Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Dec. 30

NBA

UNDATED (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have returned to their winning ways, with a 115-97 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Suns rebounded from home losses to Golden State and Memphis to pull even with the Warriors atop the league standings at 27-7.

Devin Booker scored 38 points for Phoenix to surpass 10,000 for his career.

Both teams were without several key players and their head coaches on the COVID protocols list.

Elsewhere in the NBA:

— Rudy Gobert had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-105 with star Donovan Mitchell out with a sore back. Utah’s dominance started on the inside and continued all night long, outscoring Portland 74-30 in the paint.

— Eric Bledsoe scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a key 3-pointer down the stretch, to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Boston Celtics 91-82. Marcus Morris had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Clippers.

— The Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-99. Ja (jah) Morant had a big night scoring 41 points to lead Memphis. LeBron James led Los Angeles with 37 points — a day short of his 38th birthday — while Russell Westbrook had a triple-double in the loss.

— Zach LaVine scored 25 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks for the second time in three nights, 131-117. The Bulls extended their winning streak to a season-high five games. The Hawks are missing 15 players due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols and injuries.

— Alec Burks scored a season-high 34 points to lead a huge night from New York’s bench and the Knicks beat the short-handed Detroit Pistons 94-85. The Knicks’ reserves combined for 65 points.

— Terry Rozier scored a season-high 35 points, LaMelo Ball added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets beat the Indiana Pacers 116-108. Ball also had nine assists, falling just short of his third triple-double this season as the Hornets won their third straight.

— The Sacramento Kings scored a 95-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the opener of a two-game set between the teams. Chimezie Met made a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer for the win.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

— No. 24 Wisconsin struggled to put away Illinois State, winning 89-85 in its first game after a two-week break because of COVID-19. Steven Crowl had 21 points and nine rebounds, while Johnny Davis, the Badgers’ leading scorer, had 20 points and 11 rebounds.

UNDATED (AP) — Zach Edey scored 21 points, Jaden Ivey added 19 and No. 3 Purdue beat Nicholls State 104-90.

Purdue shot 57.4% and cracked 100 points for the first time this season. The 7-foot-4 Edey made 7 of 8 shots and 7 of 9 free throws. Ivey was 5-for-9 from the field.

In other top 25 men’s college basketball:

— Christian Braun scored 22 points, Ochai Agbaji added 16 and sixth-ranked Kansas rolled to a 88-61 victory over Nevada. The Jayhawks were supposed to play Harvard before an outbreak forced the Crimson to cancel the trip early this week. The Wolf Pack stepped in when their Mountain West opener against San Jose State had to be postponed because of positive tests within the Spartans’ program.

— Gabe Brown scored a career high 24 points, as short-handed No. 10 Michigan State pulled away in the second half to beat scrappy High Point, 81-68.

— Walker Kessler had 16 points, a career-high 11 blocked shots and nine rebounds to lead No. 11 Auburn to a 70-55 victory over previously unbeaten No. 16 LSU in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. Auburn has won nine straight.

— No. 19 Alabama beat 14th-ranked Tennessee 73-68 in the SEC opener for both teams. Jahvon Quinerly scored 18 points and Noah Gurley added a season-high 15 for Alabama.

— No. 21 Providence topped 15th-ranked Seton Hall 70-65. Noah Horchler scored 17 points with 13 rebounds, and 6-foot-10 center Nate Watson added 14 points, becoming the 18th player in Providence history to reach 1,500 points. Seton Hall had only eight players in uniform, with five in COVID-19 protocols.

— No. 18 Kentucky overcame an uneven second half to roll past Missouri 83-56 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both schools. Keion Brooks Jr. scored 17 points, TyTy Washington Jr added 14 for the Wildcats. Missouri was playing without head coach Cuonzo Martin, out with COVID.

NHL..

UNDATED (AP) — MacKenzie Weegar, Carter Verhaeghe (vur-HAY’-gee) and Anthony Duclair (doo-CLEHR’) scored in the third period to rally the Florida Panthers past the New York Rangers 4-3.

Duclair blocked a shot in the Panthers end then joined the rush the other way to score what ultimately proved the game-winner.

Chris Kreider got the Rangers back within one with 45 seconds to go, after New York pulled Shesterkin for an extra attacker. But they couldn’t get the equalizer.

It was the Panthers’ first game in 13 days and the Rangers’ first in 12 following the NHL’s extended Christmas break because of rising COVID-19 cases.

