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NBA-SCHEDULE
Nets 3-0 against Heat...Five in a row for the Knicks
UNDATED (AP)— It's about a month until the NBA playoffs start, so Miami has about that long to figure out how to get out of their late-season funk. The Brooklyn Nets handed the Heat their fourth loss in their last five outings, earning a 96-95 victory on Miami's home court.
Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 29 points in the third quarter, and the Nets beat Miami for the third time in as many tries this season.
Shaun Livingston scored 13 points, Andray Blatche (blahtch) added 11 and Deron Williams had eight assists for the Nets, who've won seven of their past eight games and are 23-9 since Jan. 1.
Chris Bosh was high for Miami with 24.
In other NBA action:
— Patty Mills scored 15 points to lead six players in double figures in San Antonio's 103-90 win over Portland. Tim Duncan had 10 points and 11 rebounds while Tiago Splitter had 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the Spurs to their eight straight win. Damian Lillard had 23 points for Portland, which lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a bruised back early in the second half.
— Dirk Nowitzki (noh-VIHT'-skee) made 12 of 14 shots from the field and scored 31 points to lead Dallas past Utah 108-101. Nowitzki moved into sole possession of 12th place on the NBA all-time scoring list breaking a tie with John Havlicek (HAV'-lih-chehk).
__ Carmelo Anthony scored 19 of his 34 points in the first half as the New York Knicks opened a 24-point lead and coasted to their fifth straight win, 116-92 over the Boston Celtics
__ The Charlotte Bobcats knocked off Washington 98-85. Al Jefferson led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Bobcats have won four of five and sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
— DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Amir Johnson had 20 against his former team and the Toronto Raptors handed Detroit its 10th straight road defeat, 101-87.
— Kenneth Faried scored 26 points and Wilson Chandler added 21 points and 10 rebounds to rally the Denver Nuggets to a 120-112 win in Orlando.
__ Rudy Gay scored 27 points, Isaiah Thomas added 20 and the Sacramento Kings defeated Philadelphia 115-98 to extend the 76ers' losing streak to 18 games.
NBA-KNICKS
Anthony says Jackson "coming on board"
UNDATED (AP) — The Knicks Carmelo Anthony says he has heard that 11-time NBA champion coach Phil Jackson is "coming on board" in a leadership capacity with the club. Anthony made the comments to reporters on Boston.
Jackson starred for the Knicks back in the 1970's before becoming a championship coach with the Bulls and Lakers.
NBA-LAKERS
Bryant done for the season
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Kobe Bryant's season is over. The Lakers report that he was examined by the team physician who determined that the knee injury that has kept Bryant out of the lineup hasn't healed.
NCAA TOURNAMENT
American U. plays its way in
BOSTON (AP) — For just the third time in school history, the American University Eagles are in the NCAA tournament. AU played its way into the tourney the hard way. The Eagles beat Boston U. 55-36 on the Terriers' home floor to win the Patriot League title and the automatic bid.
Tony Wroblicky (RAHB'-lih-kee) had 15 points, down eight rebounds and two blocks to lead American, which is 20-12.
Darius Gardner scored 18 points and had four assists for American. AU never trailed while claiming its first conference title since winning back-to-back Patriot League championships in 2008 and 2009 for the first two NCAA tournament appearances in school history. AU shot a sizzling 56 percent.
NCAA-MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Annual task of seeding tournament is underway
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The chairman of the men's basketball committee says his committee is ready to get the seeding for the 2014 tournament completed for this Sunday's announcement.
Ron Wellman, who is also the athletic director at Wake Forest, held a teleconference call with reporters and said he expects a very competitive tournament this year.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Flames slam Ducks
UNDATED (AP) — Mikael Backlund capped off a four-goal first period to lead Calgary to a 7-2 pounding of Pacific Division leading Anaheim. The Flames scored three times on five shots to chase starting goalie Jonas Hiller just 11 1-2 minutes into the game. Backlund also scored in the second period giving the Flames their second short-handed goal of the game. T. J. Gagliardi had the other one and Michael Cammalleri added a power play goal.
In other NHL play;
— Semyon Varlamov (SEHM'-yahn var-LAH'-mawf) stopped 37 shots for his 100th NHL win in Colorado's 3-2 victory over Chicago. The win was Varlamov's 33rd of the season, second only to Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury. The Avalanche's fourth win in five games over the Blackhawks this season vaulted them past Chicago and into second place in the Central Division.
— Boston has moved within one point of Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh with a 4-1 win at Montreal. Boston has won six in a row and are 8-0-3 in their last 11 road games.
