In brief: Nets get 10, avoid infamy as NBA’s worst
NBA: The New Jersey Nets notched their 10th victory Monday night in East Rutherford, N.J., avoiding any chance of tying for the worst record in NBA history by beating the short-handed San Antonio Spurs 90-84.
Brook Lopez had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who grabbed control with a 15-4 run late in the fourth quarter to improve to 10-64. The 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who went 9-73, will remain in the record books as the league’s worst team.
Public address announcer Gary Sussman shouted, “We got 10! The Nets win!” after New Jersey snapped a 14-game losing streak in the series.
Wright regrets nudity: Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright says he is “embarrassed” that explicit photos of himself have been posted on the Internet.
Through the team, Wright issued an apology Monday, saying the matter “is something I truly regret.”
Knicks’ Curry out: Eddy Curry will likely miss the rest of the season because of a right calf injury, apparently ending another lost year for the New York Knicks center.
Sabres streaking
NHL: Tyler Myers had a goal and set up Paul Gaustad’s score to lift the surging Buffalo Sabres to their sixth win in seven games, 3-2 over the visiting Boston Bruins.
Ryan Miller made 40 saves, including Marco Sturm’s penalty shot in the first period.
Boston goalie Tim Thomas, who had been Miller’s backup in the Olympics, was pulled following the Sabres’ third goal and left the ice to jeers.
Ward’s return sparks Hurricanes: Carolina goalie Cam Ward made a brilliant return after being out nearly two months, Erik Cole scored a decisive goal with 4:11 left and the Hurricanes beat Atlanta 4-1, dealing a blow to Atlanta’s playoff hopes. Atlanta missed a chance to pull even with Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Els wins again
PGA: Ernie Els has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his second straight victory on the PGA Tour.
He hung on with two big par putts in a Monday finish at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla. His 8-foot par putt on the final hole left him at 1-under 71. Edoardo Molinari of Italy and Kevin Na finished two shots back.
Els had made a double bogey and a bogey on Sunday when the final round was halted because of rain. Els saved par with a 6-foot putt on the 15th hole when play resumed. He then got up-and-down from a bunker on the 17th with another 6-foot putt.
Kentucky duo lead All-America team
College basketball: Having a couple of freshmen on the Associated Press’ All-America team is nothing new. This year, however, they are from the same school.
Kentucky’s John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins were on the All-America team announced Monday. Joining them were Ohio State junior Evan Turner, who received all but one first-team vote; Syracuse junior Wes Johnson; and Villanova senior Scottie Reynolds.
Virginia Commonwealth wins CBI opener: At Richmond, Va., Joey Rodriguez scored 14 straight points during a decisive second-half surge to lead Virginia Commonwealth past Saint Louis 68-56 in the first game of the championship series of the College Basketball Invitational.
The teams will play Game 2 of the best-of-3 series in St. Louis on Wednesday.
Pondexter to Liberty
WNBA: WNBA star Cappie Pondexter is headed to the New York Liberty as part of a major three-team trade.
The league champion Mercury have a deal in place to send the All-Star guard to New York for Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld, according to a person familiar with the trade. Christon and Kraayeveld will be shipped to Chicago for All-Star Candice Dupree.