These blowouts never get old for No. 1 Gonzaga. The Bulldogs had their biggest yet on Thursday night, overwhelming San Diego 96-38 to improve to 29-0 and clinch the West Coast Conference title. Josh Perkins and Jordan Mathews scored 15 points apiece, and Johnathan Williams had 14 points and a career-high 19 rebounds.
Carmelo Anthony was still a member of the New York Knicks when he awoke from his afternoon nap Thursday. Once the game started, the Cleveland Cavaliers made sure the Knicks’ nightmarish season continued. LeBron James recorded his 48th career triple-double and Kyrie Irving scored 23 points, leading the Cavaliers to a 119-104 victory over the Knicks, who hung on to Anthony and Derrick Rose at the trade deadline.
The Pelicans’ tandem of newly acquired All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and All-Star Game MVP Anthony Davis was no match for the surging Houston Rockets on Thursday night. Reserve Lou Williams hit seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points in his Rockets debut, and Houston crushed New Orleans, 129-99.
Filip Forsberg is living up to every bit of his ‘Scoresberg’ nickname right now for the Nashville Predators. Forsberg scored his second straight hat trick, and the Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 Thursday night to sweep the season series between the Central Division teams. ”He’s definitely a gifted player,” Nashville center Ryan Johansen said of his linemate.
Major League Baseball is back with the beginning of this year’s spring exhibitions. Both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues open play Friday with a six-game slate that features plenty of intrigue.
The Dallas Mavericks made two plays for the future Thursday, acquiring big man Nerlens Noel from the Philadelphia 76ers before the trading deadline and waiving point guard Deron Williams to clear the way for rookie Yogi Ferrell. The Mavericks sent veteran center Andrew Bogut, young swingman Justin Anderson and a protected first-round draft pick to the 76ers. The 22-year-old Noel was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft.
Denny Hamlin didn’t need a Toyota teammate to grab another win at Daytona International Speedway. Hamlin charged past Dale Earnhardt Jr. with one lap remaining Thursday night to deny Earnhardt a victory a 150-mile qualifying race that Earnhardt dominated. Earnhardt led 53 of the 60 laps in the second qualifying Duel, but couldn’t hold off a Hamlin charge at the end.
The Oklahoma City Thunder got some help for Russell Westbrook by acquiring forwards Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott from Chicago just before the NBA trade deadline. The Thunder announced the deal Thursday night. The Bulls also sent a 2018 second-round pick to the Thunder.
Bosh to continue working as television analyst
Chase Elliott already had the top starting spot for NASCAR season-opening Daytona 500, so he had no real reason to race hard Thursday night in a qualifying race. Indeed, this was technically just an exhibition race. NASCAR’s new format this year including a provision that awards points on a 10-to-1 declining scale to the top-10 finishers in Thursday night’s races.
