Indiana continues to set pace with win over Chicago
NBA: Luis Scola, Donald Sloan and Lance Stephenson accounted for all the points in a decisive 12-2 run, thwarting a late charge by the Chicago Bulls and sending the Indiana Pacers, the NBA’s last unbeaten team, to an 97-80 victory Wednesday night in Indianapolis.
Paul George had 21 points and six rebounds to lead Indiana, which reached 5-0 for the first time since 1971-72.
Luol Deng and Derrick Rose scored 17 each to lead Chicago.
• Wall leads Wizards to first win: John Wall scored 24 points, Marcin Gortat had 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Washington Wizards beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-102.
Bradley Beal had 17 points, Trevor Ariza scored 15 as seven Wizards reached double digits to help Washington earn its first win after starting 0-3.
• Warriors continue strong start: Klay Thompson scored 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Harrison Barnes scored 14 points in his season debut to help the Golden State Warriors to a 106-93 win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Kevin Love had 25 points, 16 rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves. Kevin Martin added 23 points, but the Wolves’ bench was outscored 27-10.
• Celtics beat Jazz for Stevens’ first win: Brandon Bass scored 20 points and Jeff Green added 18 to lead Boston to its first win of the season, 97-87 over visiting Utah.
The game reunited new Celtics coach Brad Stevens with former Butler star Gordon Hayward. Hayward had 28 points and nine rebounds for Utah, one of the last two winless teams in the NBA this season.
• Knicks’ Chandler out with broken leg: Knicks center Tyson Chandler is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to a small fracture in his right fibula.
Nadal clinches year-end No. 1 ranking
Tennis: Just nine months after returning from a career-threatening knee injury, Rafael Nadal clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the third time by beating Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) at the ATP finals in London.
Tomas Berdych also earned a win over David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4.
Predators end Avs’ streak at six
NHL: Colin Wilson had two goals and two assists, Viktor Stalberg added a goal and an assist, and the Nashville Predators beat the Avalanche 6-4 in Denver, ending Colorado’s six-game win streak.
• Boyle helps Rangers top Penguins: Brian Boyle scored his first goal of the season and Ryan Callahan added his first since returning from a broken thumb as the New York Rangers beat the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1.
New York lawyers to look at Dolphins case
Football: A senior partner in a New York law firm with experience in sports cases has been appointed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to investigate possible misconduct in the Miami Dolphins’ workplace and prepare a report.
Ted Wells has begun his work and does not have a timetable for completing it, Goodell said.
Wells’ report will be made public. The Dolphins have pledged full support in the investigation, the NFL said. A troubled relationship between linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito left both players sidelined.
• Texans name Phillips interim coach: Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was named Houston’s interim head coach with Gary Kubiak out indefinitely after suffering a mini-stroke Sunday.
• Bills expect QB Manuel return: Team president Russ Brandon says Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel should be ready to return to play at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Manuel (sprained right knee) was cleared for contact and scheduled to practice after missing four games.
• Saints place Vilma on season-ending IR: The New Orleans Saints have moved linebacker Jonathan Vilma (left knee) to injured reserve, ending his season – and possibly his career – only three days after he had returned for his first game of this season.
Messi tallies two goals as Barca advances
Soccer: Lionel Messi had a pair of goals as Barcelona beat AC Milan 3-1 at home to clinch a berth in the second round of the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid also advanced, winning 4-0 at home against Austria Vienna.
• Houston advances to East finals: Omar Cummings scored in the 104th minute to help the Houston Dynamo advance to the MLS Eastern Conference finals with an aggregate score of 4-3, by beating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in Harrison, N.J.
• Kansas City ousts New England: Claudio Bieler scored in the 23rd minute of overtime, lifting Sporting Kansas City to a 3-1 win over the New England Revolution in Kansas City, Kan., and a 4-3 aggregate score in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Kansas City will open the conference finals Saturday against Houston.