Blazers top Grizzlies for last playoff spot

A fourth consecutive down-to-the-wire finish, a fourth consecutive win for the Trail Blazers.

They needed all that just to get into the playoffs.

Damian Lillard scored 31 points, CJ McCollum had 14 of his 29 in the fourth quarter — including a pair of big jumpers over Ja Morant late — and the Blazers clinched the NBA’s final playoff spot by beating the Grizzlies, 126-122, on Aug. 15.

Portland’s reward: a matchup with the topseeded Los Angeles Lakers, starting Tuesday. Jusuf Nurkic had 22 points and 21 rebounds for the winners, who got 21 points from Carmelo Anthony.

College football

SOONERS POSITIVES »

Nine Oklahoma football players tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a break in preseason camp.

Coach Lincoln Riley made the announcement during a Zoom call. Riley announced on Aug. 8 that the Sooners were temporarily pausing preseason practices because of schedule changes. He gave players the option of returning home, though most stayed on campus.

NASCAR

DRIVER TESTS POSITIVE

» NASCAR driver Austin Dillon has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not compete in the Aug. 16 Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway’s road course.

NHL

GOALIE OPTS OUT » Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask has opted out of the defending Eastern Conference champions’ playoff run to be with his family, the team said, less than two hours before he was to start Game 3 of their series vs. the Hurricanes.