Sports

Sports Shorts

NBA: Lakers drop fourth straight

The Lakers dropped their fourth straight game as James Harden scored 31 to lead the Rockets to a 125-112 victory in Houston. Metta World Peace had a season-high 24 points for the Lakers, who were playing without their top three big men Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill — all out with injuries.

Paul George had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and the Pacers held Miami to a season-low point total in an 87-77 win over the visiting Heat (23-10).

Jim Boylan, who replaced Scott Skiles, notched his first win as the Bucks’ interim coach in a 108-99 victory over the Suns.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $50,000for publicly criticizing the officiating in Saturday’s loss to the Hornets. Cuban, has been fined more than $1.5 million during his 13 years owning the Mavs

GOLF: Johnson wins at Kapalua

Dustin Johnson closed with a 5-under 68 for a four-shot victory over Steve Stricker in the weather-delayed Tournament of Champions yesterday at Kapalua, Hawaii.

Johnson, who finished at 16-under 203 in the 54-hole event, won for the sixth straight season. Only Phil Mickelson with nine straight years has a longer active streak of most consecutive seasons with a PGA Tour victory. With the victory, Johnson moved to No. 12 in the world ranking.

MLB: Tribe signs Kazmir

Scott Kazmir signed a minor-league deal with the Indians. The 28-year-old lefty spent last season in the independent Atlantic League.

First baseman Adam LaRoche decided to stay with the Nationals, agreeing to a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year. … Left-hander J.P. Howell and the Dodgers finalized a $2.85 million, one-year deal. He pitched last season for Tampa Bay.

COLLEGE: Duke KOs Clemson

Quinn Cook scored 27 points and No. 1 Duke (15-0, 2-0 ACC) held visiting Clemson (8-6, 0-2) to its lowest-scoring half in 12 years in a 68-40 victory. The Tigers had just 10 points at halftime, their fewest since scoring nine against Wake Forest in 2001.

Talib Zanna scored 15 points in Pitt’s 73-45 win at No. 19 Georgetown (10-3, 1-2 Big East). …Jabari Brown had 22 points to lead No. 10 Missouri (12-2, 1-0) to an 84-68 victory over Alabama (8-6, 0-1) in its SEC debut.

Grant Mullins had 16 points for Columbia (8-6) in a 78-69 loss at Holy Cross (8-7). … DeAndre Daniels had 26 points as UConn (11-3, 1-1 Big East) routed visiting DePaul 99-78. … Shawn Jackson, a 6-9 junior forward, will not return to the Iona this semester.

ETC.: ESPN fires Rob Parker

Rob Parker, the ESPN commentator who drew fire for his comments last month about Redskins QB Robert Griffin III, was fired by the cable network.

San Diego State, committed to join the Big East as a football-only member this fall, is planning to attend the Big East’s meetings on Friday in Dallas, but the school has been talking to the Mountain West about possibly staying in that conference.

Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain was released from jail after being charged with violating rules on car-window tint and trying to lie to police about his identity.