Titans get picky against Jets
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The New York Jets’ faint playoff hopes have been picked off by the Tennessee Titans.
Mark Sanchez threw four interceptions among his five turnovers as the Jets lost 14-10 at Tennessee, eliminating New York from the postseason chase. Sanchez gave up the ball twice after the two minute warning to kill the Jets’ chance at a must win.
The Jets reached the Tennessee 23 just before Michael Griffin picked off Sanchez at the two yard line with under two minutes left. And when Titans punter Brett Kern shanked a punt that landed out of bounds at the Tennessee 25 with 47 seconds left, Sanchez promptly fumbled the ensuing snap and watched Zach Brown pounce on the ball to clinch the outcome.
Chris Johnson carried 21 times for 122 yards, including a 94-yard touchdown run that put the Titans ahead in the second quarter. Griffin had two interceptions for the 5-9 Titans, who dropped the Jets to 6-8.
Boeheim gets 900th
UNDATED (AP) — First came Bob Knight, then Mike Krzyzewski, and finally, Jim Boeheim.
Third-ranked Syracuse escaped with a 72-68 home win over Detroit to make Boeheim the third Division I men’s basketball coach with 900 career wins. Boeheim was presented a jersey encased in glass with 900 emblazoned on it, 36 years after coaching his first game at the school.
James Southerland had 22 points as the 10-0 Orange extended the nation’s longest home winning streak to 30 games. Michael Carter-Williams added 12 points and 10 assists for his sixth straight double-double.
Thunder top Spurs to stay atop NBA West…Lin wins in return to Gotham
UNDATED (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder have an 11-game winning streak and the NBA’s best record at 20-4 following a victory over a fellow Western Conference division leader.
Serge Ibaka tied his career high with 24 points and grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds in a 107-93 win against San Antonio. Russell Westbrook had 22 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who scored 11 straight points to take a 71-56 lead late in the third quarter.
Kevin Martin scored 20 and Kevin Durant had 19 while the Thunder held Tony Parker and Tim Duncan to a combined 26 points.
Jeremy Lin made a triumphant return to Madison Square Garden, although he had a lot of help from James Harden.
Lin had 22 points and eight assists as the Houston Rockets downed the New York Knicks 109-96. It was Lin’s first game in New York since he left the Knicks last summer for a free-agent deal with the Rockets.
Lin received a warm ovation as the starting lineup was announced, but he got a mixed reception when he left the game with 2:25 remaining and the Rockets leading by 16.
Harden added 28 points and 10 rebounds in the Rockets’ second blowout win over the Knicks.
New York had a four-game winning streak stopped despite a season-high 29 points from rookie Chris Copeland.
Elsewhere in the NBA, The Los Angeles Clippers picked up their 10th consecutive win as Jamal Crawford and Blake Griffin each scored 15 points in an 88-76 win at Detroit. Chris Paul added 14 points and seven assists as the Clippers improved to 8-3 on the road.
Memphis was an 80-71 winner over Chicago behind Mike Conley’s 17 points. Zach Randolph added 10 points and 15 boards for the Grizzlies, who outrebounded the Bulls 51-39.
Glen Davis scored 29 points and Orlando ended Minnesota’s four-game winning streak by beating the Timberwolves 102-93. J.J. Redick had 18 points and seven assists to help the Magic overcome Kevin Love’s 23 points and 15 rebounds.
Shannon Brown scored 14 of his 22 points while Phoenix outscored Sacramento 31-14 in the third quarter of a 101-90 win over the Kings. Jared Dudley finished with 20 points and helped the Suns roar back from a 19-point deficit.
Dickey confirms deal with Jays
NEW YORK (AP) — R.A. Dickey has announced that he and the Blue Jays have agreed on a new contract, clearing the way for the New York Mets to trade the Cy Young winner to Toronto. The Blue Jays will also get catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas, who have experience catching Dickey’s knuckleball. The Mets will get catcher John Buck, catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud and two other minor leaguers for the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner.
The 38-year-old knuckleballer must pass a physical before he joins the Blue Jays, who will pay him $29 over the next three years. Dickey was 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA last season, three years after the Mets signed him to a minor league contract.
Elsewhere in baseball:
— The Tigers have finalized their five-year contract with right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez, who helped Detroit reach the World Series this year. He had a 1.77 ERA in 20 1-3 innings over three postseason starts, but was 1-2 as the Tigers were shut out in each of his losses.
— The Houston Astros have signed veteran Carlos Pena to be their designated hitter as the club prepares for its first season in the American League. The 34-year-old Pena spent last season with Tampa Bay, hitting .197 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs. His most productive year came in 2007 when he hit 46 homers with 121 RBIs.
— The Chicago Cubs have signed third baseman Ian Stewart to a one-year contract. He batted .201 in 55 games this season before season-ending surgery on his left wrist.
— The Athletics have reportedly come to terms on a contract with shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of Japan’s Seibu Lions. Nakajima is a seven-time Pacific League All-Star who hit .302 with 149 home runs, 664 RBIs and 134 stolen bases over 11 seasons with Seibu.