HOOPS: Thunder streak ends
Kevin Love scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves over the Thunder 99-93, snapping Oklahoma City’s team-record 12-game win streak.
LeBron James scored 24 points as the Heat rolled to a 110-95 victory over the Mavericks.
Lakers guard Steve Nash went through his first full-contact practice without any setbacks to his broken left leg and could return to the court on Christmas Day against the Knicks.
Jabari Parker of Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy, one of the most highly touted recruits in years, said he will play at Duke.
MLB: Jackson to join Cubs
The Cubs agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with right-hander Edwin Jackson, who will be joining his eighth team in 11 years. The Cubs also were trying to reach a deal with pitcher Carlos Villanueva.
Right-hander Mike Adams, who was 5-3 with a 3.27 ERA with Texas last season, finalized a $12 million, two-year contract with the Phillies to set up Jonathan Papelbon.
Placido Polanco, the 37-year-old former All-Star third baseman, agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract with the Marlins, plugging the final hole in the team’s projected lineup following a payroll purge.
COLLEGE: Wells to coach Utah St.
Utah State promoted offensive coordinator Matt Wells to be head football coach to replace Gary Anderson, who was hired at Wisconsin.
LSU coach Les Miles said punter Brad Wing has been suspended for the Tigers’ game against No. 14 Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Oregon football coach Chip Kelly said the Ducks have cooperated with the NCAA investigation into the school’s use of recruiting services. … The NCAA fired the lead investigator in the eligibility probe of UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad, CBSSports.com reported.
soccer: Iraq may hire Maradona
Diego Maradona is on the brink of becoming coach of Iraq and says he wants to take the country to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil. The 52-year-old Argentine great is awaiting the outcome of a meeting of the Iraqi Football Federation to be held today. Zico, the former Brazilian star, resigned as Iraq’s coach last month.
Real Madrid will face Manchester United and Barcelona will play AC Milan in the Champions League round of 16. Other matchups include Arsenal against Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain against Valencia, Celtic vs. Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Borussia Dortmund, FC Porto vs. Malaga, and Galatasaray vs. Schalke.
First-leg matches will be played from Feb. 12-20. Return matches are from March 5-13.
ETC.: ESPN suspends Parker
Commentator Rob Parker was suspended for 30 days by ESPN for comments he made last week about Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III. The suspension comes one day after Parker issued an apology on his Twitter account.