Blackhawks’ streak ends at 24 games

NHL: The best start in NHL history is over. The Chicago Blawkhawks finally left the ice without a point.

The Blackhawks were stunned 6-2 by the struggling Colorado Avalanche on Friday night in Denver. It was their first loss in regulation and ended a remarkable run in which they earned at least one point in their first 24 games, an NHL record.

Matt Duchene scored four points and Ryan O’Reilly got his first goal since his contract dispute was resolved more than a week ago. O’Reilly assisted on another goal in a four-goal onslaught in the second period that turned a 1-1 tie into a laugher.

Chicago’s overall points streak of 30 was the second longest in NHL history. The 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers set the league record with a 35-game unbeaten streak that included 25 wins and 10 ties, all in the same season.

Woods two clear of field after 36 holes

Golf: Tiger Woods set a personal-best with 17 birdies over two rounds on the Blue Monster. What mattered more to him was a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Cadillac Championship in Doral, Fla.

In a World Golf Championship with golf’s biggest names in the hunt, Woods began to pull away with six birdies in an eight-hole stretch around the turn in a clean, crisp exhibition. That sent him to a 7-under 65, two shots clear of former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, who had a 67.

The 17 birdies beat his previous best of 16 birdies in the 1999 Byron Nelson Classic. Asked what that meant, Woods smiled and replied, “It left me a two-shot lead.”

• Romero leads Puerto Rico Open: Andres Romero shot his second straight 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open at Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Romero, the Argentine player who won the PGA Tour’s 2008 New Orleans event and the European Tour’s 2007 Deutsche Bank tournament, had a double bogey on the par-3 eighth hole, then birdied six of the last 10 holes on the Trump International course.

James leads heat to 17th straight victory

NBA: LeBron James scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 22 points and the Miami Heat won again, pulling away late to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 102-93 in Miami for their 17th straight victory.

Chris Bosh scored 16 points, Ray Allen added 12 and Shane Battier scored 11 for the Heat, who matched the 12th-longest winning streak in NBA history and became the first team in the league to clinch a playoff spot this season.

• Bryant sparks Lakers: Kobe Bryant hit the tying 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in regulation, then dunked for the go-ahead basket with 10 seconds left in overtime, helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 118-116 in Los Angeles for their second straight come-from-behind win.

Bryant finished with 41 points and 12 assists, making 14 of 16 free throws, and Dwight Howard had 24 points and 13 rebounds.

• Blazers win by 30 in San Antonio: Damian Lillard had 35 points and nine assists and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the San Antonio Spurs 136-106 to set a record for most points by an opponent at the Spurs’ AT&T Center.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 26 points and J.J. Hickson had 23 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, which handed San Antonio its worst loss this season. Eric Maynor added 20 points off the bench and Wesley Matthews had 15 points.

• Terry lifts Celtics in overtime: Jason Terry hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in overtime and the Boston Celtics rallied after blowing a big lead in regulation and beat the Atlanta Hawks 107-102 in Boston.

Jeff Green, Paul Pierce and Terry all hit 3-pointers in overtime and the Celtics held the Hawks without a point for the final 1:20 to clinch Boston’s fifth straight win.

Whitman women reach Elite 8

Women’s basketball: Whitman defeated Emory 67-62 in a Sweet 16 game of the Division III tournament at Williamstown, Mass.

After trailing for more than 39 minutes, the Missionaries took the lead for the first time with 38 seconds left.

Whitman (23-5) will play regional host Williams College in today’s regional final.

• Georgia stops LSU’s win streak: Jasmine Hassell scored 19 points, Tiaria Griffin added 15 and No. 12 Georgia snapped No. 22 LSU’s seven-game winning streak with a 71-53 victory in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament at Duluth, Ga.

The Lady Bulldogs (25-5) will face No. 7 Kentucky, an 11-point winner over Vanderbilt, in the semifinals today.

U.S. women rout China at Algarve Cup

Soccer: The U.S. women’s team defeated China 5-0 at the Algarve Cup, staying on top of its group with a second straight victory.

The U.S. extended its unbeaten run over China to 21 straight games when China’s Wu Haiyen scored an own goal in the 47th before Christen Press and Whitney Egan added two more.