NBA/NUGGETS
Denver–The Denver Nuggets ended the L-A Clippers’ franchise record 17-game winning streak with last night’s 92-78 victory at the Pepsi Center. Danilo Galinari led the way with 17 points.
NEW YEAR’S DAY BOWL GAMES
UNDATED (AP) – Lonnie Pryor turned five carries into a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 13 Florida State to a 31-10 pounding of No. 16 Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl. Eighth-ranked Stanford won the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1972 as Stepfan Taylor and Kevin Hogan combined for 212 rushing yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 win over Wisconsin. And Aaron Murray passed for 427 yards and five touchdowns as sixth-ranked Georgia outscored No. 23 Nebraska 45-31 in the Capital One Bowl.
UNDATED (AP) – Dylan Thompson came off the bench to throw a 32-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left to rally 11th-ranked South Carolina past No. 19 Michigan 33-28. Northwestern earned its first bowl victory in 10 tries since the 1949 Rose Bowl as the Wildcats scored twice on interceptions in a 34-20 triumph over Mississippi State. Clint Chelf threw three of Oklahoma State’s five touchdown passes in a 58-14 rout of Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
SUGAR BOWL TONIGHT
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The lone college football game of the day is the Sugar Bowl pitting fourth-ranked Florida against No. 22 Louisville. The 11-1 Gators are seeking their school-record fifth straight bowl victory after finishing fifth in the nation in yards allowed and third in scoring defense. The 10-2 Cardinals are in their second BCS bowl game and are playing in the Sugar Bowl for the first time after winning the Big East crown.
FUTURE HALL OF FAME LINEBACKER SET TO QUIT
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) – The Baltimore Ravens say Ray Lewis will retire after the playoffs. The star linebacker told the team “This will be my last ride.” He has been out since Oct. 14 with a triceps injury, but expects to play Sunday in the wild-card round against Indianapolis. The 37-year-old Lewis says “It is time for me to create a new legacy” after 17 NFL seasons.
Lewis was the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2000, when Baltimore won the Super Bowl title, and in 2003.
COLLEGE HOOPS / NBA
MILWAUKEE (AP) – San Antonio Spurs visiting the Milwaukee Bucks. The Spurs have opened the season 25-8 and are chasing the Clippers and Oklahoma City for the Western Conference lead. The Bucks check in at 16-13, tying them for fifth in the East.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Brooklyn Nets, who won their first game under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo (kahr-LEH-sih-moh) before getting blowing out by the Spurs 104-73 on New Year’s Eve. Oklahoma City has won three straight and is 24-6 overall, and 16-2 at home.
UNDATED (AP) – Four of the top-10 teams in The Associated Press men’s basketball poll are in action today. No. 1 Duke carries a season-opening 12-game winning streak into its game against state rival Davidson, and No. 4 Louisville hosts Providence. Seventh-ranked Syracuse entertains Rutgers and No. 8 Ohio State has a Big Ten matchup against Nebraska.