NHL-STARS
Peverely's season is over
DALLAS (AP) — Rich Peverely of the Dallas Stars is done playing this season. The forward collapsed during a game Monday night against Columbus and his doctor says the 31-year old will undergo a procedure that was originally planned for after the season. He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in training camp.
NFL-TRANSACTIONS
Jets land Decker
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Jets have agreed to terms with former Denver wide receiver Eric Decker, considered by many the top free agent at his position.
The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Decker set career highs last season with 87 catches and 1,288 yards receiving to go along with 11 touchdowns. He had 85 receptions for 1,064 yards and a career-best 13 TDs in 2012.
In other NFL news;
— The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with former Jacksonville wide receiver Taylor Price. The Seahawks have released defensive end Chris Clemons and saw unrestricted free agents Golden Tate (Detroit), Clinton McDonald (Tampa Bay) and Chris Maragos (Philadelphia) leave for new destinations.
— Cornerback Darrelle Revis (duh'-REHL REE'-vihs) has been released by Tampa Bay. He is a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Revis was obtained in a pre-draft trade from the Jets last spring in a deal that cost the Bucs a first-round pick in 2013 as well as a fourth-rounder this year. Tampa Bay has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with free agent quarterback Cade McCown.
— Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert has signed a five-year, $47 million deal with the Dolphins. Albert was a first-round pick by the Chiefs in 2008 and started 83 games for them over the past six seasons.
— Quarterback Brandon Weeden has been released by the Cleveland Browns. The first-round pick in 2012 never quite worked things out with the franchise. His two-year record as a starter was 5-15. The Browns also cut ties with quarterback Jason Campbell, who went 1-7 as a starter last season.
— Running back Pierre Thomas has agreed to the terms of a two-year contract extension with the New Orleans Saints. He has played with the Saints since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He has averaged 821 yards from scrimmage.
__ The Buffalo Bills addressed three needs by signing offensive guard Chris Williams to a four-year contract, agreeing to a four-year deal with cornerback Corey Graham and agreeing to a two-year deal for $5 million with linebacker Keith Rivers.
— The agent for wide receiver Steve Smith says the five-time Pro Bowl selection is done playing for the Panthers. Derrick Fold told The Associated Press that he's now sure the transaction will be announced but that he expects Smith will be released.
__ A source familiar with the deal says the New York Giants have agreed to terms with linebacker Jon Beason, who will be entering his eighth NFL season. Beason was acquired from Carolina last October for a seventh-round pick after he lost his job. He played well for New York, which had been weak in the middle of its defense.
— Linval Joseph has a new team. After starting 46 of 48 games for the Giants over the last three seasons the free agent has agreed to terms with the Vikings. Joseph averaged 55 tackles and three sacks over the last three seasons.
__ The Baltimore Ravens and wide receiver Jacoby Jones have agreed on a four-year contract. The 29-year-old Jones, the Ravens' hero from the Super Bowl triumph following the 2012 season, had interviewed with the Giants earlier in the day.
MLB-SPRING TRAINING...K-Rod KO'd by a cactus
Santana to the Braves
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have signed free agent pitcher Ervin Santana to a one-year contract. The move comes a day after the Braves announced that Kris Medlen, who had already been named the club's opening-day pitcher, left spring training with an elbow injury.
Santana is 33 and is coming off a 9-10 season with Kansas City in which he had a 3.24 earned run average in 32 starts.
In other spring training news:
— Francisco Rodriguez's spring training debut for the Milwaukee Brewers could be delayed after the pitcher injured a foot by stepping on a cactus. The 32-year-old K-Rod, who agreed to a $3.25 million, one-year contract last month, was acquired during the 2011 All-Star break and went 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 31 appearances.
TENNIS
Wawrinka, Murray out at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Kevin Anderson upset Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1 in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open, joining Milos Raonic in sending home two top-10 players.
Andy Murray joined Wawrinka on the sidelines, losing to the big-serving Raonic, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
HOCKEY-BEER LAWSUIT
Idaho hockey fans suing over beer prices
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Only hockey fans would think of this.
A handful of Idaho hockey fans is suing a Boise minor league arena, saying they were duped into thinking a $7 beer contains more brew than a $4 beer.
The lawsuit says CenturyLink Arena, home of the Idaho Steelheads hockey team, defrauded customers by charging $3 more for a tall, narrow cup advertised as a "large" that actually holds the same amount of beer as the shorter, wider cup described as a "small."
The fans are seeking $10,000 -- which is a lot of beer money, no matter how it's served.
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