Grizzlies waive three-time All-Star guard Francis

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived three-time All-Star Steve Francis.

The Grizzlies had acquired him from Houston in December in exchange for a 2011 conditional second-round draft pick.

Francis, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound guard, did not appear in a game for Memphis or travel with the Grizzlies, though he did occasionally practice with the team.

Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace announced last week that the team was working on a buyout of Francis’ contract. The Grizzlies announced Tuesday that Francis was leaving.

The 31-year-old Francis averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in nine seasons with Houston, the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks. He was an All-Star in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

•Wizard sidelined: Washington Wizards center Andray Blatche, who wound up on the wrong end of a collision with Shaquille O’Neal on Monday night, will be sidelined two to four weeks with a strained left knee.

•Bobcats stun Lakers: Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor had double-doubles and the Charlotte Bobcats shocked the host Los Angeles Lakers 117-110 in double overtime.

Felton had 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, while Okafor finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kobe Bryant scored 38 for the Lakers but fouled out in the first OT.

•Cavs keep on rolling: Mo Williams strengthened his argument to be an All-Star by scoring a career-high 43 and LeBron James recorded his 20th career triple-double and third this season as the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 21-0 at home, beating the Sacramento Kings 117-110.

•Spurs beat Jazz: Tim Duncan had 24 points and nine rebounds and Manu Ginobili scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the San Antonio Spurs held off the host Utah Jazz 106-100.

NHL

Bruins edge Capitals

David Krejci scored a power-play goal off the leg of Capitals defender Shaone Morrisonn with 3:05 left in overtime and the Boston Bruins beat visiting Washington 3-2 in a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.

•Red Wings fall: Rick Nash’s third goal of the game came on a rebound 3:27 into overtime and gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 3-2 victory over the visiting Detroit Red Wings.

Also, the Red Wings have reportedly agreed to a contract extension with left wing Henrik Zetterberg that could pay him more than $7 million a year for 10 years.

•Lightning top Canadiens: Vincent Lecavalier, Vinny Prospal and Steve Downie scored second-period goals to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning past the visiting Montreal Canadiens 5-3.

•Sillinger out for season: New York Islanders center Mike Sillinger, 37, underwent hip surgery for the second time in a year and will miss the remainder of the season, the team said.

•Penguin suspended: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke has been suspended two games without pay for a blow to the head of Carolina forward Scott Walker on Jan. 20.

•Bergeron returns: Patrice Bergeron returned to the ice for the Boston Bruins after missing 15 games with a concussion.

College men’s basketball

No. 16 Purdue escapes

Robbie Hummel’s go-ahead 3-pointer with a minute left in the game lifted No. 16 Purdue to a 64-63 victory over free-falling Wisconsin in Madison, Wis.

It was the fifth straight win for the Boilermakers (16-4, 5-2 Big Ten), including two straight on the road – and the fifth straight loss for the Badgers (12-8, 3-5).

•Texas tops Baylor: A.J. Abrams scored 19 points while matching the Big 12 career record for 3-pointers with 338 and No. 11 Texas (15-4, 4-1 Big 12) won its 23rd consecutive game against Baylor, (15-5, 3-3) 78-72 in Waco, Texas.

•Fan held without bail: The brother of a Providence basketball player who ran onto the court to confront a referee was ordered held without bail for allegedly violating his probation from a 2005 drug conviction.

Jonathan Xavier, 24, came down the stands and jumped over the Providence bench during a nationally televised game on Jan. 17 to confront a referee. He was upset no foul was called after his brother, Providence guard Jeff Xavier, was hit in the face by a defender’s arm while he was driving to the basket.

Miscellany

Wie debuts as pro

Michelle Wie is headed back home to Hawaii, this time as a full-fledged LPGA Tour member.

The 19-year-old Stanford sophomore will kick off the season at the LPGA’s first full-field event, the SBS Open from Feb. 12-14.

Wie played the first SBS in 2005 as a 15-year-old amateur and finished tied for second.

•Shooting victim headed to trial: A Philadelphia man shot with a gun owned by Colts receiver Marvin Harrison is headed to trial today, accused of lying to police.

Dwight Dixon is scheduled to appear in a Philadelphia municipal court on a charge of making false sworn statements.

•Herbst wins slalom: Reinfried Herbst led an Austrian 1-2 finish in a World Cup night slalom in Schladming, Austria, while American Bode Miller finished eighth. Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was third and extended his lead in the overall standings.

•ING cuts F1 funds: The Dutch bank ING is slashing millions of dollars from its Formula One program as part of a massive cost-cutting effort triggered by the global financial crisis.