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Capitals have put more distance between themselves and the Boston Bruins atop the NHL’s Eastern Conference standings.
TJ Oshie (OH’-shee) scored twice in under four minutes as the Capitals beat the Bruins for the 16th time in their last 17 meetings, 3-2. John Carlson scored the game-winner 4:42 into the third period, less than two minutes after Sean Kuraly (kuh-RAH’-lee) tied it for Boston.
Braden Holtby turned back 30 shots for the Caps, who lead the East by five points over Boston and own a nine-point lead over the Islanders in the Metropolitan Division.
The Bruins fell to 0-3-1 in their last four games despite David Pastrnak’s (PAHS’-tur-nahks) league-high 26th goal.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— The Canadiens blew a two-goal lead in the third period before Ben Chiarot (sheh-RAHT’) scored 71 seconds into overtime to give Montreal a 3-2 triumph over the Senators. Nick Cousins and Tomas Tatar (tah-TAHR’) also scored and Max Domi (DOH’-mee) had two assists as the Habs earned their third straight win since a 1-6-3 skid.
NHL-SHARKS-DeBOER
Sharks drop DeBoer
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks have made a coaching change with the team under .500 through 33 games.
A person with direct knowledge of the move tells The Associated Press that the Sharks have fired Peter DeBoer (deh-BOHR') a day after their 3-1 loss at Nashville. The move comes amid an 0-4-1 slide that leaves them 15-16-2.
DeBoer was 198-129-4 in parts of five seasons with San Jose, leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup finals in his first season in 2015-16. He is the fifth NHL coach to lose his job this season and the third for performance reasons.
Bob Boughner (BOOG’-nur) will serve as interim coach, beginning Thursday against the Rangers.
MLB-NEWS
AP source: Yanks land Cole in record $324M, 9-year deal
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Yankees have landed the biggest prize of the free agent market. A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that the Yankees are adding Gerrit Cole to their rotation with a record nine-year, $324 million contract. The deal tops the $245 million, seven-year contract Stephen Strasburg finalized on Monday to remain with the World Series champion Nationals.
The $36 million average is a record for any player, beating the $35.5 million in outfielder Mike Trout's $426.5 million, 12-year deal with the Angels that started last season. Cole gets an even $36 million annually and can opt out after the 2024 season. He also has a full no-trade provision.
In other MLB news:
— A person with knowledge of the contract told The Associated Press the Mets and right-hander Michael Wacha (WAH'-kah) are nearing an agreement on a one-year deal. The 28-year-old Wacha had a 4.76 ERA over 126 2/3 innings this year, making 24 of his 29 appearances as a starter. He was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain in September and did not pitch for St. Louis in the postseason.
— Tanner Roark (ROH'-ahrk) and the Blue Jays have agreed to a two-year, $24 million deal, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The 33-year-old right-hander was 10-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 31 starts this year for Cincinnati and Oakland, which acquired him at the trade deadline.
— A person familiar with the negotiations says the Dodgers and reliever Blake Treinen have reached agreement on a one-year, $10 million pact, just more than a week after Oakland declined to offer him a contract. Treinen posted a 0.78 ERA in 2018 but raised it to 4.91 this year, losing the closer's role to Liam Hendriks in Oakland.
— The Rockies and right-hander Scott Oberg have agreed to a three-year, $13 million package with a club option for 2023. The option could make the deal worth $21 million over four seasons. Oberg has been successful over the last two seasons, going 14-2 with five saves and a 2.35 ERA over 105 relief appearances.
— Right-hander Kevin Gausman agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal with the Giants, eight days after Cincinnati allowed him to become a free agent.
— A study commissioned by Major League Baseball maintains that the baseballs weren't juiced during a record-setting 2019 regular season, they were just flying farther. A four-person committee of scientists found that baseballs this year had less drag on average than in previous seasons, contributing to a power surge that resulted in a record number of home runs. Their report released Wednesday blamed the spike on inconsistencies in the seam height of the baseballs, as well as “changes in player behavior." Batters connected 6,776 times in the regular season, smashing the record of 6,105 set in 2017.
— Major League Baseball is pushing ahead with a rules’ change for 2020 that requires pitchers to face at least three batters or finish a half-inning. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred also says the injured list for pitchers will revert to 15 days from 10 days. Pitchers optioned to the minors will have to spend 15 days with the farm teams before they can be recalled unless they replace a pitcher going on the IL. Active rosters will increase by one to 26 from opening day through Aug. 31. Expanded September rosters will drop from 40 to 28 through the end of the regular season.
— Major League Baseball has interviewed almost 60 people and obtained tens of thousands of electronic messages in its investigation into allegations the Astros broke rules by using a television camera to steal signs in 2017 during the team's run to its first World Series title. Commissioner Manfred said last month that MLB was investigating Houston's conduct for the past three seasons and he hoped to complete the inquiry before the 2020 season.
— Commissioner Rob Manfred is challenging the minor leagues to “move off the take-it-or-leave-it status quo approach” to their ongoing negotiations. MLB and the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues are negotiating a minor league agreement to replace the contract expiring after the 2020 season. MLB has proposed cutting 42 of its 160 affiliates, citing concerns over the quality of facilities, travel and salaries for players.
NFL-NEWS
Jets' Powell, Griffin, Poole out vs. Ravens; Adams doubtful
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Jets will have to take on Lamar Jackson and the surging Ravens on Thursday without some of their key playmakers. Running back Bilal Powell, tight end Ryan Griffin, cornerback Brian Poole and offensive linemen Chuma Edoga were all ruled out for the game because of injuries.
Safety Jamal Adams is doubtful and also unlikely to play because of a sprained ankle that kept him out of New York's win over Miami last Sunday.
In other NFL news:
— The Saints have placed starting defensive linemen Sheldon Rankins and Marcus Davenport on injured reserve. The move ends the season for the former first-round draft picks with New Orleans just weeks away from beginning a third-straight playoff run.
— Panthers interim coach Perry Fewell says quarterback Cam Newton has undergone successful surgery on his injured foot and is resting in his hometown of Atlanta. Newton played only two regular season games this year after injuring his foot in a preseason game at New England.
— Giants Rookie Daniel Jones returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, creating uncertainty about the starting quarterback this weekend against the Dolphins. Jones has been the starter since the third week of the season but missed Monday night's game with a sprained right ankle.
— The NFL plans a hard look at the pass interference rules adjustment instituted this season. The change was for the 2019 season only and the 32 team owners would have to ratify it again for it to be continued. The current system has been plagued by inconsistencies in how the penalties are being called and with decisions made after video reviews. NFL owners are meeting in the Dallas area.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Taggert hired by FAU
UNDATED (AP) — Willie Taggart has been hired as head football coach at Florida Atlantic, a week before the early signing day and only four days after Lane Kiffin left the Owls for Mississippi.
Taggart has been to one bowl game in 10 seasons as a head coach, recording a 56-62 record that includes a 9-12 mark in one-plus season at Florida State. The Seminoles fired him in November after a 27-10 loss to Miami.
NCAA-EMMERT
NCAA: 'Highly probable' Congress passes athlete comp rules
NEW YORK (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert says it is “highly probable” Congress will set national guidelines for how college athletes can be compensated for their names, images and likenesses.
Emmert says he is focused on figuring out how the NCAA and its member schools will allow athletes to get that compensation.
The issue was forced by California, which passed the first state law on the topic earlier this year. NCAA schools are drawing up rules and a congressional working group is also looking at the issue.
Since then, more than 20 other states have moved on similar legislation.
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