SPORTS SHORTS
NBA: Minus Durant, Warriors lose 2nd in a row
Jimmy Butler scored 22 points and the Bulls beat Golden State 94-87 on Thursday night in Chicago, in the Warriors’ first game since Kevin Durant injured his left leg. It was the first time the Warriors, who lost at Washington on Tuesday, had back-to-back losses since April 2015.
Durant was hurt Tuesday in a loss at Washington, but will probably play again this year. The Warriors announced Thursday they have signed forward Matt Barnes. NCAA: Baylor coach apologizes for comments
Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey made a tearful apology for her recent remarks about the school’s sexual assault scandal involving the football team. In defending the school against critics last weekend, Mulkey said Baylor fans should “knock them right in the face” and said it’s time to “move on” from the scandal. Mulkey also said her heart goes out to assault victims and said the school failed them.
Breaking months of public silence, former Baylor football coach Art Briles said he could no longer “remain silent” and insisted he did not cover up sexual violence by his players or try to obstruct any investigations tied to the assault scandal at the nation’s largest Baptist university.
Briles released a one-page letter defending himself against allegations he ignored incidents of assault and ran a rogue football program full of miscreants.
In Albany, Jimmie Taylor scored 16 points and drilled the game-winning 3-pointer and Rider survived to eliminate Manhattan 69-68 in the first round of the MAAC Tournament. The Broncs will face Iona in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Zane Waterman led Manhattan (10-22) with 15 points. GOLF: McIlroy overcomes ribs, stomach in Mexico
Playing for the first time in seven weeks because of a rib injury, Rory McIlroy coped with a bad stomach and the high altitude with a 3-under 68 that left him one shot out of a six-way tie for the lead at the Mexico Championship in Mexico City.
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood each shot 67 and were joined at the top by PGA champion Jimmy Walker, Ross Fisher, Jon Rahm of Spain and Ryan Moore.
Michelle Wie took the first-round lead in the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore, making six birdies in a 10-hole stretch in a 6-under 66.