Sharapova survives heat, Knapp rally
Tennis: Maria Sharapova survived the searing heat and an intense challenge from Karin Knapp to advance to the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, with a grueling 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win in 3 hours, 28 minutes.
The temperature was forecast to spike at 111 degrees Thursday, on the third straight day of a heat wave. It was already 102 when Sharapova’s match started and increased to 108.5, forcing organizers to enact the Extreme Heat Policy and suspend matches on outside courts.
Sharapova will meet No. 25 Alize Cornet of France, who sobbed after coming back to beat Camila Giorgi of Italy 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in 2 1/2 hours.
In the only men’s match completed before the Extreme Heat Policy was invoked, No. 16 Kei Nishikori beat Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (3).
Six matches were suspended, and play wasn’t expected on those courts until 5 p.m. local time.
Wizards spoil Oden’s return
NBA: The Washington Wizards had a 34-point lead against the Miami Heat reduced to single digits before holding on for a 114-97 home win in Greg Oden’s first game in more than four years.
Oden, who has struggled to overcome knee injuries throughout his NBA career, played nine minutes and scored six points for Miami, which has dropped three straight.
• Bulls top Magic in 3OT: Joakim Noah had a season-high 26 points, Carlos Boozer scored 23, and the Chicago Bulls held on to beat the Magic 128-125 in triple overtime in Orlando, Fla.
The Magic had a chance to win the game with less than 10 seconds to play, but Glen Davis’ jumper was partially blocked and rebounded by the Bulls with 1.5 seconds remaining.
• Warriors get Crawford in 3-team deal: A three-team trade sending Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks from the Boston Celtics to the Golden State Warriors is complete.
The Warriors sent guard Toney Douglas to the Miami Heat as part of the deal. The Heat moved center Joel Anthony and two draft picks and cash considerations to the Celtics.
Maple Leafs edge Sabres in SO
NHL: Tyler Bozak scored the clinching goal in the third round of the shootout and the Toronto Maple Leafs won their third straight game with a 4-3 victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
Matt Moulson scored in the first round for Buffalo, but James Reimer stopped Cody Hodgson after Joffrey Lupul scored in the second, setting up Bozak’s winner past Sabres goalie Ryan Miller.
• Penguins slip past Capitals: Olli Maatta’s slap shot beat Michal Neuvirth with less than 2 minutes remaining and the Penguins rallied past the Washington Capitals 4-3 in Pittsburgh’s 13th straight win on home ice, a club record.
• Oilers make goalie moves: Nashville traded forward Matt Hendricks to Edmonton for Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk. With the move, the Predators get rid of the four-year $7.4 million contract Hendricks signed last July.
Edmonton also sent a third-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for backup goalie Ben Scrivens.
Texas Tech upsets No. 12 Baylor
Men’s basketball: Jaye Crockett had 19 points, Toddrick Gotcher added 17 and Texas Tech beat No. 12 Baylor 82-72 in Lubbock, Texas.
The Red Raiders (9-8, 1-3 Big 12) led all the way and were able to hold off a late comeback attempt by the Bears (13-3, 1-2) after they pulled to 76-66 on a 3-pointer by Taurean Prince with 2:02 left.
Voided contracts not acceptable
Miscellany: New baseball union head Tony Clark says players won’t agree to terminating contracts as part of discipline for drug violations.
Clark took over as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association following the death of Michael Weiner in November and expects talks on possible changes to the drug agreement to start before spring training. Commissioner Bud Selig proposed last March that drug penalties be toughened, but Weiner had said any alterations would be discussed for the 2014 season.
Clark also anticipated players will agree before the upcoming season to ban home-plate collisions and to allow expanded instant replay, which also requires a deal between Major League Baseball and the umpires’ union.
• Spokane’s Sicilia submitted: Spokane native Sam Sicilia fell to Cole Miller (21-8), submitting to a rear-naked choke at 1:54 of Round 2 in a featherweight bout at UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou at The Arena at Gwinnet Center in Duluth, Georgia. Sicilia (12-4), an alum of the popular Ultimate Fighter reality series, fell to 2-3 in the UFC.
• Boise State QB looks for out: A Boise State quarterback who was briefly suspended while the team was in Hawaii for a bowl game last month may be leaving the school. Nick Patti’s father requested that his son be allowed to contact the University of Central Florida, according to BSU athletic spokesman Max Corbet.
Patti, a redshirt freshman from Florida, was initially suspended in December with starting quarterback Joe Southwick during the team’s trip to the Hawaii Bowl. Patti was reinstated, while Southwick was sent home.