Busy night of play
UNDATED (AP) — Carmelo Anthony is averaging over 30 points a game over his last six outings and tonight the New York forward takes the shows to Charlotte. The Knicks have won three straight while the Bobcats have dropped four in a row.
The Blazers are closing out a seven-game road trip tonight with a game at Indiana. Portland is looking to finish the long trip with its third-straight win.
In Boston the Celtics are playing host to the Timberwolves. The game marks the return of Boston guard Rajon Rondo. He was forced to sit out the previous two games after being suspended by the league for an altercation in a game with Brooklyn.
The Pistons have won five straight in the Palace of Auburn Hills and tonight they play host to Golden State. The Warriors are starting a road trip after losing at home to snap a five-game home court winning streak.
Chicago has won nine straight from Cleveland and tonight they resume their Central Division rivalry with a game in Cleveland. Last month the Bulls beat the Cavs 115-86 for their fifth straight win on the Cavs home floor.
The Lakers have won seven straight regular-season games from New Orleans and tonight they are facing off in the Crescent City. LA may be without Pau Gasol, who is suffering from tendinitis in both knees.
The 14-4 Spurs are looking for their seventh win in eight games tonight with a home game against Milwaukee. The Spurs may have one of the best records in the league but they are a banged-up team with several injured players.
Rounding out the schedule of 11 games, Denver is in Atlanta, Orlando is playing at Utah, the Raptors are facing the Kings in Sacramento and Dallas is in L.A. to play the Clippers.
Gators lead the way
UNDATED (AP) — The highest-ranked team in action in men’s basketball tonight is No. 6 Florida. The 6-0 Gators are on the road at Florida State. The only other top-10 school in action is No. 10 Gonzaga. The 8-0 Bulldogs are on the road at Washington State.
Rounding out play tonight, 18th-ranked New Mexico is home to Southern California, 19th-ranked Michigan State is playing host to Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 23rd-ranked Oklahoma State is entertaining South Florida.
Sanchez to start
NEW YORK (AP) — Rex Ryan is sticking with Mark Sanchez as the New York Jets’ starting quarterback. The team has announced that Sanchez, benched last Sunday against Arizona, will get the start over Greg McElroy and Tim Tebow when the Jets play the Jaguars at Jacksonville.
Sanchez was pulled late in the third quarter, and McElroy came in and led the Jets to the only touchdown of the game on his first NFL drive in a 7-6 victory.
Wright: ‘Where I’ve wanted to play from Day 1’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — David Wright says he never considered leaving the New York Mets.
The star third baseman held a news conference Wednesday at the winter meetings to discuss his $138 million, eight-year contract, a deal finalized Tuesday.
Wright, a six-time All-Star who broke into the major leagues with the Mets, says “This is where I’ve wanted to play from Day 1.”
He gets $11 million next year, down from the $16 million he had been scheduled to make. His salaries will be $20 million in each of the following five seasons, $15 million in 2019 and $12 million in 2020. Some of the money will be deferred.