NUGGETS WIN 9TH IN A ROW
PHOENIX (AP) – Kosta Koufos scored a career high 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting, mostly from point-blank range, and the Denver Nuggets ran their winning streak to nine games with a 108-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
Corey Brewer added 20 points and Ty Lawson 19 as the Nuggets matched their longest winning streak of the season.
MELO’S DENVER RETURN
DENVER (AP) – Carmelo Anthony simply won’t recognize these Denver Nuggets – even though he had just about everything to do with the makeup of their roster.
The New York Knicks visit the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night in Anthony’s first trip back to Denver since forcing his way out of town more than two years ago in a blockbuster trade that reshaped both franchises. The only familiar face he’ll see is that of point guard Ty Lawson. None of the other Nuggets were here when he was wearing powder blue and gold. Both teams have benefited from the trade that landed the Nuggets a bevy of young players, trade exemptions and draft picks they’ve used to retool their roster and which gave the Knicks a bona fide star to build a team around.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL/AIR FORCE
The next military assignment for Air Force senior guard Michael Lyons will be as an assistant coach at the academy’s prep school.It’s a fitting promotion for one of the school’s all-time leading scorers, but one he’s not quite ready for just yet.Lyons hopes to extend his time in a Falcons uniform a little longer as Air Force faces UNLV on Wednesday at the Mountain West Conference tournament in Las Vegas.He’s eager for some bonus basketball, too. With two wins over Top 25 opponents already on the resume this season, a NIT berth could be a possibility for Air Force. Or perhaps even a spot in the NCAA field, should Air Force win the MWC tournament. Lyons is the league’s leading scorer this season, averaging 18.3 points.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS…
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) – The New York Jets are bringing in David Garrard (guh-RARD’) to back up, or maybe compete with, incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez. The nine-year veteran started 76 games and played in the 2009 Pro Bowl but hasn’t played in the NFL since 2010.
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Kelly Olynyk had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Gonzaga (gahn-ZAG’-uh) bolstered its case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament by routing Saint Mary’s 65-51 in the West Coast Conference final. Win or lose, the Zags already were headed to the NCAA tournament for the 15th straight season.
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) – The Cavaliers are sitting near the bottom of the NBA standings and things don’t appear to be getting any better in Cleveland. The Cavs say All-Star guard Kyrie (KY’-ree) Irving could be out of action for a month or more due to a sprained right shoulder suffered in Sunday night’s loss to Toronto.
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (AP) – Manny Ramirez has signed a short-term contract to play professional baseball in Taiwan. The 40-year-old slugger will earn $25,000 a month, or about 1/100th of his salary during his Major League Baseball heyday.
