Knicks open Jackson era with win
NBA: Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points and the New York Knicks opened the Phil Jackson era by beating the visiting Indiana Pacers 92-86 Wednesday night for their seventh straight victory.
With their new team president watching from a midcourt seat, the Knicks dominated the first half, then pulled away after the Eastern Conference leaders finally got untracked in the second half.
Fans stood to cheer Jackson in the first quarter and were on their feet again in the final minute to watch the Knicks beat the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year.
• Love, Rubio lead T-Wolves over Mavs in OT: Kevin Love scored 35 points, including the go-ahead basket in overtime, Ricky Rubio had a triple-double and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves hung on for a 123-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Rubio had 22 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds.
• Rondo lifts Celtics over Heat: Rajon Rondo hit two running baseline shots in the last 2 minutes and the Boston Celtics capitalized on the absence of LeBron James to beat the visiting Miami Heat 101-96.
James sat out the game with back spasms and the Heat lost for the first time in their three games without him this season.
• Bulls hand 76ers 22nd straight loss: D.J Augustin scored 20 points and Taj Gibson had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the visiting Chicago Bulls to a 102-94 win over Philadelphia, handing the 76ers their 22nd straight loss.
The Sixers are four losses shy of matching the NBA record for longest single-season losing streak.
Stars’ Peverley has successful surgery
NHL: Rich Peverley has been released from an Ohio hospital after undergoing successful surgery to correct an abnormal heart rhythm, just more than a week after the Dallas Stars forward collapsed on the bench during a game.
Stars general manager Jim Nill said Peverley was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday. The surgery was Monday.
Peverley, who is out for the season, is expected to return Thursday to Dallas. He will be monitored closely and may require further treatment.
“There is no decision being made at this time on his ability to return to hockey participation,” Nill said.
• Ducks’ Fowler out 3-5 weeks: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler will be out 3-5 weeks with a sprained ligament in his left knee.
Fowler has missed Anaheim’s last two games with the injury, which could keep him out for the remainder of the regular season. He was hurt in the second period of a game in Colorado on March 14.
• Blackhawks beat Blues, lose Kane: Corey Crawford stopped 23 shots for his second shutout this season, backstopping the Blackhawks to a physical 4-0 victory over the visiting St. Louis Blues that gave Chicago coach Joel Quenneville his 700th NHL win.
It was a costly victory for the Blackhawks, though. Leading scorer Patrick Kane left the game at 7:56 of the second period, favoring his left leg as he headed to the dressing room following a collision with Brenden Morrow.
Kane is expected to miss about three weeks.
• Stamkos leads Lightning past Maple Leafs: Steven Stamkos had a natural hat trick and Tampa Bay beat Toronto in a game that included a frightening injury to Maple Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger.
Ranger left the ice on a stretcher after his head hit the boards following a first-period hit from Alex Killorn. Ranger was “stable, conscious and alert,” according to the Maple Leafs, after being taken to the hospital for what the team called a “precautionary assessment.”
• Jets edge Avalanche in OT: Blake Wheeler scored in overtime on a shot through the crowd to give the Winnipeg Jets a 5-4 win against the visiting Colorado Avalanche.
United surge past Olympiakos in UCL
Soccer: Robin van Persie scored a hat trick that boosted Manchester United over visiting Olympiakos 3-0 and into the Champions League quarterfinals on 3-2 aggregate.
• Cherundolo ends career: United States national team defender Steve Cherundolo is ending his career immediately because of persistent knee problems.
Cherundolo told reporters Wednesday that several knee injuries in the last 15 months made it impossible to continue and that he was moving into a coaching role. The 35-year-old played a club-record 302 Bundesliga games for Hannover and took part in three World Cups for the United States.