AP Thursday Sports Roundup

Curry's 51 stretches Warriors' winning streak

UNDATED (AP) — Stephen Curry had a miserable performance in Golden State's win at New York on Sunday, scoring just 13 on 5 of 17 shooting. He did quite a bit better against the Wizards on Wednesday, scoring 36 of his 51 points by halftime of the Warriors' 134-121 triumph at Washington.

Curry made 13 of his first 14 shots and finished 19 of 28 from the field and 11 of 26 from 3-point territory. He tied a career high for 3-pointers and helped Golden State overcome John Wall's season-best 41 points.

Klay Thompson scored 24 points for the Warriors, who have won eight straight to improve to 45-4. That matches the best 49-game start in NBA history.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs still haven't lost at home this season, improving to 27-0 in a 110-97 victory over New Orleans. LaMarcus Aldridge had 36 points, topping his previous season high of 28 set one game earlier. Danny Green hit three consecutive 3-pointers and finished with 16 points as the Spurs claimed their 36th consecutive home win since late last season.

Also in the NBA:

— Andrew Wiggins scored 31 points and Minnesota ended a five-game losing streak by knocking off the Clippers 108-102 in Los Angeles. Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 12 boards as the Timberwolves earned a split of their two-game set with the Clippers and Lakers in LA.

— Russell Westbrook registered his third straight triple-double and eighth of the season by delivering 24 points, a career-high 19 rebounds and 14 assists in Oklahoma City's fifth consecutive win. Kevin Durant had a team-high 37 points to help the Thunder overcome Victor Oladipo's 37 for the Magic.

— The Cavaliers' five-game winning streak is over after Charlotte outscored Cleveland 33-17 in the third quarter of a 106-97 win over the Cavs. Jeremy Lin scored a team-high 24 points to help the Hornets beat the Cavaliers for the first time in their last five meetings.

— E'Twaun Moore dropped in a career-high 24 points and Derrick Rose added 21 as Chicago held off Sacramento 107-102. Pau Gasol chipped in 16 points and 13 boards to help the Bulls win for just the third time in their last eight games.

— Chris Bosh scored 20 points and Dwyane Wade finished with 18 in Miami's 93-90 downing of Dallas. Wade scored 16 points in the second half after going 1 of 11 before halftime.

— Boston won for the seventh time in eight games as Isaiah Thomas led six Celtics in double-figures with 17 points in a 102-95 victory against Detroit. Avery Bradley had 15 points for the Celtics, who cruised after leading by 20 at the half.

— Tim Hardaway Jr. and Mike Scott led a balanced attack with 13 points apiece as Atlanta crushed the 76ers 124-86 in Philadelphia. All 13 Hawks scored, with eight getting at least 10 points in their second straight win.

— C.J. Miles had 27 points and Indiana opened on a 17-9 run before completing a 114-100 win at Brooklyn. Paul George finished with 17 points and George Hill added 13 as the Pacers dealt the Nets their fifth straight loss.

— Derrick Favors had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots as Utah squeezed out an 85-81 win against Denver. Gordon Hayward scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to help the Jazz win their fourth in a row.

TOP 25 MEN'S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE

'Nova is trey bien

UNDATED (AP) — The third-ranked Villanova Wildcats relied on their long-range shooting to post their 11th victory in 12 games.

The Wildcats shot 16-for-29 from beyond the arc in an 83-58 pounding of Creighton. Kris Jenkins was 4-for-6 from 3-point range to finish with a game-high 22 points. Jalen Brunson also went 4 of 6 from downtown in scoring 16 points.

Villanova led by 31 in the second half and improved to 19-3 overall, 9-1 in the Big East.

In other Top-25 finals:

— Fourth-ranked Maryland squeezed past Nebraska 70-65 as freshman Diamond Stone had 16 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high eight blocks. Melo Trimble provided 14 of his 20 points in the second half for the Terrapins, who withstood 18 turnovers by shooting 51 percent in their 20th win.

— Jarrod Uthoff scored 14 points and Adam Woodbury had a career-high 15 rebounds to help No. 5 Iowa clobber Penn State 73-49. Anthony Clemmons contributed 12 points, six rebounds and four assists as the Hawkeyes earned their 15th consecutive home win and improved to 18-4 on the season.

— Trevon Bluiett recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead sixth-ranked Xavier's 90-83 victory against St. John's. Myles Davis scored all of his 16 points in the second half as the Musketeers improved to 20-2 despite shooting 36 percent.

— Perry Ellis scored 19 points and seventh-ranked Kansas took advantage of 23 turnovers by Kansas State in a 77-59 stifling of the Wildcats. The Jayhawks improved to 18-4 despite Wayne Selden Jr., who was scoreless in the first half and finished with just seven after scoring a career-high 33 in Saturday's overtime win against Kentucky.

— Ninth-ranked Virginia has a five-game winning streak after Malcolm Brogdon scored 27 points in a 61-47 victory over Boston College. Anthony Gill added 10 points and 11 rebounds as the Cavaliers earned their 16th straight home win.

— No. 17 Miami beat Notre Dame 79-70 behind Anthony Lawrence Jr.'s season-high 18 points on just six shots.

— Fred VanVleet had 12 points and 11 assists to lead 21st-rated Wichita State past Southern Illinois 76-55.

— No. 23 Arizona rode Ryan Anderson's career-high 31 points and 12 rebounds to a 79-64 victory over Washington State.

SUPER BOWL-SECURITY

No credible threats to Super Bowl 50

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Super Bowl 50 has been deemed safe by NFL security leaders and top law enforcement officials who say there is "no credible threat" to Sunday's game.

