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San Jose Sharks’ third-period lead disappears before sparse SAP Center crowd

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

SAN JOSE – Like a game of whack-a-mole, as soon as the San Jose Sharks take steps to address one problem, another one always seems to pop up.The Sharks have spent hours — on the ice and in the video room — trying to squeeze some more production out of their often lifeless power play, which had become one of the least effective units in the NHL.The Sharks made strides in that area Tuesday against Florida, but their penalty kill was once again problematic, allowing two goals in what became a 5-3 loss to the Panthers before another sparse mid-week crowd at SAP Center.Tomas Hertl and Luke Kunin scored third-period goals 70 seconds apart, one on a power play and the other on a delayed penalty, to take a 4-3 lead with 12:39 left in regulation time.But a Marc-Edouard Vlasic tripping penalty preceded a Carter Verhaeghe power-play goal with 9:54 left in regulation time. Kevin Stenlund then scored just 63 seconds later at even strength on a shot from the point as the Panthers took...

Thomas, Sobel spark Sacred Heart over Holy Cross 84-77

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Tanner Thomas scored 21 points, Alex Sobel added a double-double and Sacred Heart beat Holy Cross 84-77 on Tuesday night.Thomas hit 7 of 14 shots with four 3-pointers for the Pioneers (2-1). Sobel finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kyle McGee had 11 points and four assists, while Joey Reilly scored 10 with three steals.Caleb Kenny and Joe Octave both totaled 20 points and seven rebounds to lead the Crusaders (1-2). Will Batchelder added 18 points and four assists. Freshman Joe Nugent pitched in with 11 points and six boards.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource

Green ejected for headlock, Thompson, McDaniels tossed after scuffle in Timberwolves-Warriors game

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Draymond Green was ejected after putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock and two other players were thrown out after an altercation early in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 104-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.“Not much to say,” Gobert said. “That’s just clown behavior.”The game was still scoreless and not even two minutes had elapsed when Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels got in a shoving match near midcourt following a Timberwolves possession. Gobert stepped in and grabbed hold of Thompson before Green rushed in and pulled Gobert away from behind with his arm around the center’s neck.Thompson’s jersey was ripped during the scuffle, which led to Green’s second ejection of the season and two free throws for Gobert.Golden State coach Steve Kerr said McDaniels instigated the altercation and Thompson should not have been ejected.“He’s running up the floor, and the guy grabs his jersey...

Townsend scores 20 to lead Oakland over Bowling Green 81-62

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

ROCHESTER, Mich. (AP) — Trey Townsend scored 20 points to lead Oakland to an 81-62 victory over Bowling Green on Tuesday night.Townsend made 8 of 16 shots for the Golden Grizzlies (1-2), adding four assists and three steals. Jack Gohlke totaled 14 points and seven rebounds. DQ Cole came off the bench to score 12 on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range. Rocket Watts pitched in with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.Jason Spurgin finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Falcons (2-1). Sam Towns had 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource

Nikola Jokic scores 32, Nuggets win 111-108 to keep the Clippers winless with James Harden

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists, and the Denver Nuggets beat Los Angeles 111-108 in an NBA In-Season Tournament game on Tuesday night, keeping the Clippers winless since acquiring James Harden last month.Jokic was perfect on 14 free throw attempts, including two with 13 seconds left that helped the Nuggets hold off the Clippers’ comeback try.Los Angeles has lost five straight with Harden, who was acquired on Oct. 30, and six in a row overall despite the 34-year-old guard’s best game with his new team since arriving from Philadelphia.“I kept reiterating, I didn’t have a training camp or a preseason, so kind of learning on the fly,” Harden said. “Also getting myself into James Harden shape. Tonight was definitely another step in the right direction and just keep improving.”Harden scored 21 points and Paul George tied a season high with 35 points as Los Angeles fell to 0-2 in West Group B play.“I thought we played great. It’s tough, the adversity ...

