Duke sloppy in season-opening win
Freshman Jalen Johnson had 19 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks to help No. 9 Duke overcome a turnover-filled performance and beat Coppin State 81-71 in Saturday’s season opener for both teams.
The 6-foot-9 Johnson made all eight of his shots from the field, including a 3-pointer, and both of his free throws while also tallying five assists. Fellow freshman DJ Steward scored 24 points for the Blue Devils, including a key 3with 2:02 left that helped keep Duke in control during an unexpectedly tight finish.
Dukewas playing without its rowdy fans in the famously hostile Cameron Indoor Stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Blue Devils shot 53% but committed 22 turnovers to give the Eagles plenty of extra chances, with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski saying simply: “It’s tough to explain some of those turnovers.”
“There was a lot of game pressure on our team today,” Krzyzewski said. “It’s such an unusual atmosphere.”
DeJuan Clayton and Anthony Tarke each scored 22 points to lead the Eagles, who shot 33% but made 10 3s to keep the pressure on Duke the entire second half. Coppin State, picked fourth in the MidEastern Athletic Conference’s Northern Division, scored 28 points off turnovers.
NFL: The league ordered team facilities to be closed to in-person activities Monday and Tuesday in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 among players and staffers. Teams playing on Monday and Tuesday were exempt from the order. ... The 49ers and other teams may need to find a temporary new home after Santa Clara
County (Calif.) banned all contact sports from holding games and practices for the next three weeks. County officials issued the directives in response to rising cases of the coronavirus in the area. The rules take effect Monday and will last until Dec 21. The 49ers have home games scheduled for Dec. 7 against the Bills and Dec. 13 against Washington at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Theteamalso practices at that site in the county. The rules also will impact the Sharks of the NHL and college teams at Stanford and San Jose State. ... The Steelers placed RB James Conner on the reserve/ COVID-19 list after he tested positive for the virus ahead of the team’s AFC North showdown against the Ravens on Tuesday night, ESPN reported. The Ravens placed six more players on the list, bringing their total to 18 players thisweek and putting the aleady-postponed game at risk. Conner, a cancer survivor, hadn’t yet shown symptoms and was awaiting the results from a second test. ... Dolphins rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa was downgraded from questionable to doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Jets because of a left thumb injury that he sustained during practice this week. Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to start. ... The Colts placed rookie RB Jonathan Taylor on the reserve/ COVID-19 list. Taylor joins starting DLs De Forest Buckner and De ni co Au try on the list ahead of the team’s AFC South showdown against the Titans.
Soccer: Liverpool dropped two points after conceding a goal froma penalty in the third minute of stoppage time in a 1-1 draw at Brighton. Liverpool holds a one-point lead over second-place Tottenham, which faces third-place Chelsea on Sunday.