NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Knicks rolled to a 121-79 rout of Portland in their first game under interim head coach Mike Woodson, who took over when Mike D'Antoni resigned Wednesday afternoon. J.R. Smith poured in 23 points and Steve Novak added 20 to help the Knicks end a six-game losing streak. The Knicks went 121-167 in three-plus seasons under D'Antoni and are tied with Milwaukee for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Dwight Howard had 22 points and 12 rebounds in what might have been his final game with the Orlando Magic, a 122-111 loss at San Antonio. Howard has told the team on the eve of Thursday's trade deadline that he won't relinquish the option to become a free agent after the season. Howard still insists he wants to remain with the Magic, but the team had been looking for assurances he wanted to stay longer.
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Vermont and South Florida have moved into the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Four McGlynn came off the bench to score 18 points and Matt Glass added 11 as the Catamounts defeated Lamar 71-59. Victor Rudd contributed 15 points and South Florida allowed just 13 first-half points in a 65-54 win over Cal.
DETROIT (AP) - Calvin Johnson now has the richest contract among wide receivers in NFL history after Detroit gave him an eight-year package worth up to $132 million. His agent says the deal is worth $60 million guaranteed if Johnson plays through the 2019 season. It is one of the richest deals in league history and tops by $10 million the eight-year deal Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald got last year.
UNDATED (AP) - Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson has agreed to a five-year contract after catching 58 passes for 961 yards and four touchdowns last season. Wide receiver Laurent Robinson has left Dallas for a five-year, $32.5 million deal with Jacksonville. And San Francisco has held onto Carlos Rogers by giving the defensive back a four-year package worth $31.3 million.
