-The Warriors ran their NBA-record home winning streak to 50 games with a 121-85 rout of the Knicks. Steph Curry scored 34 points for the 61-and-6 Warriors, who are off to the best 67-game start in league history.
-John Wall logged a triple-double as the Wizards blew out the Bulls, 117-96. Jimmy Butler scored 17 points in 29 minutes for Chicago, which has lost nine of its last 10 on the road. Derrick Rose had 16 points in his return from a two-game absence. The Bulls are right back in action tonight against the Nets.
-Holy Cross and Michigan are into the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament. Holy Cross captured its first tournament win since 1953 with a 59-55 victory over Southern in a First Four matchup between 16 seeds. Michigan downed Tulsa, 67-62, in a battle of 11 seeds.
– “March Madness” begins in earnest as the Round of 64 tips off today. Overall top-seed Kansas and East top-seed North Carolina headline the full day of action. Sixteen first-round games are on the schedule, with another 16 to follow tomorrow.
– Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two power-play goals as the Oilers defeated the Blues, 6-4, at Rexall Place. David Backes [[ BA-kuhs ]] scored twice for St. Louis. The Blues have lost two in-a-row but remain tied with Dallas for first in the Central Division. The Blues continue their road trip Saturday at Vancouver.
-Radko Gudas scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third and the Flyers held on for a 3-2 win over the Blackhawks. Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews [[ taves ]] had the goals for Chicago, which has dropped four in-a-row. Scott Darling stopped 26 shots in defeat. The ‘Hawks visit the Jets tomorrow.
-Carlos Peguero’s pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth lifted the Cardinals to an 8-8 tie with the Braves at Champion Stadium. Starter Jaime [[ HIGH-may ]] Garcia cruised through three innings before giving up a four-spot in the fourth. The Cards play the Tigers today in Lakeland.
– With Jhonny Peralta out for several months following thumb surgery, the Cardinals are apparently content with in-house options to fill the void. MLB Network reports they have limited interest in Ruben Tejada, who the Mets put on waivers this week. Tejada salary is three-million-dollars this year.
-The White Sox suffered a 5-2 loss to the Brewers in Cactus League play yesterday. Carlos Rodon allowed four runs and seven hits during his three-and-a-third-inning start. The Sox are off today. They face the Cubs tomorrow.
-The Royals routed the Cubs, 10-0, in a Cactus League affair yesterday. John Lackey permitted two runs and six hits over five innings of work. The Cubs will clash with the Diamondbacks this evening.
– The Patriots are adding another receiving weapon for quarterback Tom Brady. The Pats have acquired tight end Martellus Bennett from the Bears in exchange for draft-pick compensation. Bennett caught 53 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games last year.
– Another former Bear is joining the Patriots. ESPN reports linebacker Shea McClellin has agreed to a three-year deal with New England. The 26-year-old spent the last four seasons with the Bears. He had 81 tackles last year.
Details are emerging on why White Sox slugger Adam LaRoche [[ la-ROASH ]] is suddenly retiring. The 36-year-old LaRoche made the decision after White Sox president Kenny Williams told him he should limit how often he brings his 14-year-old son into the clubhouse.