In brief: Reynolds leads Nova past Louisville

Men’s basketball: Scottie Reynolds scored a season-high 36 points, including a game-clinching layup in the final minute, to lead No. 4 Villanova (15-1, 4-0 Big East) past Louisville 92-84 on Monday night in Louisville, Ky.

Reynolds was nearly perfect, going 9 of 10 from the field, including making all five of his 3-point attempts.

The teams combined for 44 turnovers, 67 fouls and 94 free throws.

Samardo Samuels led Louisville (12-5, 3-1) with 21 points and Edgar Sosa added 17, but the Cardinals had no answer for Reynolds.

Johnson’s big game powers Hawks to win

NBA: Joe Johnson scored 36 points, going 5 of 7 from 3-point range, to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 102-96 victory over the Celtics in Boston.

The Celtics have dropped only 10 games all season and three have been to Atlanta, which had lost seven straight to Boston coming into the season.

The Hawks trailed by 14 points early in the second quarter but closed the gap in the third thanks to three straight technical fouls on the Celtics coaching staff.

Head coach Doc Rivers was ejected.

•Durant, Thunder rout Knicks: Kevin Durant continued his scoring surge with 30 points and the Thunder won for the eighth time in their last 10 games, beating the New York Knicks 106-88 in Oklahoma City.

Durant, who entered the game with a 28.7-point scoring average, had 15 in the first quarter as Oklahoma City built a double-digit lead it kept for most of the rest of the game. Durant has scored 30 or more points in nine of his last 11 games.

Nate Robinson led the Knicks with 19 points.

•Suns rally after blowing lead: Steve Nash had 30 points and 11 assists, helping the Suns rally after blowing a 24-point lead to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-101 in Phoenix for the 22nd consecutive time at home.

The Bucks were without coach Scott Skiles, who was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat just before the game, and high-scoring guard Michael Redd, whose knee injury will keep him out the remainder of the season.

•Anthony scores 24 in return: Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points in his return from a knee injury, hitting consecutive 3-pointers midway through the fourth quarter to help the Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-94 in Denver.

No. 23 Virginia upset by Maryland

Women’s basketball: Lori Bjork scored 20 points and Lynetta Kizer had 19 points and 14 rebounds to help Maryland (13-3, 1-1 ACC) beat No. 23 Virginia (11-4, 0-1) 61-60 in Charlottesville, Va.

The loss spoiled an otherwise special night for Virginia’s Monica Wright, who scored 20 points to pass Dawn Staley as the women’s career scoring leader in Virginia history. Wright had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but was defended very closely and no foul was called.

Latendresse, Wild too much for Penguins

NHL: Guillaume Latendresse scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period after getting a career-high three assists, giving the Minnesota Wild enough to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in St. Paul, Minn.

Eric Belanger, Martin Havlat and Cal Clutterbuck also scored for the Wild and Niklas Backstrom stopped 35 shots.

Browns hire Heckert away from Eagles

NFL: The Cleveland Browns have hired Tom Heckert as their general manager, luring him away from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Heckert had been with the Eagles since 2001, spending the past four seasons as GM. He helped build them into a perennial NFC power, but did not have complete control over roster decisions, the draft or free agency.

In Cleveland, Heckert will have final say over the Browns’ roster with input from new team president Mike Holmgren.

•Browns’ Quinn may avoid surgery: Browns president Mike Holmgren does not believe injured quarterback Brady Quinn will need foot surgery.

Quinn missed Cleveland’s final two games after hurting his left foot in a Dec. 20 win over Kansas City. The team has not given specifics of Quinn’s injury. Holmgren provided the most detailed update.

•Bills interested in Shottenheimer: The Buffalo Bills have asked the New York Jets for permission to interview offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, a person told the Associated Press. It’s unclear when the interview might take place, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the Bills have not revealed their list of candidates to replace Dick Jauron, who was fired in November.

•Bucs’ safety accused of domestic violence: Tampa Bay safety Jermaine Phillips has been charged with trying to choke his wife during an argument in Tampa, Fla.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office press release, Phillips was charged with domestic battery by strangulation. Jail records indicated he is scheduled to be released on his own recognizance.

Former USC aide claims addiction

College football: SI.com is reporting a former Southern California assistant coach stated in legal documents that he received prescriptions from team and university doctors he used to feed his addiction to painkillers.

The Web site reports Dave Watson says in a deposition he told then-Trojans coach Pete Carroll of his addiction in February 2008, but was allowed to keep his job and use a vehicle provided by USC.

Watson was involved in a car accident in May 2008, in which he pleaded no contest to DUI charges and received three years’ probation.

Bogus Woods’ claim being investigated

Miscellany: A Florida lawmaker has called for an investigation into who phoned a hot line with a bogus claim that Tiger Woods’ children were being abused.

The anonymous accusation last month was quickly rejected by Florida officials. But Republican state Sen. Ronda Storms wants officials to prosecute the person.

A Department of Children and Families spokesman said that a false report is difficult to prove unless the person confesses, but it results in civil or criminal penalties.

•Valverde appeal set to begin: Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde’s appeal against a two-year doping ban starts today as he tries to remove an arbitrator from the case.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will open a three-day hearing despite Valverde’s claims that lawyer Ulrich Haas has a conflict of interest from working with the World Anti-Doping Agency.