NFL senior vice president of security Jeffrey Miller says he is satisfied with the collaborative effort between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to handle any possible issues, including terrorism of any kind. He says the league has "a great deal of confidence" in the safety plan for the game.

Officials say they have learned from recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says the NFL, federal, state and local law enforcement personnel are focused on layered security, "seen and unseen."

SUPER BOWL-BRONCOS-SMITH

Broncos lineman to play days after father's death

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Broncos defensive lineman Antonio Smith plans to play in the Super Bowl despite learning of his father's death this week. Team spokesman Patrick Smyth tells The Associated Press that there are no plans for Smith to leave the team.

Smith is a 12-year NFL veteran who joined the Broncos this season after his release from the Oakland Raiders. His father was 55 and had been incarcerated for more than 20 years.

SUPER BOWL-BRONCOS-MURPHY

Safety sent back to Denver after being questioned in prostitution sting

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Denver Broncos practice squad safety Ryan Murphy was sent home after being questioned by authorities during a prostitution sting in San Jose.

Santa Clara County Sheriff's Sgt. James Jensen says Murphy was detained and questioned Tuesday and released after investigators determined he was not involved in any criminal activities.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak says Murphy would be sent back to Denver because it would be best for the team to prepare for the Super Bowl without him.

NFL-STABLER

Stabler suffered from CTE

NEW YORK (AP) —Researchers at Boston University say former Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler had the brain disease CTE. Stabler died of colon cancer at the age of 69 in July. According to The New York Times, Stabler had high Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE.

The disease can only be diagnosed after death and is linked to repeated brain trauma and associated with symptoms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia. CTE has been found in the brains of dozens of former football players.

NFL-SHARPER-RAPE CASE

Sharper plea could be off

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal court papers state that former NFL star Darren Sharper has renewed plea negotiations with federal prosecutors and is preparing a trial defense. Those moves could indicate that his plea agreement in a drug and sexual assault case is off.

Sharper had pleaded guilty as part of a deal involving charges in four states, but a federal judge deferred acceptance of the deal last year. He also has pleaded guilty or no-contest to similar charges in state courts in California, Arizona, Nevada and Louisiana.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Michigan lands top recruit

UNDATED (AP) — Michigan was the big winner in the battle to land the services of Rashan Gary. The defensive end from New Jersey has been considered the top recruit in the nation.

Gary is one of five high-profile recruits from New Jersey to be part of coach Jim Harbaugh's highly rated class.

NHL-SCHEDULE

Sabres add to Habs' woes

UNDATED (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens opened their NHL schedule with a team-record nine straight wins. They are nothing more than a .500 hockey team right now after losing another game to one of the NHL's bottom-feeders.

The Habs are 24-24-2 after blowing a 2-1 lead in the third period of a 4-2 loss to Buffalo in Montreal. Jamie McGinn tied it 7 ½ minutes into the final period before Johan Larsson supplied the game-winner about four minutes later. Marcus Foligno and Brian Gionta also scored to support Robin Lehner, who finished with 33 saves.

The Canadiens led the Eastern Conference at 19-4-3 following a 2-1 win over Columbus on Dec. 1. Since then, they are 5-20-1 to fall into a three-way tie for 11th in the conference. Seven of those losses are to teams that wouldn't make the playoffs if the season ended today.

In other NHL finals:

— Tampa Bay won for the ninth time in 10 games as Nikita Kucherov, J.T. Brown and Tyler Johnson provided goals in a 3-1 decision over Detroit. Ben Bishop stopped 24 in getting his 100th victory with the Lightning.

— Calgary's Sean Monahan scored the game-winning goal and had three assists in a 4-1 verdict over Carolina. Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton each had a goal and an assist as the Flames halted a three-game skid and won for just the second time in seven games.

NHL-SUSPENSION

Flames' defenseman suspended 20 games

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL has suspended Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman 20 games for cross-checking a linesman during a game last week. Wideman was suspended for violating the league rule on physical abuse of officials after he struck linesman Don Henderson and knocked him down during the Flames' game against Nashville on Jan. 27.

The suspension will cost Wideman $564,516 in salary and is the second-longest in NHL history for abusing an official. Gordie Dwyer of the Tampa Bay Lightning was suspended 23 games in part for abuse of officials during an exhibition game in 2000.

MLB-METS-FAMILIA

Mets, Familia avoid arbitration

NEW YORK (AP) — The Mets have agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million contract with closer Jeurys Familia, avoiding arbitration. He tied a team record with 43 saves last season while going 2-2 with a 1.85 ERA. Familia has the highest salary for a reliever with one full season as a closer, topping Baltimore's Zach Britton.

MLB-RAYS-SMYLY

Smyly, Rays go to arbitration

PHOENIX (AP) — Drew Smyly and the Tampa Bay Rays have argued baseball's first salary arbitration case this year.

The 26-year-old left-hander asked arbitrators for a raise from $2.65 million to $3.75 million, while the Rays argued for $3.2 million. A decision is expected Thursday.

Smyly was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts last season with 77 strikeouts and 20 walks in 66 2/3 innings.

TENNIS-FEDERER

Surgery for Federer

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Roger Federer has posted on his official website that he has undergone knee surgery and is expected to miss tournaments in Rotterdam and Dubai this month.

The statement said the injury occurred last Friday, a day after his Australian Open semifinal loss to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

LPGA-COATES

Jang leads, Ko 4 back

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — Ha Na Jang is the first-round leader at the LPGA's Coates Golf Championship in Ocala, Florida, Jang birdied the 18th for a bogey-free 65 and a three-stroke lead over six players. Top-ranked Lydia Ko had four birdies on the back nine for a 3-under 69.