In other NHL action:

— The Vancouver Canucks beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 for their seventh straight win since Bruce Boudreau took over behind the bench. Boudreau is the third coach in NHL history to start 7-0 with a new team. J.T. Miller scored 26 seconds into overtime on a breakaway.

— Evgeny Kuznetsov scored a late short-handed goal in his return from an 18-day absence to put the Washington Capitals ahead for good in a 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Kuznetsov’s wrist shot from a tight angle helped the Capitals beat the Predators for the first time in nine games.

— Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists as the St. Louis Blues beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. Brandon Saad, Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou also scored for the Blues, while Jordan Binnington made 26 saves in his second start since being activated off the COVID-19 list.

— Ivan Provorov scored 2:14 into overtime and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Seattle Kraken 3-2. James van Riemsdyk’s second goal of the game with 5:13 left in regulation pulled the Flyers even at 2.

— Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had a goal and two assists to help the New Jersey Devils end their six-game losing streak with a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres. It was the first game in 12 days for the Sabres after four straight postponements. They were still without six players and head coach Don Granato.

NHL-NEWS

NHL cuts isolation time to 5 days in US

UNDATED (AP) — The NHL is following other leagues and the CDC by cutting COVID-19 isolation times to five days under certain conditions and where it is allowed by local laws. The change applies only in the U.S. because of stricter pandemic regulations in Canada.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

Rest of world junior championship canceled over COVID-19

UNDATED (AP) — The remainder of the world junior hockey championship in Canada has been canceled after a few positive tests prompted fears of a COVID-19 outbreak.

The top tournament in the world for players under age 20 had completed nine games in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta. But positive coronavirus test results among U.S. and Czech players had led to two games being forfeited, and another was imminent with Russia.

Citing the spread of the coronavirus and the omicron variant, the International Ice Hockey Federation’s council determined the integrity of the event had been compromised by the forfeits.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-BOWL

— No. 19 Clemson beat Iowa State 20-13 in the Cheez-It Bowl for coach Dabo Swinney’s 150th victory. D.J. Uiagalelei completed 21 of 32 passes for 187 yards and Mario Goodrich scored on an 18-yard interception return, while Will Shipley had a 12-yard touchdown run and finished with 61 yards rushing and 53 yards receiving for Clemson.

UNDATED (AP) — Kennedy Brooks ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns as No. 14 Oklahoma rode a dominant first half to beat No. 15 Oregon 47-32 in the Alamo Bowl.

Caleb Williams threw three touchdown passes and the Sooners gave interim coach Bob Stoops career win No. 191 and a special family moment when he hugged son Drake, an Oklahoma wide receiver, after a first-half touchdown.

Oregon rallied with three touchdowns in the third quarter but couldn’t stop the Sooners’ offense late.

— Taulia Tagovailoa (tuhng-ah-vy-LOH’-ah) threw touchdown passes of 70 and 32 yards to Darryl Jones, and Maryland routed Virginia Tech 54-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Tagovailoa was named the game’s MVP, finishing with 265 yards passing and his 26 touchdown passes this season tied the Maryland single-season record.

NFL-NEWS

— The Denver Broncos are preparing for quarterback Drew Lock to make his second straight start in place of Teddy Bridgewater when the Broncos visit the Chargers. Coach Vic Fangio says Bridgewater remains in concussion protocol.

— Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields was feeling good enough to practice after missing a game because of an ankle injury. His status for Sunday remains unclear.

— 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo won’t need surgery on his injured right thumb despite a chip of the bone and a torn ligament. It remains unclear if he will be able to start this week against Houston, when they have a chance to clinch a playoff spot. Garoppolo played through the injury during a loss last Thursday and says he knows what the pain feels like. He says it comes down to “being confident” and able to do what he normally does with the football.

UNDATED (AP) — Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule says Sam Darnold will start at quarterback on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints instead of 2015 league MVP Cam Newton.

Newton is 0-5 as Carolina’s starting quarterback this year and has lost 13 straight starts as the Panthers starting QB dating back to the 2018 season.

Darnold started the season 3-0 but has a 1-5 record in his last six starts. He led the Panthers to a 26-7 win over the Saints in Week 2, completing 26 of 38 passes for 305 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

In other NFL news:

— Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was limited at practice Wednesday, but that’s a step in the right direction after he missed two straight games with an ankle injury. Tyler Huntley, who played two weekends ago in Jackson’s place but missed last weekend’s game after landing on the COVID-19 list, is still on that list. But, he’s expected back soon.

