NBA
Celtics, Heat and Warriors finish a 3-team trade
OAKLAND, Calif. – A three-team trade sending Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks from the Boston Celtics to the Golden State Warriors is complete.
The Warriors sent guard Toney Douglas to the Miami Heat as part of Wednesday’s deal. The Heat moved center Joel Anthony and two draft picks and cash considerations to the Celtics in a move that creates financial flexibility for the two-time defending NBA champions.
Miami is sending Boston its 2015 protected first-round draft pick and 2016 second-round pick. If Philadelphia doesn’t make the playoffs the next two seasons, the 2015 first-round pick will be a second-round selection.
NHL
Oilers trade one goaltender and acquire another
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Predators traded forward Matt Hendricks to Edmonton for Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
With the move, the Predators get rid of the four-year contract they signed Hendricks to last July for $7.4 million. Hendricks, 32, played in 44 games for Nashville this season but had only four points.
The 6-6 Dubnyk is 11-17-2 this season for the Oilers, and he ranks fourth in the NHL in goals allowed with 94 in 32 games. Dubnyk, 27, has a .894 save percentage and 3.66 goals-against average.
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings traded backup goalie Ben Scrivens to the Oilers in exchange for a third-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Scrivens went 7-5-4 over 19 appearances in his only season with the Kings, who acquired him from Toronto last summer in a deal including goalie Jonathan Bernier. Scrivens had a 1.97 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and three shutouts with the Kings.
NFL
Vikings hire Zimmer as their 9th head coach in 54 years
MINNEAPOLIS – Mike Zimmer finally is a head coach in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings think now is the time for the veteran defensive coordinator.
The Vikings announced late Wednesday night they hired Zimmer to replace Leslie Frazier.
Long after reports first surfaced about the hire, the Vikings remained quiet. Their silence was strange, considering a report by ESPN they already had requested and received permission from Cleveland to interview offensive coordinator Norv Turner for the same position in Minnesota.
Zimmer, who has been an NFL defensive coordinator for the last 14 seasons, six of those with Cincinnati, will be the ninth coach in the franchise’s 54 seasons.
Soccer
U.S. women’s soccer to play Russia on Feb. 12 in Atlanta
CHICAGO – The U.S. women’s soccer team will play a second exhibition against Russia in a five-day span when it travels to Atlanta on Feb. 12.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Wednesday the game will be played at the Georgia Dome.
USA announced last week it will face the Russians on Feb. 8 in Boca Raton, Fla., the first meeting between the nations since a 5-1 U.S. win in September 2002.
The U.S. will open this year’s schedule Jan. 31 against Canada at Frisco, Texas.
Ski Racing
Vonn tweets her ‘successful!’ right knee surgery
Lindsey Vonn announced on her Facebook page that she had surgery on her right knee.
The knee injury prevented the reigning Olympic downhill champion from competing in the Sochi Games next month.
The 29-year-old Vonn posted her surgery was “successful!”
Vonn tore two ligaments in her right knee during a high-speed crash at the world championships last February. Then Vonn reinjured her surgically repaired anterior cruciate ligament in a crash during training in November. She tried to rehab the knee in time for Sochi but sprained her medial collateral ligament racing a downhill Dec. 21 in France.
Associated Press
