AP Thursday Sports Roundup

Warriors thump Jazz...76ers extend latest skid

UNDATED (AP) — Chalk up another win for the Golden State Warriors, and another loss for the dreadful Philadelphia 76ers.

The Warriors have extended the greatest start in NBA history, improving to 27-1 with a 103-85 pounding of Utah. Klay Thompson finished with 20 points and Draymond Green added 15, nine rebounds and six assists.

The Warriors had seven players with at least eight points to make up for a rare, poor shooting night by Stephen Curry. The reigning MVP shot just 5-for-14, including a 2-for-8 performance from 3-point range. Curry still managed to contribute 16 points and nine assists as the Warriors improved to 13-0 at home.

Meanwhile, the Sixers absorbed their 12th straight loss as Giannis Antetokounmpo  drained his first 11 shots and finished with 22 points in the Bucks' 113-100 victory against Philadelphia. Khris Middleton added 21 points on 8 of 9 shooting to help the Bucks add to the 76ers' season-long woes.

Philadelphia fell to a ridiculous 1-30 on the season and suffered its 18th consecutive road loss dating to last season. Jahlil Okafor had 17 points and eight rebounds for the 76ers, who allowed the Bucks to shoot 60 percent from the floor.

Elsewhere in the NBA:

— Kawhi Leonard dropped in 19 points and grabbed six rebounds as San Antonio hammered Minnesota 108-83 to improve to 25-5. The Spurs outrebounded the Timberwolves 47-31 and outscored Minnesota 54-24 in the paint en route to their seventh consecutive win.

— LeBron James scored 24 points and Kevin Love provided 23 and 13 rebounds as Cleveland knocked off New York 91-84. The game was tied at 82 until James hit three key baskets over the final 3:15 to help the Eastern Conference leaders improve to 19-7.

— Dirk Nowitzki passed Shaquille O'Neal for sixth place on the league's all-time scoring list while delivering 22 points in the Dallas Mavericks' 119-118 win at Brooklyn. Nowitzki entered the night nine points behind O'Neal, who scored 28,596 in his career.

— Oklahoma City crushed the Lakers 120-85 in Los Angeles as Kevin Durant scored 21 points on 7 of 9 shooting and had seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks in less than 28 minutes. Russell Westbrook added 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help the Thunder pick up their third straight win.

— DeMarcus Cousins scored 25 points and had a season-high 16 rebounds to lead Sacramento to its fifth victory in seven games, 108-106 at Indiana. Darren Collison added a season-best 24 points and Rajon Rondo contributed 13 and 16 assists.

— Kelly Olynyk scored 20 points and Boston led by as many as 20 in the second half before holding off the Hornets 102-89 in Charlotte. Jae Crowder added 19 points and 12 rebounds in the Celtics' second consecutive victory.

— Atlanta picked up its fifth straight win as Jeff Teague scored 23 points and Paul Millsap added 18 in the Hawks' 107-100 victory against Detroit. Al Horford finished with 15 points and Dennis Schroder added 14 for the Hawks.

— John Wall had a solid game in Washington's third straight win, finishing with 14 points and 14 assists in a 100-91 decision over Memphis. Garrett Temple was high man for the Wizards with 20 points, and Marcin Gortat had 12 points and 12 boards.

— Evan Fournier hit a short bank shot with 14.2 seconds left and Tobias Harris made two free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining to push Orlando past Houston 104-101. Nik Vucevic dropped in 21 points to guide the Magic to their fifth win in six games.

— Anthony Davis scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Pelicans' 115-89 laugher against Portland. Tyreke Evans nearly added a triple-double, scoring 24 points to go with nine rebounds and eight assists.

— Randy Foye nailed seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 31 points in Denver's 104-96 triumph at Phoenix. Darrell Arthur had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the nuggets, who led by 22 in the opening half and sent the Suns to their third straight loss.

NBA-STERLING

Sterling drops suit against Stiviano

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Billionaire Donald Sterling has dropped his lawsuit against a former female friend.

The suit stemmed from the recording of his off-color remarks that cost him ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers. The lawsuit accused V. Stiviano and celebrity website TMZ of violating Sterling's privacy and causing damage on a "scale of unparalleled and unprecedented magnitude." TMZ was previously dismissed from the suit.

NFL-BECKHAM SUSPENSION

Giants receiver loses appeal of 1-game suspension

UNDATED (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings won't have to deal with Odell Beckham Jr. when they host the New York Giants on Sunday.

The wide receiver has lost the appeal of his one-game suspension and will sit out Sunday night. Hearing officer James Thrash upheld the punishment for multiple violations of safety-related playing rules after handling the appeal on Wednesday.

The NFL suspended Beckham on Monday for his conduct against Carolina on Sunday, when he drew three personal foul penalties in a game-long battle with Panthers cornerback Josh Norman.