— New York Jets coach Robert Saleh has cleared COVID-19 protocols and returned to run practice for the first time since testing positive for the coronavirus. The Jets also got nine players back from the COVID-19 list. Buffalo also had a few key players activated, including two of their top wide receivers in Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis. Other star players returning are Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, New Orleans quarterback Taysom Hill, Houston wide receiver Brandin Cooks and Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa.

AP FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

UNDATED (AP) — Candace Parker staved off Father Time to help the Chicago Sky win the franchise’s first WNBA championship and capped off 2021 by being named The Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year for a second time.

Parker also won the AP award her rookie year with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008, when she was honored as the WNBA’s MVP and top rookie. She helped Tennessee win the national championship that year.

The 35-year-old Parker is now a working mom in the twilight of her playing career who also is a basketball analyst for TNT.

MLB-KYLE SEAGER-RETIREMENT

SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Seager has announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the majors, all with the Seattle Mariners.

The 34-year-old free agent chose to call it a career rather than test the open market amid the uncertainty created by the ongoing lockout. Seager’s retirement is a bit surprising considering he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He hit a career-high 35 home runs and had a career-best 101 RBIs last season.

In world and national news…

TORONTO (AP) — Coronavirus infections have set new one-day highs in six Canadian provinces, prompting several provinces to impose more restrictions in hopes of containing the spread of the omicron variant. The biggest jumps for Wednesday were in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, which are the country’s most populous provinces. Quebec reported more than 13,000 new cases in the previous 24 hours, Ontario had 10,436 and British Columbia listed 2,944. Manitoba, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador also set new records. British Columbia is delaying the full return to classrooms after the Christmas break by a week, while Newfoundland and Labrador says its schools will shift to remote learning after the holiday break. Canada’s Nunavut territory extended its lockdown to Jan. 17

LONDON (AP) — England’s National Health Service is building temporary structures at hospitals around the country to prepare for another possible surge of COVID-19 patients. The U.K. reported a record 183,037 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, 32% more than the previous day. While early data suggests omicron is less likely to cause serious illness than earlier variants, public health officials think the sheer number of infections could lead hospitalizations and deaths to increase. The NHS will begin setting up “surge hubs” this week at eight hospitals around England, each with the capacity to treat about 100 patients. The NHS said Thursday that staff also are preparing plans to create as many as 4,000 “super surge” beds.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Chinese officials are promising steady deliveries of groceries to residents of Xi’an, an ancient capital with 13 million people that is under the strictest lockdown of a major Chinese city since Wuhan was shut early last year at the start of the pandemic. The Commerce Ministry says it has contacted nearby provinces to help ensure adequate supplies of everyday necessities. State broadcaster CCTV showed building staff assembling free grocery deliveries for the residents of an apartment complex in Xi’an. Still, some people complained in comments below the segment shared on a social media platform that they have not received the same deliveries in their communities. Many worried if they will be able to obtain fresh vegetables and meat.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to discuss the Russian troop buildup at the Ukraine border. Thursday’s call would be their second in recent weeks amid little progress toward ending the smoldering crisis. The White House indicates Biden will make clear to Putin a diplomatic path remains open. The Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine. Putin has stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe. A Kremlin spokesperson says the goal of the conversation is to continue discussing issues on the agenda during the recent conversation. The call requested by Russian officials comes as senior U.S. and Russian officials are to hold talks Jan. 10 in Geneva.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian state television says Tehran has launched a rocket with a satellite carrier bearing three devices into space, though it’s unclear if any object entered orbit around the Earth. The state TV report Thursday did not say when the launch was conducted or what devices the carrier brought with it. However, the launch comes amid ongoing negotiations in Vienna over Iran’s tattered nuclear deal. Previous launches have drawn rebukes from the United States. However, officials were silent on whether the launched objects had actually reached orbit. Iran’s space program has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years, including fatal fires and a launchpad rocket explosion.

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets are mixed after Wall Street hit a high and new daily U.S. coronavirus cases surged to a record. London and Frankfurt opened lower and Tokyo and Seoul also declined. Shanghai and Hong Kong advanced. On Wednesday, Wall Street gained for its 70th record high of 2021. Optimism was tempered by data showing new U.S. virus cases have risen to an average of 265,000 per day, driven largely by the more contagious omicron variant. Investors were encouraged this year by stronger corporate profits and advances in vaccine development and virus treatment. That has been tempered by Federal Reserve’s decision to try to cool U.S. inflation by rolling back stimulus that has boosted stock prices.