HOOPS: Noah-less Bulls top Pacers
Luol Deng scored 20 points, Carlos Boozer had 18 and the Bulls overcame the absence of starting center Joakim Noah to earn an 87-84 victory over the Pacers last night in Chicago.
Chicago’s reserves sparked the Bulls’ second-half rally, outscoring Indiana’s reserves 32-15 to snap the Pacers’ three-game winning streak.
In Denver, Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points to lead a balanced attack and the Nuggets extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 101-95 victory over the Kings.
In Memphis, Jerryd Bayless scored a season-high 30 points and the Grizzlies weathered a fourth-quarter rally by Boston’s reserves to escape with a 110-106 victory.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said his city has reached a preliminary agreement for a new downtown arena with an investment group that hopes to keep the Kings from moving to Seattle.
Saying he wants to “finish his career” with at Pitt, men’s coach Jamie Dixon agreed to a contract extension that will keep him signed through 2023.
In College Park, Md., Kiana Johnson scored 16 points, and fifth-seeded Michigan State beat Marist, 55-47 in the women’s NCAA Tournament.
In Knoxville, Tenn., McKenzie Fujan scored a career-high 24 points as Creighton held off a late Syracuse rally, 61-56, to advance.
In Storrs, Conn., Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis led six Connecticut players in double figures with 22 points as the top-seeded Huskies moved on with a rout of Idaho, 105-37.
NFL: Punter Lechler signs with Texans
The Texans have signed free-agent punter Shane Lechler, who had been with the Raiders.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the team, but ESPN reported the deal was for three years and worth a maximum of $5.5 million, with a $1 million signing bonus.
The 36-year-old Lechler is the NFL’s career leader in gross average per punt (47.3 yards) and has led the league in gross average in four seasons.
Browns running back Trent Richardson has been sued by two women who said they were assaulted at his home last year.
The Bengals have signed former Buccaneer backup quarterback Josh Johnson to compete for a spot behind starter Andy Dalton.
GOLF: Birdies help Pavin share lead
In Saucier, Miss., Corey Pavin birdied his first six holes and finished with a 5-under 67 to join Bernhard Langer, Roger Chapman and Joe Daley atop the leaderboard after the second round of the Champions Tour’s Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.
Langer had a 65, Chapman shot 67, and Daley had a 66. Defending champion Fred Couples shot a 66 and is two strokes off the lead.
In Carlsbad, Calif., Beatriz Recari finished with a 3-under 69 for a two-stroke lead in the Kia Classic. Recari had an 11-under 205 total.
Hall of Famer Karrie Webb was second after a 70. Paula Creamer and I.K. Kim were three shots back. Stacy Lewis, was four strokes back after a 69.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat led the Malaysian Open at 11 under when third-round play was suspended because of thunderstorms in Kuala Lumpur. Kiradech completed only two holes in the third round before play was stopped for the day.
ETC.: Back forces Venus to withdraw
In Key Biscayne, Fla., three-time champion Venus Williams withdrew from the Sony Open with a lower back injury.
Cardinals closer Jason Motte probably will start the season on the disabled list because of a mild muscle flexor strain in his pitching arm.
In Des Moines, Iowa, Cornell senior Kyle Dake became the first wrestler in NCAA history to win four national titles at four weights, and Penn State won the national team title for the third year in a row.