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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Kevin Durant sharp, but Thunder lose in return

Kevin Durant scored 27 points in his first game this season. (Associated Press)
From Staff And Wire Reports

NBA: Reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant returned from a foot injury and scored 27 points in his season debut for Oklahoma City, but Tyreke Evans and New Orleans beat the visiting Thunder 112-104 on Tuesday night.

Durant played nearly 30 minutes, looking healthy whether he was throwing down a driving, two-handed dunk or snapping off one of his three 3-pointers.

Evans scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Anthony Davis had 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks for the Pelicans.

Aldridge scores 39 in Blazers’ win: LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 39 points and set up the winning basket on a pass inside to Robin Lopez with 1.3 seconds left, helping visiting Portland rally for a 105-103 win over Denver.

Curry sinks game-winner: Stephen Curry made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining, and Golden State beat Orlando 98-97 at Oakland, California, for its 10th straight win.

In the most dramatic finish in the Warriors streak to date, Curry sprinted up court and lost Tobias Harris with some crafty dribbling before pulling up to swish the shot.

Cavaliers win fourth straight: Kyrie Irving scored 28 points, LeBron James added 26 with 10 assists and Mike Miller provided a much-needed spark off Cleveland’s bench, leading the Cavaliers to their fourth straight win, 111-108 over visiting Milwaukee.

Ellis makes key shots for Dallas: Monta Ellis hit three foul shots with 1 second left in the fourth quarter to tie it, then made a go-ahead 3-pointer late in the second overtime that lifted visiting Dallas past Chicago 132-129.

Ellis finished with 38 points, including his trio of free throws to make it 108-all. Chicago’s Derrick Rose banked in a 3-point at the overtime buzzer to force double OT.

Dragic, Bledsoe power Suns: Goran Dragic scored 34 points, Eric Bledsoe had 27 and Phoenix beat visiting Indiana 116-99 for its fourth straight victory over the Pacers.

No. 5 Louisville beats 14th-ranked Buckeyes

College men: Terry Rozier made clutch jumpers down the stretch, including a big 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining, to help No. 5 Louisville survive No. 14 Ohio State 64-55 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The Cardinals (6-0) were in danger of blowing a 17-point halftime lead before Rozier made three straight baskets in the final minutes including the key shot from behind the arc to provide a 59-53 lead.

Freshman powers No. 15 Miami: Freshman Deandre Burnett scored a season-high 19 points and No. 15 Miami (8-0) defeated No. 24 Illinois (6-1) 70-61 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at Coral Gables, Florida.

No. 3 Arizona rolls: Stanley Johnson and Gabe York each scored 18 points, and No. 3 Arizona (7-0) blitzed Gardner- Webb (3-4) during a 16-0 second-half run to roll over the Bulldogs 91-65 at Tucson, Arizona.

Pittsburgh’s Fleury posts fourth shutout

NHL: Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 shots for his NHL-leading fifth shutout as host Pittsburgh edged the New Jersey Devils 1-0.

Evgeni Malkin scored the game’s only goal 3:32 into the third period.

Sedin scores twice for Canucks: Daniel Sedin scored two of Vancouver’s three power-play goals and assisted on the other, and the visiting Canucks defeated Washington 4-3.

Blues sign Brodeur: St. Louis signed 42-year-old goalie Martin Brodeur to a one-year contract, picking up the NHL’s career leader in games, wins and shutouts while Brian Elliott is out with a knee injury.

Kings fined: Los Angeles has been fined $100,000 by the NHL after suspended defenseman Slava Voynov participated in a team workout Tuesday.

Voynov was charged with felony domestic violence two weeks ago. The Russian Olympian is barred from all team activities under the terms of his suspension, which began after his arrest on Oct. 20.

Reports say McElwain meeting with Florida

College football: A person familiar with the search says Florida has spoken with Colorado State’s Jim McElwain and set a meeting with the coach about the Gators’ opening.

The person says Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley is aboard a private charter flight that left Gainesville on Tuesday, landed in Joplin, Missouri, and then headed to Fort Collins, Colorado. Foley was scheduled to meet with McElwain Tuesday.

The 52-year-old McElwain is finishing his third season at Colorado State. He is a former Eastern Washington quarterback and assistant coach.

Gordon honored: Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon is the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa took top honors on the defensive side. … Colorado State senior quarterback Garrett Grayson is the Mountain West offensive player of the year and Utah State senior linebacker Zach Vigil earned the league’s defensive player of the year. … Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson is the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year for the third time.

Freeze has new deal: Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze has reached an agreement with the school on a new contract.

Terms were not announced, but in November it was said both sides were working on a deal that could pay about $4 million per year.

Georgia Southern loses appeal: Georgia Southern’s appeal for bowl eligibility has been denied by the NCAA, ending the Eagles’ season.

Georgia Southern won the Sun Belt Conference championship with an 8-0 record. Because it was in its inaugural season in the FBS, Georgia Southern (9-3) was not eligible for a bowl bid. The school asked for a waiver.

Nicklaus will receive highest civilian honor

Miscellany: Golfing great Jack Nicklaus will receive Congress’ highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.

Nicklaus says he’s humbled and honored to be among those who’ve been awarded the medal. Past recipients include Rosa Parks, Robert Frost, Joe Louis and Neil Armstrong.

Ecuador earns World Cup berth: Monica Quinteros scored in second-half stoppage time, and Ecuador beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 to secure the final spot in next year’s Women’s World Cup.

Ecuador reached the Women’s World Cup for the first time.

Sounders honored: Seattle defender Chad Marshall and forward Obafemi Martins have been voted to Major League Soccer’s Best XI.

Also named to the all-star squad was Portland midfielder Diego Valeri.