basketball
LeBron James, Savannah Brinson get engaged
MIAMI — LeBron James’ first order of business in 2012: Drop to one knee and ask longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson to be his wife. Yes, she said yes. Moments after ringing in the new year, James surprised his high school sweetheart by popping the question …
Jeremy Lin puts Knicks on TV in Asia
NEW YORK — Jeremy Lin is making the Knicks must-see TV in Asia. The NBA says Thursday its Asian TV partners have added Knicks games to their broadcast schedules following the emergence of Lin, the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Sina …
Cavs’ Kyrie Irving recovers from concussion
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers rookie guard Kyrie Irving is being evaluated at the Cleveland Clinic as he recovers from a concussion. Irving missed his first game of the season Wednesday night with the concussion. He was kept out after the team diagnosed him with the head …
Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio headline NBA’s Rising Stars roster
NEW YORK — All-Star Blake Griffin and rookie guards Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio headline the list of 18 players chosen for the Rising Stars Challenge to be held during All-Star weekend. In this year’s new format, first- and second-year players will be mixed in …
Chauncey Billups vows to return from Achilles injury
CLEVELAND — Chauncey Billups will only watch as the Clippers continue their promising season without him. This isn’t going to be easy. With his left leg encased in a plastic protective boot and a newly issued crutch standing nearby, Billups sprawled across a few seats …
Students in banana suits taunted black rivals at basketball game
BRENTWOOD, Pa. — Some Pittsburgh-area parents are complaining that students at a largely white high school dressed in banana suits at a basketball game and taunted their majority black rival with racial slurs. Brentwood schools Superintendent Ronald Dufalla said Wednesday that two costumed students were …
Chauncey Billups done for season, but not Clippers
Guard Chauncey Billups is done for the season with a left Achilles tear, but that doesn’t mean these Los Angeles Clippers accept a dropoff in play as their fate. Despite injuries to Billups, mega acquisition Chris Paul and reserve guards Mo Williams and Eric Bledsoe …
Paul Pierce shoots past Larry Bird in Celtics’ lore
BOSTON — Paul Pierce knew what was on the line with every shot. The pressure was quite clear to Pierce and anyone else in the arena as he stood on the verge of passing Larry Bird for No. 2 on Boston’s career scoring list. He …
Danilo Gallinari out a month for Nuggets
DENVER — It was hard for Danilo Gallinari to actually have pep in his step Tuesday. He’s still adjusting to crutches for the first time in his life and the walking boot will remain on his left foot for several more days. Yet, there was …
Knicks’ Jeremy Lin too smart to get caught up in ’Linsanity’
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Linsanity has taken over Madison Square Garden, and even Magic Johnson was captivated watching New York’s newest star. The only guy who doesn’t seem impressed is Jeremy Lin. The Knicks’ new point guard refuses to get his own place to live, just …
Knicks’ Jeremy Lin makes a point
NEW YORK — Mike D’Antoni shook his fists in the air as Jeremy Lin’s clutch shot fell through the net. It wasn’t just the basket that had D’Antoni giddy. It’s the feeling that he’s found the point guard who can get his offense running. “It’s …
NBA shows Kevin no love for stomping on Luis Scola’s face
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has been suspended two games for stomping on Rockets forward Luis Scola’s face in their game on Saturday. The NBA announced the suspension on Monday. The incident occurred when Scola fell to the court during the third quarter. …
Brother of Knicks’ Amare Stoudemire dies in car crash
LAKE WALES, Fla. — Officials say the brother of New York Knicks player Amare Stoudemire has died in a car crash. A Florida Highway Patrol report says Hazell Stoudemire was driving an SUV that crashed into the back of a trailer being towed by a …
Illinois rattled by Northwestern’s first win in Champaign since 1999
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois coach Bruce Weber was worried last week after an upset of No. 9 Michigan State at Assembly Hall, thinking the Illini wouldn’t be able to bounce back after beating a top-10 team on their home floor. He was right. Northwestern brought Illinois …
Bulls’ Derrick Rose voted an All-Star starter
The Bull’s Derrick Rose has been voted by fans to be a starter in the All-Star game.
DePaul’s plans for two straight Big East wins foiled by St. John’s
St. John’s started five freshmen against DePaul on Wednesday, but the Red Storm’s energy overcame its inexperience in a second-half shooting frenzy that sent the Blue Demons to an 87-81 defeat at Allstate Arena. DePaul (11-10, 2-7 Big East) led by 12 points in the …