Anderson scores 20, Ball State routs Oakland City 92-51

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Jalin Anderson scored 20 points to lead Ball State to a 92-51 victory over Oakland City on Tuesday night.Anderson made 8 of 12 shots with a 3-pointer for the Cardinals (3-0), adding five rebounds and three assists. Mickey Pearson Jr. hit 7 of 8 free throws and scored 12. Freshmen Trent Middleton and Joey Brown added 11 points apiece off the bench.Sam Muller led the Mighty Oaks with 15 points and 10 rebounds.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource

D’Angelo Russell leads the Lakers to a 134-107 win over Memphis in the In-Season Tournament

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — D’Angelo Russell scored 24 points and Anthony Davis had 19 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots in the Los Angeles Lakers’ third straight victory, 134-107 over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA In-Season Tournament on Tuesday night.LeBron James had 16 points and nine rebounds while playing only 23 minutes for the Lakers, who improved to 5-0 at home and 2-0 in tournament play with their first comfortable victory of the season.Russell hit six of the Lakers’ franchise record-tying 22 3-pointers, and Austin Reaves made four while scoring 16 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists. After experiencing repeated shooting struggles during the first 10 games of the season, Los Angeles made 58% of its shots against the Grizz and hit 62.9% of its 3-pointers while outrebounding Memphis 54-33.“You don’t want to be that guy (struggling) when the team is shooting extremely well,” James said. “You want to chip in and be a part of it. Definitely a great shooting n...

Spurs’ Wembanyama, OKC’s Holmgren have off nights in rookie showdown

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren appeared trying to avoid creating competition.The much-anticipated first regular-season meeting between two of the NBA’s top rookies Tuesday night wasn’t much of a game, and apparently there isn’t much of a rivalry between the slender 7-footers. Wembanyama said he wasn’t aware he was even being compared to Holmgren.“Every prospect is compared to everyone,” the 19-year-old from France said.They rarely matched up 1-on-1 on Tuesday, and both had off nights. Wembanyama finished with eight points on 4-for-15 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked two shots in San Antonio’s 123-87 loss to Oklahoma City. Holmgren finished with nine points on 3-for-10 shooting and had seven rebounds and three assists.Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, entered the night averaging 19.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. Holmgren, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, missed last season due to a foot injury but has recove...

Harris sparks North Carolina Central to 113-50 romp over Mid-Atlantic Christian

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Ja’Darius Harris came off the bench to score 20 points and North Carolina Central cruised to a 113-50 victory over Mid-Atlantic Christian on Tuesday night.Harris sank 7 of 11 shots with four 3-pointers for the Eagles (2-2), adding three assists and three steals. Keishon Porter scored 17 on 7-for-10 shooting with three 3-pointers and four of the team’s 19 steals. Fred Cleveland Jr. finished with 14 points, seven assists and three steals. Emmanuel Izunabor and Po’Boigh King both scored 11, while reserve Perry Smith Jr. pitched in with 10 points and eight rebounds.Joshua Tyler scored 15 to lead the Mustangs.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource

South Africans hope to shrug off ‘chokers’ tag in World Cup semifinal against Australia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:38:06 GMT

It’s inevitable in a Cricket World Cup semifinal between Australia and South Africa that the tied contest in 1999 dominates attention.For the victors, as captain Pat Cummins said Wednesday, “It’s part of Australian cricket folklore.” For South Africa, it was another part of a long run of cricket heartbreak.Australia clinched a spot in the ‘99 final, and went on to easily beat Pakistan at Lord’s for the title, after a mix-up between South Africans Lance Klusener and Allan Donald resulted in a last-over runout that ended the Proteas’ tournament.“You see the replays,” Cummins said on the eve of the semifinal in Kolkata, when asked about the impact of that game on his current squad, “but obviously none of us were playing the game.”The South Africans have consigned that result to history, and make the point that some players in their squad weren’t even born when it happened.Still, the aggressive South Africa lineup is aiming to shrug off the tag of cho...