SPORTS SHORTS

NFL: NFL to cut quarantine time

The NFL is reducing quarantine time for players who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic, including unvaccinated players, to five days from 10, according to two people familiar with the protocols. Both spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the revised protocols haven’t been sent to teams yet.

The Jaguars lined up eight interviews for their head coaching vacancy Tuesday, including Tampa Bay coordinators, Byron Leftwich and Todd Bowles, along with other coordinators from playoff teams such as Dallas, Green Bay and Indianapolis.

NHL: Lightning win in overtime

Ondrej Palat scored 36 seconds into overtime after Tampa Bay teammate Corey Perry tied it late in the third period, and the Lightning beat the Canadiens 5-4 in Tampa, Fla. in the first NHL game following an extended holiday break.

NBA: Nuggets hold off Warriors

Denver almost blew a 24-point halftime lead but Nikola Jokic blocked a potential game-tying shot by Jonathan Kuminga in the final seconds to preserve the Nuggets’ 89-86 win over the Warriors in San Francisco. Golden State’s Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to make 3,000 career 3-pointers while also scoring a 3-pointer in 157 consecutive games.

In Houston, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook both had triple-doubles in the Lakers’ 132-123 victory over the Rockets.

Tyler Herro scored 32 points off the Miami bench as the Heat held off the Wizards 119-112 in Miami.

NCAA: Houston edges Auburn

Jake Herslow caught a 26-yard, goahead touchdown pass from quarterback Clayton Tune with 3:27 left to help lift No. 21 Houston to a 17-13 victory over Auburn on Tuesday in the Birmingham Bowl.

In Dallas, Haaziq Daniels threw for two touchdowns and ran for two others as Air Force beat Louisville 31-28 in the First Responder Bowl on Tuesday.

In Memphis, Tenn., Donovan Smith threw for 252 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score, and Texas Tech beat Mississippi State 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl.

Julian Strawther scored 15 points as No. 4 Gonzaga won 93-63 over North Alabama in Spokane, Wash. to extend the nation’s longest home winning streak to 59 games