Friday Sports Update – Cowboys Parting Ways With Jason Garrett
(Frisco, TX) — ESPN’s Ed Werder reports the Cowboys have decided to move forward without head coach Jason Garrett in the organization. Garrett was in the final year of his contract and Dallas finished a disappointing 8-and-8 and out of the playoffs. A formal announcement will be made in the next two days. Garrett has been the Cowboys’ head coach since taking over as an interim in 2010.
Texans, Bills Collide Tomorrow
(Houston, TX) — The Texans and Bills will collide tomorrow in a first-round playoff game in Houston. Houston won the AFC South with a 10-and-6 record. The Bills are also 10-and-6 to get in as a wildcard, seeded fifth. Houston wide receiver Will Fuller will be a game-time decision as he deals with a groin injury. Defensive end J.J. Watt will be used strategically as he returns from a pectoral tear.
Mavs Turn Back Nets
(Dallas, TX) — Luka Doncic had 31 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Mavericks to a 123-111 win over the Nets in Dallas. Seth Curry scored 25 points off the bench for Dallas, which improved to 22-and-12. The Mavs will face Charlotte tomorrow.
Doncic Tops Early NBA All-Star voting
(Dallas, TX) — Mavericks guard Luka Doncic leads all players in the first fan returns for the NBA All-Star Voting. Doncic received 1,073,957 fan votes. Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis is sixth in the Western Conference balloting. Voting will conclude on January 20th with the starters announced on January 23rd. The All-Star Game will be February 16th in Chicago.
NBA
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Denver Nuggets 124, Indiana Pacers 116
Charlotte Hornets 109, Cleveland Cavaliers 106
Miami Heat 84, Toronto Raptors 76
Minnesota Timberwolves 99, Golden State Warriors 84
Utah Jazz 102, Chicago Bulls 98
Oklahoma City Thunder 109, San Antonio Spurs 103
Dallas Mavericks 123, Brooklyn Nets 111
Sacramento Kings 128, Memphis Grizzlies 123
LA Clippers 126, Detroit Pistons 112
Rockets Host Sixers Tonight
(Houston, TX) — The Rockets will host the Sixers tonight. Houston is 6-and-2 in its last eight games and at 23-and-11 top the Southwest Division. Philly is 23-and-13 and has lost three straight.
NHL
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Buffalo Sabres 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 2, New York Islanders 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 2, Montreal Canadiens 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 2, Boston Bruins 1 (OT)
Florida Panthers 6, Ottawa Senators 3
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Winnipeg Jets 3
Arizona Coyotes 4, Anaheim Ducks 2
Calgary Flames 4, New York Rangers 3
Colorado Avalanche 7, St. Louis Blues 3
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Philadelphia Flyers 4
Vancouver Canucks 7, Chicago Blackhawks 5
Stars Will Host Red Wings Tonight
(Dallas, TX) — The Stars will be at home tonight to play the Red Wings at American Airlines Center. Dallas is coming off a 4-2 victory Wednesday before 85,630 fans at the Cotton Bowl in the NHL Winter Classic. After tonight, the Stars are off until Wednesday when they open a four-game trip with the Kings in LA.
Rangers Hire Pitching Coach
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers have hired former pitcher Doug Mathis as their bullpen coach. He replaces Oscar Marin, who become Pittsburgh’s pitching coach last month. Mathis pitched professionally for 11 years before spending the last three seasons as a minor league pitching coach in the Seattle and Toronto organizations. He pitched 45 games for the Rangers from 2008 to 2010 in his only major league experience. He also pitched professionally in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The Rangers also named former major league infielder Darwin Barney as manager of their Triple-A team in Nashville.
College Football Bowl Games
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#21 Cincinnati Bearcats 38, Boston College Eagles 6
(Birmingham Bowl at Birmingham, AL)
Tennessee Volunteers 23, Indiana Hoosiers 22
(Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, FL)
Top-25 Men’s Basketball
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#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs 85, Portland Pilots 72
Colorado Buffaloes 74, #6 Oregon Ducks 65
#13 Michigan State Spartans 76, Illinois Fighting Illini 56
#18 Dayton Flyers 84, La Salle Explorers 58
College Basketball Roundup
(Undated) — In college basketball, Texas-Arlington won 73-52 at Arkansas State. North Texas fell 93-84 at Western Kentucky. Tomorrow, number-four Baylor will host Texas to open Big 12 play, TCU will entertain Iowa State, Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma State and Texas A&M is at Arkansas. Also tomorrow, SMU will take a 10-and-2 record to Vanderbilt and West Texas A&M Buffs and Lady Buffs will be in Portales to take on Eastern New Mexico.
Former Bengals, Bucs Head Coach Wyche Dies
(Pickens, SC) — The NFL is mourning the loss of former head coach Sam Wyche. The former Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach passed away Thursday at age 74. The Bengals say Wyche died at his home in Pickens, South Carolina. He led Cincinnati to an appearance in Super Bowl 23. Wyche had a career record of 84-and-107.
