MEMPHIS (AP) – Danilo Gallinari scored 26 points, including a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, and the Denver Nuggets ended the Memphis Grizzlies’ win streak at eight games with a 97-92 victory Monday night. JaVale McGee provided a second-half lift for Denver and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Kenneth Faried added 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help the Nuggets outrebound Memphis 47-33. Denver also won the battle in the paint 50-44 and outscored the Grizzlies in second-chance points 21-16. The victory snapped a three-game skid for the Nuggets, who handed the Grizzlies their first loss since dropping their season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rudy Gay scored 22 points, Marc Gasol added 16, and Zach Randolph had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – Broncos running back Willis McGahee has torn a ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. Coach John Fox said an MRI conducted Monday showed a “nonsurgical” tear. He said there was no immediate plan to put the 10-year veteran on injured reserve.
Backups Ronnie Hillman and Lance Ball are expected to share McGahee’s spot, with Knowshon (NOH’-shahn) Moreno also available. McGahee has rushed for 731 yards this season.
He had 55 yards against San Diego before he left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with the knee injury.
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) – California has fired coach Jeff Tedford after his worst season in 11 years with the Golden Bears.
Athletic director Sandy Barbour announced the move Tuesday, saying Tedford served the school admirably. Tedford engineered an impressive turnaround at Cal after taking over a one-win team following the 2001 season. He won a school-record 82 games and a share of a conference title but ended his tenure with a mediocre run. The Bears lost their final five games this season, finishing 3-9 for their worst mark under Tedford. Tedford is still owed $6.9 million over the final three years of his contract.
PHOENIX (AP) – The Pac-12 didn’t come close to filling its bowl allotment two years ago, sending four teams to the postseason.
The conference is back on track this season: eight bowl-eligible teams, the possibility of two in BCS bowls and an outside shot at the national title game. UCLA has already locked up the South Division, while Stanford and Oregon are in the mix for the North’s spot in the Nov. 30 Pac-12 championship game. Oregon State, Washington, Southern California and both Arizona schools also are bowl eligible heading into the final week of the season. The Ducks will likely get a BCS bowl slot if they beat the rival Beavers in the Civil War game on Saturday and could get into the BCS title game with help.
