Westbrook ties triple-double mark
Russell Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson’s NBA record for triple-doubles with 181, finishing with 33 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, and made two free throws with a second left to give the visiting Wizards a 133132 overtime victory against the Pacers on Saturday night.
Westbrook also blocked the Pacers’ final shot. He has 35 triple-doubles this season and is averaging a triple-double for the fourth time.
Domantas Sabonis had his own tripledouble for the Pacers with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Caris LeVert flirted with a triple-double — 35 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists — for the Pacers.
Bradley Beal scored 50 points — though he sat out overtime after hurting his hamstring and ankle — to help the Wizards move into the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Pacers.
The Bulls are 11th, three games behind the Pacers, with five games left — against the Pistons, Nets (twice), Raptors and Bucks.
COLLEGES
Emmert will talk NIL in Washington
NCAA president Mark Emmert told USA Today that he will be meeting in Washington this week with senators and congressmen concerning legislation based around college athletes’ ability to make money from use of their names, images and likenesses. The meetings have taken on greater urgency as the number of states enacting related laws with effective dates of July 1 or sooner has grown to six in recent weeks.
There are now at least 13 states with these types of laws, and NCAA officials — along with those representing various conferences and schools — have been lobbying for a single federal measure.
The NCAA also has been considering changes to its NIL rules, which would fundamentally alter a system of amateurism that prevents athletes from participating in endorsement deals, monetizing their socialmedia followings or getting paid for autographs.
GOLF
Mitchell up by two in Wells Fargo
Keith Mitchell straightened out his putter and delivered big tee shots that carried him to a 6-under 66 and a two-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Gary Woodland in the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Last week, Mitchell discovered his putter was out of alignment. He had it bent back to the right specifications and has a chance at a second PGA Tour victory.
Still playing is Bryson DeChambeau, despite an 1,800-mile trip home to Dallas and back when he thought he missed the cut. He made it back with an hour to spare and shot a 4-under 68, leaving him eight shots behind.
MISCELLANEOUS
Wolves fall, but so does magic number
Tommy Novak scored the only goal for the host Wolves (18-8-1-2) in a 3-1 loss to the Griffins. The Wolves’ magic number to clinch the Central Division dropped to six with the Monsters’ loss. Tyler Spezia and Turner Elson scored 62 seconds apart in the second period for the Griffins.
† Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella will not return next season, according to The Athletic.