Grabner, Isles tip Avs in OT for 4th win in 5

Michael Grabner knocked in a shot from the slot at 1:46 of overtime, giving the suddenly surging Islanders a 2-1 win over the Avalanche on Friday night. It was the sixth road win in a row, and fourth in five overall to start the new year. for the Isles, who had tied it on Brock Nelson’s goal early in the third period.

Brian Strait helped set up the winner with a pass to Grabner in the Avalanche zone. Grabner skated across the slot before circling back and firing the puck from between the circles past Semyon Varlamov. Kevin Poulin, who had 30 saves, won his fourth straight decision and improved to 5-1 in his last six games. “We’ve been a decent road team,” Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. “Simple hockey maybe, and doing the right things. . . . Our special teams on the road over the last two weeks have been good.”

PACERS WALLOP WIZARDS

David West scored 20 points and C.J. Watson had 16, leading the host Pacers (29-7) to a 93-66 rout of the Wizards. Kyle Korver scored 20 points, including four free throws in the final 16 seconds, and the host Hawks fought off the Rockets’ late comeback, 83-80. Josh Smith had 22 points, Brandon Jennings made four 3-pointers in the second half and the visiting Pistons snapped a six-game losing streak with a 114-104 win over the Sixers.

ALABAMA ADDS KIFFIN

Alabama hired former Southern Cal coach Lane Kiffin as its offensive coordinator and quar- terbacks coach. Kiffin returns to the SEC after head coaching stints with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, Alabama rival Tennessee and the Trojans. He replaces Doug Nussmeier, who left Alabama for Michigan. Penn State said president Rodney Erickson and athletic director Dave Joyner would make a “major announcement” about a new football coach at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. The Nittany Lions have been talking with Vanderbilt’s James Franklin about the vacancy left by Bill O’Brien’s departure to coach the NFL’s Houston Texans.

NFL DOCS CITE VIOLATORS

Two players violated league concussion protocol during last weekend’s wildcard games, according to a letter sent by the NFL’s head, neck and spine committee chairmen to all team doctors and trainers. Hunt Batjer and Richard Ellenbogen did not identify the players, but one was Green Bay tackle David Bakhtiari, who went in for an extra-point try despite being examined for a concussion and not cleared. The other was Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis, who refused to leave the sideline but did not get back on the field.

ENGLISH LIFTS IONA

A.J. English scored 25 points and Iona topped visiting Fairfield for the second time this season, 84-75. Iona (7-7, 4-1 MAAC) led by as many as 14 in the second half, before Fairfield (3-13, 0-6) closed within 79-73 with 33 seconds left. Tre Bowman added 24 points and David Laury had 21.