WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Thursday

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell
Westbrook each scored 31 points and came up with the key baskets
down the stretch to help Oklahoma City hold off a late charge from
the 76ers for a 109-103 victory last night. The Sixers got 17
points apiece from Jodie Meeks, Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Boston used five third-period goals to rally
past the Penguins 7-4 last night. Tim Thomas made a season-high 42
saves to improve to 8-0-0 for the Bruins. Sidney Crosby had a goal
and two assists for the Penguins, who have lost six of their past
eight and fell to 2-5 at the new Consol Energy Center.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Ashton Gibbs scored 24 points, Brad Wanamaker
added 17 and Number 5 Pittsburgh opened an 18-point lead midway
through the first half while cruising to its second victory in
three nights, a 97-54 decision over Illinois-Chicago last night.
The Panthers didn't need long to take control in the 2K Sports
Classic game against the Flames.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Max Starks
needs surgery to repair a disc injury in his neck and will miss the
rest of the season. The injury leaves the Steelers without both of
their projected starting offensive tackles. Right tackle Willie
Colon is out for the season after injuring an Achilles' tendon in
June.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan says
Donovan McNabb is doing better but is "by no means full speed
yet" because of sore hamstrings. McNabb stayed after practice for
extra work Wednesday as he prepares for Monday night's game against
Philadelphia. It will be his first game since he was benched in the
final minutes of a loss to Detroit.

STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut and its starting quarterback
have had a lot in common this season. Both came into the year with
high expectations, disappointed fans early and were perhaps
prematurely written off. Senior Zach Frazer is back at the top of
the depth chart as the Huskies host conference leader Pittsburgh on
Thursday night.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Temple has undergone a basketball rebirth
under coach Fran Dunphy. The Owls have won three straight Atlantic
10 tournament championships. This season, the Owls are ranked in
the AP's preseason poll for the first time since the 2001-02 season
and are picked to win the A-10 in the preseason poll. Number 22
Temple opens up tomorrow against Seton Hall.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State's latest basketball
recruiting class stocks up on frontcourt players with the team
losing its starting frontline after this season. The team says it's
received letters of intent for the 2011-12 season from a pair of
6-foot-11 players in Patrick Ackerman, of Rutland, Massachusetts,
and Peter Alexis of Wilkes-Barre.


NFL
Thursday's Game
Baltimore at Atlanta, 8:20 p.m.

NBA
Wednesday's Games
Milwaukee 108, Atlanta 91
Utah 104, Orlando 94
Charlotte 101, Toronto 96
Washington 98, Houston 91
New Jersey 95, Cleveland 87
Golden State 122, New York 117
Dallas 106, Memphis 91
Oklahoma City 109, Philadelphia 103
San Antonio 107, L.A. Clippers 95
Minnesota 98, Sacramento 89
Thursday's Games
Golden State at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Boston at Miami, 8 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Denver, 10:30 p.m.

NHL
Wednesday's Games
Buffalo 5, New Jersey 4, SO
Boston 7, Pittsburgh 4
Columbus 8, St. Louis 1
Florida 4, Toronto 1
Phoenix 2, Chicago 1
Anaheim 1, N.Y. Islanders 0
Thursday's Games
Montreal at Boston, 7 p.m.
Buffalo at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Washington, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Nashville at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
N.Y. Islanders at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.