Bryant passes 30,000 points in Lakers win
NBA: Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, making him the fifth player in NBA history to score 30,000, and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers snapped a two-game skid with a 103-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.
Bryant entered the game needing only 13 points to eclipse the scoring milestone and did so with a short jumper late in the first half that was perhaps the least spectacular of his baskets, which included the usual array of soaring dunks, transition 3-pointers and turnaround jumpers.
At 34 years old, Bryant is the youngest to reach the milestone. Wilt Chamberlain was 35 when he hit the mark, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone were each 36 and Michael Jordan was 38.
• Blazers fall: Paul George scored 22 points and George Hill added 18 to help the Indiana Pacers beat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 99-92.
Damian Lillard led Portland with 23 points.
• Thompson paces Warriors: Former Washington State standout Klay Thompson scored 19 of his 27 points in the third quarter to help the visiting Golden State beat the Detroit Pistons 104-97.
The Warriors, starting a seven-game Eastern trip, snapped Detroit’s five-game winning streak at home.
• Wallace fined for flopping: Brooklyn Nets forward Gerald Wallace has been fined $5,000 by the NBA for flopping, joining teammate Reggie Evans as the only repeat offenders under the league’s new penalty system.
• Blake out: Lakers guard Steve Blake underwent successful surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle. The team says he’s expected to be out six to eight weeks.
Griner leads No. 3 Baylor past No. 5 Irish
Women’s basketball: Brittney Griner had 24 points and 14 rebounds, three other Baylor players scored in double figures and the third-ranked Lady Bears (7-1) beat No. 5 Notre Dame (5-1) 73-61 at South Bend, Ind., in a repeat of last season’s national championship game.
New Mexico rallies to defeat Trojans
Men’s basketball: Hugh Greenwood hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points to help No. 18 New Mexico (9-0) recover from an early double-digit deficit to beat Southern Cal (3-5) 75-67 at Albuquerque, N.M.
Blanton, Angels agree to deal
Baseball: A person familiar with the negotiations says the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a $15 million, two-year contract with right-hander Joe Blanton.
The Angels also agreed with reliever Sean Burnett on an $8 million, two-year deal.
• Cardinals land Choate: A person familiar with the negotiations said that left-handed reliever Randy Choate and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a $7.5 million, three-year contract.
• Keppinger heads to White Sox: A person familiar with the contract said that versatile infielder Jeff Keppinger has reached agreement with the Chicago White Sox on a $12 million, three-year contract.
• Chavez joins D-backs: A person with knowledge of the negotiations says the Arizona Diamondbacks and infielder Eric Chavez have agreed on a $3 million, one-year contract.
• Cheek wins Ford Frick Award: Former Toronto Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek, who died in 2005, has won the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting.
Messi injured; Chelsea eliminated
Miscellany: Lionel Messi was taken off the field on a cart because of a knee injury in Barcelona’s 0-0 tie with Benfica in a Champions League game, while defending champion Chelsea failed to advance to the final 16 in the tournament.
“It’s a bruise, which doctors have been having a look at,” Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova said. “We now have to wait for the results of tests, but the feeling is that it isn’t more serious than a knock.”
Chelsea, which needed to better Juventus’ result in Ukraine to finish second in Group E, beat FC Nordsjaelland 6-1 for Rafa Benitez’s first win as interim manager. However, Olexander Kucher’s own goal gave Juventus the victory and the top spot ahead of Shakhtar.
• Armstrong teammate banned: Former Lance Armstrong teammate David George has been banned two years for doping.
Last month, the former U.S. Postal Service rider admitted using the blood-booster EPO after failing an out-of-competition test.
George rode on Armstrong’s team in 1999 and 2000.