Jimmy Butler suspended for the 3rd time this month by the Miami Heat as trade deadline looms
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was suspended by the Miami Heat. Again. Butler had been expected to play for the Heat against the Orlando Magic on Monday night, after completing his second suspension of the month. But he was suspended for a third time basically just as the second one was ending. He was previously suspended from Miami’s most recent two games after missing a team flight to Milwaukee last week. Butler has missed 15 of Miami’s last 20 games, including 10 of the last 13 because of the suspensions. He is expected to miss at least five more games.
Brian Schottenheimer says he’s ‘ready’ to coach Cowboys after long career as NFL assistant
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Brian Schottenheimer says he’s “ready” to be coach of the Dallas Cowboys after a long career as an NFL assistant. The son of late NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer says he has had previous opportunities to pursue head coaching jobs but didn’t think he was ready. The younger Schottenheimer’s chance with the Cowboys comes after 25 years in the league with a handful of college seasons as well. The 51-year-old is the 10th coach in the history of the storied franchise. He’s the seventh hired by owner Jerry Jones since the last time the Cowboys reached an NFC championship game 29 years ago.
Hirings of Jets’ Glenn and Patriots’ Vrabel give NFL 5 teams with coaches who once played for them
Aaron Glenn had no doubts about where he wanted to go once the New York Jets’ head-coaching job became available. Home sweet NFL home. Once a key player as a first-round draft pick for the franchise, Glenn will lead the Jets from the sideline after interviewing with three other teams in recent weeks. With the recent hirings of Glenn and Mike Vrabel by the New England Patriots, the NFL has five coaches who once played for the teams they’re now leading. They join Houston’s DeMeco Ryans, Detroit’s Dan Campbell and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh.
Florida coach Todd Golden cleared in Title IX investigation regarding sexual harassment allegations
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The University of Florida has cleared men’s basketball coach Todd Golden following a four-month Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking. The school released a statement Monday saying no evidence was found and it ended its investigation. It comes amid No. 5 Florida’s best season in a decade, with the Gators winning 18 of their first 20 games. The complaint against Golden accused him of sending photos and videos of his genitalia, making unwanted sexual advances on Instagram and requesting sexual favors. The Independent Florida Alligator first reported the allegations in early November.
Thompson hits game-winning shot and scores 33 points as Rockets rally past Celtics 114-112
BOSTON (AP) — Amen Thompson hit a game-winning floater with 0.7 seconds left and finished with 33 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics. Dillon Brooks shot 10 of 15 from 3-point range and led Houston with 36 points. The Rockets won for the ninth time in 11 games. Jaylen Brown had 28 points for the Celtics, and Jayson Tatum added 19 after a scoreless first half. Luke Kornet had 18 and Kristaps Porzingis scored 17 to go with eight rebounds. Rockets leading scorer Jalen Green was held to 12 points.
Flagg’s big 2nd half helps No. 2 Duke hold off NC State 74-64 to stay unbeaten in ACC
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Star freshman Cooper Flagg scored 23 of his 28 points after halftime to help No. 2 Duke hold off North Carolina State 74-64. Fellow rookie Kon Knueppel had 19 points for the Blue Devils, who have won 14 straight. Dontrez Styles scored 18 to lead the Wolfpack. N.C. State matched a season high with 10 3-pointers and led by 13 in the first half. Duke used a 19-0 run spanning halftime to push into the lead and had to fight to the horn to close this one out.
Auburn, Duke top men’s AP Top 25, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt make poll debuts; UConn tumbles to No. 25
Auburn is the unanimous No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the second consecutive week. The top five was unchanged with Duke at No. 2, followed by Iowa State, Alabama and Florida. Texas Tech and Vanderbilt are in the Top 25 for the first time this season at the expense of Michigan and West Virginia. UConn fell to No. 25 but managed to extend its poll streak to 52 consecutive weeks.
Vanderbilt ranked in women’s AP Top 25 for 1st time in 11 years; UCLA, South Carolina still 1-2
Vanderbilt is back in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 for the first time since 2014, ranked No. 23 this week. The Commodores topped then-No. 19 Alabama as the Crimson Tide were one of a dozen ranked teams to lose last week. The top four teams remained the same as UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame and USC all avoided upsets last week. The Bruins received 31 first-place ballots and South Carolina got one. Texas returned to the top five and Ohio State and Duke both jumped back into the top 10.
Anthony Davis scores 42 points, grabs 23 rebounds as Lakers top Hornets 112-107 for 4th straight win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Anthony Davis had 42 points and 23 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers used a huge first quarter from the All-Star center to build a 23-point lead before beating the Charlotte Hornets 112-107 on Monday night for their fourth straight win. LeBron James had 22 points and Austin Reaves chipped in with 17 points for the Lakers, who never trailed. Miles Bridges had 26 points for the Hornets, who lost LaMelo Ball in the second quarter to a left ankle injury after he stepped on Jarred Vanderbilt’s foot as he back-peddled down the court after draining a 3-point jumper off one foot. Davis had 21 points in the first quarter on 9-of-12 shooting and 11 rebounds.