INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points and the Los Angeles Clippers routed the Minnesota Timberwolves 153-128 on Wednesday night, moving above .500 with their third straight victory and sixth in seven games. Eighth in the Western Conference at 33-32 after opening 6-21, the Clippers had their highest points total of the season. They blew out Minnesota after beating New York on Monday night to open a five-game homestand. Leonard was 15 of 20 from the the field, 6 of 9 on 3s and made 9 of 10 free throws. Los Angeles made 19 of 37 3s. Bennedict Mathurin scored 22 points for Los Angeles. Clippers newcomer Darius Garland had 21, hitting five 3-pointers. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 36 points and Naz Reid had 18.
(New York, NY) — Xavier was able to edge Marquette in the first round of the Big East Conference tournament Wednesday night, 89-87. That ends the Golden Eagles’ season with a disappointing record of 12-and-20. Royce Parham had 22 points and nine rebounds to keep his team in the close game. Parham and freshmen Nigel James Junior and Adrien Stevens have indicated they will return to Marquette next season while head coach Shaka Smart tries to find talent in the transfer portal.
CHICAGO (AP) — Rutgers beats Minnesota 72-67 in the Big Ten Tournament behind a huge night from Tariq Francis. On Wednesday, Francis scores 29 points and drills five 3-pointers as the 14th-seeded Scarlet Knights knock out the 11th seed. Jamichael Davis hits a late 3 that puts Rutgers ahead for good. Rutgers then closes on a 17-5 run and stays perfect at the free-throw line down the stretch. Emmanuel Ogbole adds 10 points and seven rebounds. Rutgers also sets a program tournament record with 10 made threes. Cade Tyson leads Minnesota with 24 points.
(Chicago, IL) — The Badgers take on the Washington Huskies for the second time in two weeks this afternoon (Thursday). Washington edged USC 83-79 to earn the spot in the bracket against Wisconsin. Coach Greg Gard’s team whipped the Huskies 12 days ago, 90-73 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score looks. The Badgers earned a double-bye in the Big Ten tournament by virtue of their fifth-place finish in the conference standings.
HSBB PLAYOFFS – SECTIONAL SEMIS
Clear Lake vs McDonnell Central on 97.7FM
Turtle Lake vs Drummond on 99.1FM
Coverage starts at about 6:45pm for both games
(Madison, WI) — Ohio State skated the Kohl Center ice like it was at home Wednesday night, knocking Wisconsin out of the Big Ten hockey tournament 7-1. The Buckeyes never trailed. They have eliminated the Badgers in the tournament’s first round for the third straight year. Finn Brink had Wisconsin’s only score on a short-handed goal in the closing minutes.
(Green Bay, WI) — The Packers’ latest free-agent signing reunites defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon with a defensive lineman he coached in Philadelphia. ESPN reports Javon Hargrave signed a two-year deal Wednesday, good for 23 million dollars. He had been released by the Vikings just hours earlier. At nearly the same time, it was announced the New England Patriots had signed former Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs to a four-year deal.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have cleared salary cap space taken by their failed strategy for contending last season by releasing defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The moves came one year after those veterans were a prominent part of a free agent spending spree. The Vikings also made the procedural move of releasing safety Harrison Smith with a post-June 1 designation. The six-time Pro Bowl pick is still mulling whether to return for a 15th season in the NFL. The Vikings would re-sign Smith if he decides to continue playing.
HOUSTON (AP) — A day later than expected, the United States has punched its ticket to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. The Americans got the help they needed from Italy, which beat Mexico 9-1 on Wednesday night. Italy beat the U.S. 8-6 a night earlier, turning the Americans into spectators as they hoped to avoid elimination. The Italians won Group B with a 4-0 record. The U.S. was runner-up in the group at 3-1. Mexico was eliminated, having also lost to the U.S. The Americans will stay in Houston to meet Canada on Friday night. Italy will play Puerto Rico in the other quarterfinal at Daikin Park on Saturday.
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
>>Major League Baseball
–Spring Training
Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 3
>>College Basketball
–Division I Men
(Big East Tournament)
Xavier 89, Marquette 87
>>College Hockey
–Division I Men
(Big Ten Tournament)
Ohio State 7, Wisconsin 1
THURSDAY SCHEDULE
>>Major League Baseball
–Spring Training
Milwaukee vs Guardians
>>Pro Basketball
–NBA
Milwaukee @ Miami
>>College Basketball
–Division I Men
(Big Ten Tournament)
Wisconsin vs Washington