Howard’s 32 leads Rockets over Spurs

Howard’s 32 leads Rockets over Spurs

HOUSTON

Dwight Howard scored 32 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as the Houston Rockets continued their dream start, beating the in-state rival San Antonio Spurs 98-81 on Thursday night.

Howard exploited a Spurs interior that was missing two key players, Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter. Manu Ginobili also was held out of the game for rest a night after helping San Antonio to a 94-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Howard and Houston took advantage, leading the game wire-to-wire on the way to a league-best 6-0 record. With the loss, the Spurs drop to 2-2.

James Harden had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Rockets.

Cory Joseph led the Spurs with 18 points off the bench and Aron Baynes had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Dodgers hire Zaidi as new general manager

LOS ANGELES

The Dodgers have hired Farhan Zaidi as general manager and Josh Byrnes as senior vice president, baseball operations.

The moves announced Thursday are the first major ones under Andrew Friedman, who arrived in Los Angeles from Tampa Bay last month as the new president of baseball operations.

Zaidi (ZY-dee) joins the Dodgers as the 11th general manager in club history. He spent the last 10 years with Oakland, most recently serving as the club’s assistant GM and director of baseball operations. Zaidi will focus on the major league club and player acquisitions.

Byrnes will supervise the Dodgers’ scouting and player development operations.

Trout, McCutchen win Silver Slugger Awards

NEW YORK

The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen and Washington’s Ian Desmond have won their third straight Silver Slugger Awards.

Chicago White Sox rookie first baseman Jose Abreu and Houston second baseman Jose Altuve were among eight first-time winners announced Thursday by Louisville Slugger, which presents the annual honors following voting by major league managers and coaches for the top hitter in each league at every position.

Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre won for the fourth time and was joined on the AL team by White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes and Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez. Trout joined Mike Piazza (1993-95) as the only players to win in each of their first three full big league seasons and was joined in the outfield by Toronto’s Jose Bautista and Cleveland’s Michael Brantley.

Vonn’s knee on mend, Miller’s back aching

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo.

Lindsey Vonn says her surgically repaired right knee feels “really good” and she is considering bumping up her return date.

The four-time overall World Cup champion has been planning her return around the races in Lake Louise, Alberta, next month. After some pain-free training days, Vonn is giving serious thought to returning for the events in Aspen, Colorado, over Thanksgiving weekend. She quickly cautioned that it remains “a long shot.”

Vonn squeezed in six training runs Thursday at Copper Mountain as she tested out equipment. She had her ACL fixed for a second time in January, sidelining her for the Sochi Olympics.

Bode Miller got in five training runs despite a bulging disk in his back that’s still bothering him.

Injured Hoosier recovering from injury

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.

Hoosiers coach Tom Crean says Devin Davis is continuing to progress from a traumatic brain injury.

Davis was injured early Saturday morning when one of his teammates, freshman Emmitt Holt, ran into him with a car. According to the police report, Davis jumped in front of the car. The police said both players had been drinking though they are both underage.

Wire reports