Ankle injury sidelines Knicks’ Anthony
NEW YORK — Forward Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks sat out Wednesday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden because of a sprained right ankle.
Anthony sprained his ankle when he stepped on the foot of referee Steve Anderson during the first half of Tuesday’s 120-114 win over the Boston Celtics.
After playing the opening seconds of the second half, he left the game because he was having difficulty moving on the court.
X-rays on Tuesday were negative and New York coach Derek Fisher said he hopes Anthony can return on Saturday in Memphis.
Anthony is averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 rebounds this season after missing the second half of last season because of a knee surgery.
Coyotes pick up defenseman
The Arizona Coyotes claimed defenseman Kevin Connauton off waivers Wednesday from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Connauton has eight points (one goal, seven assists) and 21 penalty minutes in 27 games this season with the Blue Jackets. In 2014-15, the Edmonton, Alberta, native registered 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 62 games split between the Dallas Stars and the Blue Jackets.
Connauton, 25, has collected 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) and 72 penalty minutes in 187 career NHL games.
Nets guard to return next season after knee surgery
Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery on his right knee and a full recovery is expected, the team announced Wednesday.
The surgery was performed by the Nets’ medical director, Dr. Riley J. Williams, and Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. The team said Jack will be ready to participate in full basketball activities for the 2016-17 season.
Jack, 32, sustained the injury during the second half at the Boston Celtics on Jan. 2. He played and started in 32 games for Brooklyn this season, averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and a team-high 7.4 assists.
Whisenhunt to return as Chargers OC
Former Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt will return to the San Diego Chargers as offensive coordinator, according to reports Wednesday.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the 53-year-old Whisenhunt was returning to the job he held with the Chargers in 2013.
The Chargers finished with the NFL’s fifth-ranked offense during Whisenhunt’s year in San Diego.
The Chargers’ offense has struggled in the two seasons since Whisenhunt left to become the Titans’ head coach. He was fired on Nov. 3 after a 3-20 record as the Titans’ coach, including 1-6 this season.
Proposal would permit Big 12 title game
A proposed NCAA rule change would allow the Big 12 to stage a conference championship game without expanding beyond 10 teams.
The Division I council voted Wednesday at the NCAA convention in San Antonio to adopt a proposal permitting teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision with fewer than 12 members to hold a conference title game between the top two finishers in the standings.
Conference teams must play a complete round-robin schedule, though, for a league championship game to be possible.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby wasn’t ready to say that the conference will conduct a championship game next season. He will speak with Big 12 presidents and athletic directors about resuming the title game, which the conference played during its first 15 years until the departure of Nebraska and Colorado and later Missouri and Texas A&M reduced it to 10 teams.