HOOPS: Rested Spurs beat Grizzlies in OT
In San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 30 points, Tim Duncan had 27 points and 15 rebounds, and the Spurs shook off what coach Gregg Popovich a “disappointing” $250,000 fine by the NBA to beat the Grizzlies 99-95 in overtime last night.
Popovich said before the win he doesn’t know if the Spurs will appeal the NBA’s stiff penalty for sending Duncan, Parker and two others home to rest instead of them suiting up against the Heat in a nationally televised game.
Popovich said he was disappointed by commissioner David Stern’s decision. He also didn’t rule out sitting out players again in the future.
In Boston, Chantell Alford scored 22 points and Rashidat Agboola had a double-double to lead Boston University to a 66-49 upset win over No. 17 St. John’s.
BU snapped the Red Storm’s four-game winning streak. Amber Thompson was the only St. John’s player to score in double figures with 11 points.
SOCCER: Beckham, Galaxy win MLS Cup
David Beckham left MLS as a two-time champion after the Los Angeles Galaxy came from a goal down to beat the Houston Dynamo 3-1 in the MLS Cup in Carson, Calif.
With a stirring second-half surge capped by penalties by Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, Los Angeles won its fourth MLS Cup, tying D.C. United for the MLS record.
The Galaxy also gave an appropriate farewell to Beckham, the 37-year-old English midfielder who transformed the league and his team over six seasons in Los Angeles.
“It’s been a successful six years here, and now that we’ve won the second one, it’s even more satisfying,” Beckham said. “I just hope people have enjoyed me playing here. It’s what I always hope for when I step on the field.”
Beckham will play elsewhere in the new year before eventually returning to MLS as a team owner, but he hasn’t disclosed his immediate plans.
Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona made the best start in the history of the Spanish league with a 5-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao.
The leader’s 13 wins and a draw in the opening 14 games surpasses Real Madrid’s 12 wins and two draws to begin the 1991-92 campaign.
GOLF: McDowell leads World Challenge by 2
Graeme McDowell rolled in two long putts early in the round and ran his streak to 29 holes without a bogey on his way to a 4-under 68 and a two-shot lead over Keegan Bradley going into the final round of the World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Tiger Woods, the tournament host and five-time champion at Sherwood Country Club, picked up a pair of birdies on the final two par 3s and added a third to salvage a 69 that left him five shots behind along with Bo Van Pelt (70).
Bernhard Langer won the Nedbank Champions Challenge seniors tournament by two strokes in Sun City, South Africa, despite closing with a 2-over 74. He had a three-round total of 7-under 209.
Jay Haas was the runner-up. Ian Woosnam was third in the seniors after a 72. Mark Calcavecchia dropped to seventh place out of eight after finishing with a 13-over 85.
ETC.: Rays deal reliever for outfielder Mondesi
Tampa Bay traded right-handed reliever Burke Badenhop to the Brewers for outfielder Raul Mondesi Jr.
Badenhop was 3-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 66 games last season. The 20-year-old Mondesi, son of a former All-Star outfielder who played briefly with the Yankees, hit .231 with five home runs and 32 RBIs in 68 games at rookie league Helena.
Alex Morgan scored 44 seconds into the match and the U.S. women’s team went on to beat Ireland 2-0 in Glendale, Ariz.. Morgan also had an assist on Megan Rapinoe’s goal late in the first half.
The Vikings have ruled wide receiver Percy Harvin out today at Green Bay today because of a sprained left ankle. This will be Harvin’s third game missed after the injury occurred at Seattle on Nov. 4.
Arianna Alioto of Columbia, Mo., an 18-year-old freshman on Northern Michigan University’s varsity soccer team, drowned shortly before 6 p.m. Friday during a team workout in a school swimming pool.
Lindsey Vonn raced to her 13th World Cup victory at Lake Louise, Alberta, leading another 1-2 U.S. sweep in the second downhill at the Canadian resort. Vonn finished in 1 minute, 52.9 seconds to edge teammate Stacey Cook by 0.52 seconds.