LOCAL SPORTS
Rural League: Doubleheader at the Arena tonight! St. Croix vs Heatherton 7 pm, Pleasantdale vs County Outlaws 8:30 pm.
NATIONAL SPORTS
Tij Iginla’s goal at 6:32 of the third period snapped a 4-4 deadlock and lifted Canada to a wild 7-5 win over Czechia in the opening game for both teams at the world junior hockey championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Zayne Parekh scored twice for Canada, while Michael Hage had a goal and two assists. Brady Martin, Ethan MacKenzie and Porter Martone each netted singles for the winners. Canada plays Latvia on Saturday, while Czechia meets Denmark.
Norman Powell had 25 points, Pelle Larsson scored a career-high 21, and the Miami Heat handed the host Atlanta Hawks their fifth straight loss with a 126-111 decision. Canadian Andrew Wiggins added 18 points for the Heat, who had lost eight of nine games entering the game. Trae Young led the Hawks with 30 points and seven assists. Jalen Johnson added 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
Tre Jones and Zach Collins each scored 15 points and the Chicago Bulls outscored the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 28-17 in the final quarter to post a 109-102 win. Coby White added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Bulls, who won their sixth straight. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 31 points, while Tyrese Maxey added 27 points and eight assists. The 76ers have lost three in a row.
Jaren Jackson Junior had 24 points and nine rebounds, Cam Spencer had 19 points and five rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies won their second straight game by knocking off the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 125-104. A-J Green led the Bucks with 20 points, while Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins all scored 15 points apiece.
Devin Booker had 30 points and nine rebounds, Mark Williams had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and the visiting Phoenix Suns won their second straight game by bouncing the New Orleans Pelicans 115-108. Zion Williamson had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Pelicans, who lost their second in a row.
The 2-and-13 Las Vegas Raiders have decided to bench defensive end Maxx Crosby for Sunday’s home game against the New York Giants in a matchup of N-F-L teams with the worst records. The loser has the inside track to the top overall draft pick, and the Raiders will be resting other key players this week. Crosby has started every game this season and left the team facility after the club informed him of the decision. Coach Pete Carroll said he expected Crosby’s negative reaction.
Friday’s Scoreboard
IIHF World Junior Championship
Saint Paul, Minnesota
U.S. 6 Germany 3
Sweden 3 Slovakia 2
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Canada 7 Czechia 5
Finland 6 Denmark 2
NBA
Washington 138 Toronto 117
Utah 131 Detroit 129
Miami 126 Atlanta 111
Charlotte 120 Orlando 105
Boston 140 Indiana 122
Chicago 109 Philadelphia 102
Memphis 125 Milwaukee 104
Phoenix 115 New Orleans 108
L.A. Clippers 119 Portland 103
Saturday’s Schedule (All times Eastern)
IIHF World Junior Championship
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Slovakia vs. Germany, 2 p.m.
Switzerland vs. U.S., 6 p.m.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Latvia vs. Canada, 4:30 p.m.
Czechia vs. Denmark, 8:30 p.m.
NHL
N.Y. Rangers at N.Y. Islanders, 6 p.m.
Minnesota at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Ottawa at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Florida, 7 p.m.
Washington at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Boston at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Nashville at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Anaheim at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.
Edmonton at Calgary, 10 p.m.
San Jose at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Colorado at Vegas, 10 p.m.
PWHL
Boston at Ottawa, 12 p.m.
Toronto at Montreal, 2 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Vancouver at Edmonton, 3 p.m.
NFL
Houston at L.A. Chargers, 4:30 p.m.
Baltimore at Green Bay, 8 p.m.
NBA
Dallas at Sacramento, 5 p.m.
Denver at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Phoenix at New Orleans, 7 p.m.
Indiana at Miami, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at Houston, 8 p.m.
New York at Atlanta, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Brooklyn at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Utah at San Antonio, 8 p.m.