Celtics rally back from huge deficit
NBA: Paul Pierce had 24 points and 10 assists, and E’Twaun Moore added 16 points to help the Boston Celtics erase a 27-point deficit and beat the Orlando Magic for the second time this week, 91-83 on Thursday night at Orlando, Fla.
Pierce and Moore had 10 points each in the fourth quarter.
Dwight Howard led the Magic with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Orlando had an 11-point lead entering the fourth quarter, but shot 2 of 17 in the final 12 minutes. The Magic scored just eight points in the period.
Wisconsin turns back Indiana in Big Ten
Men’s basketball: Ben Brust scored 13 points and No. 25 Wisconsin (17-5, 6-3) continued its recent rebound in the Big Ten, beating No. 16 Indiana (16-5, 4-5) 57-50 at Madison, Wis.
The Hoosiers have lost four of their past five games.
Virginia Tech surprises Maryland
Women’s basketball: Monet Tellier tied a career high with 31 points and fueled a late charge that carried Virginia Tech (7-14, 3-5 ACC) to a 75-69 upset of No. 8 Maryland (18-3, 5-3) at College Park, Md.
Maryland was without leading scorer Alyssa Thomas (17.2 ppg), who sprained her left thumb in practice.
Knight stands up for Paterno at memorial
College football: The near-capacity crowd of 12,000 at State College, Pa., seemed to be waiting for somebody to bring up the subject. Finally, when someone rose in Joe Paterno’s defense to argue that he had been made a scapegoat, the audience was instantly on its feet, applauding thunderously.
It was Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight who broke the dam, defending Paterno’s handling of child-sex allegations that were leveled against a former coaching assistant.
“If there is a villain in this tragedy, it lies in that investigation and not in Joe Paterno’s response,” Knight said. Paterno’s widow, Sue, was among those rising to their feet.
McIlroy shares lead; Woods trails by three
Golf: Rory McIlroy opened his season by outplaying Tiger Woods in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, shooting a 5-under 67 for a share of the lead.
Woods shot a 70 in a threesome with McIlroy and top-ranked Luke Donald, who finished with a 71. Robert Karlsson tied for the lead.
• Levin, Stanley match 62s: Kyle Stanley made eagle on his final hole for a 10-under-par 62, his best score in two years on the PGA Tour, and Spencer Levin shot 29 on the back nine and also had a 62, matching his career best on tour, to take a one-shot lead to open the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.
Colts owner takes swipe at Manning
NFL: Two days after Peyton Manning publicly complained about the dour atmosphere at team headquarters following a 2-14 season and a rash of firings, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay introduced his new head coach and then stunned everyone by calling his franchise player a “politician” who had decided to air dirty laundry.
“I don’t think it’s in the best interest to paint the horseshoe in a negative light, I really don’t,” Irsay told reporters, referring to the team’s longtime logo.
His comments suggest there is a rift between Manning and Irsay, who is just six weeks from a deadline to pay the four-time league MVP a $28 million bonus or risk losing him as a free agent.
It all blew up in public on a day the team wanted attention focused on Chuck Pagano, the Ravens’ defensive coordinator who takes over as head coach with a host of problems to address.
• Raiders, Allen agree on deal: The Oakland Raiders formally agreed on a four-year deal to make Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen their new head coach.
Miscellany: Rockne Brubaker is back at the top of the U.S. pairs world, winning the short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with new partner Mary Beth Marley at San Jose, Calif.
Marley and Brubaker’s “Singing in the Rain” program earned a score of 65.80, more than four points ahead of last year’s runners-up, Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig.
Caydee Denney and John Coughlin are in third place.