Meanwhile, Giants punter Brad Wing says receiver Beckham was threatened by an unidentified bat-wielding man dressed in Carolina sweats before Sunday's game with the Panthers. Wing says the man told Beckham he was the reason the Giants receiver would be playing his last game.

Norman also was punished by the league. He was fined a total of more than $26,000 for his role in several incidents involving Beckham. He was fined $17,363 for striking Beckham in the head, and close to $8,700 for a face-mask infraction.

Both players were voted to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday.

NFL-INJURIES

Osweiler goes again for Broncos

UNDATED (AP) — The Broncos are sticking with Brock Osweiler as their starting quarterback while Peyton Manning continues to recover from a torn plantar fascia.

Osweiler will make his sixth straight start Monday night when the 10-4 Broncos host 11-3 Cincinnati.

Manning returned to practice last week but spent his two days on the field doing individual drills and running the scout team. He didn't practice Friday because of soreness.

The Broncos are 3-2 with Osweiler.

Elsewhere:

— Houston quarterback Brian Hoyer has turned to acupuncture to help in his recovery after a second concussion in a month. Hoyer returned to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday, but remains in the league's protocol after suffering a concussion on Dec. 13 and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans.

— Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson says he's confident he'll play this weekend against the New York Giants despite a sprained left ankle that forced him out for part of the last game. Peterson didn't practice Wednesday, and was listed on the injury report with a shoulder issue as well, but said he'll be fine Sunday.

— Saints coach Sean Payton says it's unclear whether quarterback Drew Brees will play in Sunday's home finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brees injured his right foot in Monday night's loss to Detroit, but never missed a snap. Payton said Brees has had an MRI and was awaiting a second opinion from another doctor before deciding how to move forward.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-BOWL GAMES

Boise clobbers Huskies

UNDATED (AP) — Jeremy McNichols carried Boise State to an easy bowl victory on Wednesday.

McNichols scored the first of his three touchdowns just 58 seconds into the Broncos' 55-7 pounding of Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl at San Diego. He scored on each of the next two possessions, on a 4-yard pass from Brett Rypien and on a 1-yard run.

McNichols finished with 189 total yards, gaining 93 on 19 carries and grabbing five passes for another 96 yards.

Georgia Southern easily won the GoDaddy Bowl as Favian Upshaw ran for 199 yards and four touchdowns in the Eagles' 58-27 dismantling of Bowling Green. Georgia Southern rolled up 452 yards rushing and won a bowl game in its first year of eligibility for the postseason.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-MISSOURI-MAUK

Mauk reinstated

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri has reinstated quarterback Maty Mauk, who was twice suspended by then-coach Gary Pinkel this season.

New coach Barry Odom said he was convinced after meeting with Mauk that he was excited about rejoining the program. Mauk has one year of eligibility remaining and could contend with freshman Drew Lock for the starting job next season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-FATAL CRASH

New Mexico football player killed in accident

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — University of New Mexico officials say a member of the school's football team has died in a car crash.

Sophomore safety Markel Byrd was killed in a single-vehicle accident while driving home to San Diego with his girlfriend for the holidays.

Both were ejected when the car suffered a blowout on Interstate 40.

The 20-year old Markel died at the scene, and his girlfriend is hospitalized in critical condition.

T25 MEN'S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE

Sooners avoid upset

UNDATED (AP) — The third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners have moved on to the Diamond Head Classic semifinal by barely avoiding their first loss of the season.

The Sooners blew most of a 16-point, first-half lead before escaping with an 84-81 victory over Hawaii. Buddy Hield shot 5-for-9 from beyond the arc and finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. Khadeem Lattin produced a career-high 17 points to help the Sooners improve to 10-0.

In other top-25 finals:

— No. 16 Louisville hit 18 of its first 24 shots and was at 69 percent from the field by halftime of its 98-68 rout of Utah Valley. Trey Lewis was 3 of 6 from 3-point range and 7 of 10 overall in scoring a team-high 21 points.

— Nic Moore scored 16 points to lead No. 18 SMU past Colorado 70-66 in the Las Vegas Classic championship game. The Mustangs used a late 14-1 spurt to erase a seven-point deficit and remain one of five unbeaten Division I teams.

— Taurean Prince scored a career-high 34 points on 13 of 19 from the floor in leading No. 23 Baylor past New Mexico State 85-70. Lester Medford had 10 points and 12 assists in the Bears' 32nd consecutive non-conference home win.

MLB-HOT STOVE LEAGUE

Pirates ink Jaso, who will move to first base

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Free agent John Jaso and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract.

The 32-year-old has played mostly in the outfield and at catcher in the past. But the Pirates plan on using him at first base, a position he has played in just two big league games.

Pedro Alvarez, who shifted from third base to first for the 2015 season, became a free agent when Pittsburgh declined to offer a 2016 contract.