Sports briefs
Nailers edged, 3-2
The Wheeling Nailers turned in a 42-shot performance Sunday afternoon but fell one goal short as they lost to the Fort Wayne Komets 3-2 at WesBanco Arena.
Cody Wydo and Dan Milan scored for Wheeling. Garrett Thompson’s second goal of the day for the Komets was the difference.
The Komets’ Michael Houser turned away 40 of the 42 shots he faced. Wheeling goaltender Adam Morrison performed well, making 31 saves on 34 shots.
Ohtani rules out Yankees, Pirates
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are among the teams that pitcher and outfielder Shohei Ohtani has ruled out, and it seems the Japanese star will likely pursue a smaller market nearer to the West Coast.
New York general manager Brian Cashman confirmed to reporters Sunday night that his club was out of the running.
“I know that our presentation was excellent,” Cashman said. “The feedback from that was outstanding. But I did get a sense that I can’t change that we’re a big market and I can’t change we’re in the East.”
Red Sox spokesman Kevin Gregg confirmed Boston’s elimination from the bidding. The New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers are also among the teams told they won’t sign Ohtani.
Ohtani has been put up for bid by the Pacific League’s Nippon Ham Fighters for the maximum $20 million posting fee. The 23-year-old has until 11:59 p.m. EST Dec. 22 to agree to a contract with an MLB team. Ohtani is limited to a minor league contract because of restrictions imposed by the MLB collective bargaining agreement. The largest deal he could sign is with the Texas Rangers for $3,535,000, followed by the Yankees ($3.5 million), Minnesota ($3.07 million), Pittsburgh ($2,266,750), Seattle ($1,557,500), Miami ($1.49 million) and the Los Angeles Angels ($1,315,000).
In the NBA
Jimmy Butler scored 20 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, Taj Gibson added 20 and the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers 112-106 Sunday night.
The Wolves overcame a season-high 30 points from Austin Rivers, who matched his career best with seven 3-pointers. Rivers’ final 3-pointer gave L.A. a 92-91 lead with 6:54 to play before Butler scored nine in a row to send the Clippers to their third straight loss.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota for his NBA-leading 19th double-double of the season.
- Stephen Curry scored 30 points in 30 minutes, Kevin Durant added 24 and the Golden State Warriors rode a big third-quarter run to pull away and beat the Miami Heat 123-95.
Klay Thompson scored 19 points for the Warriors, who started the second half on an 18-3 run and outscored Miami 37-17 in the third. Golden State’s lead was only two at the half, then ballooned to 99-77 going into the fourth.
Curry – playing with a sore finger on his shooting hand – had 16 of his points in the first quarter, then 10 more in the third.
Goran Dragic scored 20 points for the Heat.
Sharks’ Thornton fined
The NHL has fined San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton $5,000 for slashing.
The punishment was issued Sunday by the league’s player safety department.
Thornton slashed Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson in the second period of Saturday night’s game in Tampa, which the Lightning won 5-2.The fine is the highest allowed under NHL rules. The money is designated to go to the players’ emergency assistance fund.