Dekker may miss a month
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Sam Dekker could be out a month with a sprained left ankle.
The former University of Wisconsin star was injured during the third quarter of Cleveland’s 102-100 loss at Orlando on Monday night. Dekker underwent tests Tuesday that revealed the sprain. The Cavaliers said he will begin rehab and be sidelined for approximately two to four weeks.
Dekker’s injury is another blow to the Cavaliers, who are 1-9. Cleveland recently changed coaches and is expected to be without all-star forward Kevin Love for at least six weeks. Love underwent foot surgery last week.
Dekker has made five starts in his first season with the Cavaliers, who acquired him in August in a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Natisha Hiedeman made 5 three-pointers and scored 21 points, reigning Big East player of the year Allazia Blockton scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half and No. 19 Marquette beat South Dakota State, 91-52, on Tuesday in a season opener at the Al McGuire Center.
South Dakota State is picked to win the Summit League after a 26-7 season a year ago. Macy Miller, who was named the league’s preseason player of the year, finished with seven points.
HOCKEY
The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Joel Quenneville, ending a wildly successful run that produced three Stanley Cup titles and returned the franchise to the top of the NHL after years of heartache.
The trouble for Quenneville began when Chicago was swept by Nashville in the first round of the 2017 playoffs after the Blackhawks finished with the best record in the Western Conference. Then they missed the playoffs entirely last season for the first time in a decade.
With the Blackhawks struggling again, general manager Stan Bowman had enough. He dismissed Quenneville and assistants Kevin Dineen and Ulf Samuelsson. Jeremy Colliton was hired as the 38th head coach in franchise history and Barry Smith was added as an assistant.
U.S. women 5, Finland 1: Former University of Wisconsin stars Brianna Decker and Hilary Knight had a goal and an assist as the Americans rolled to a victory in the opening game at the Four Nations Cup in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Ottawa players issue apology: Seven players from the Ottawa Senators have apologized after a video surfaced showing them insulting the team and an assistant coach during an Uber ride.
The video shows the players discussing their ineffective penalty kill and mocking assistant Martin Raymond in what appears to be a recording from a camera mounted on the dash of an Uber driver’s van or SUV. There are seven players in the vehicle, including Matt Duchene, Chris Wideman, Chris Tierney and Thomas Chabot.
BASEBALL
CC Sabathia is staying with the New York Yankees for an 11th season, agreeing to an $8 million, one-year contract, a source said.
The 38-year-old left-hander went 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts this year.
McCullers to miss next season: Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will miss all of next season following Tommy John surgery.
Reds hire Ward: The Cincinnati Reds hired Turner Ward as their hitting coach.
Ward spent the last three seasons as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ hitting coach. They set club records for homers, extra-base hits and slugging percentage each of the last two seasons.
Ward played 12 seasons in the majors, including with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1994-’96.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Deano Mlachnik threw four touchdown passes as Scott E’s Pub defeated Leff ’s Lucky Town, 28-0, in the Muni championship game Monday night at Wick Field.