Associated Press
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó The Memphis Grizzlies will introduce Lionel Hollins as their new coach at a news conference today.
The Grizzlies fired coach Marc Iavaroni on Thursday and Johnny Davis acted as interim coach on Friday, when Memphis lost 108-88 at New York. Davis was on the bench again for Saturday night’s game against the New Jersey Nets.
Memphis general manager Chris Wallace told reporters in New York the team club hoped to sign Hollins, a Milwaukee assistant. Wallace said he wanted Hollins to be able to run practices before Tuesday’s game with Denver.
Iavaroni, who served as Memphis’ coach for 11/2 seasons, was dismissed after the Grizzlies lost 101-86 at Charlotte on Wednesday. At that point, Memphis had dropped 15 of 17 games. The Grizzlies were 33-90 during Iavaroni’s tenure.
GOLF
LA QUINTA, Calif. ó Steve Stricker shot a 10-under 62 on PGA West’s Nicklaus course Saturday to overtake Pat Perez and rewrite a couple of PGA Tour records in the birdie-fest known as the Bob Hope Classic.
Eight shots behind Perez after 36 holes, the 41-year-old Stricker shot 61 during the third round to move into contention, and his sparkling play on the fourth day gave him a three-shot lead over Perez in the 90-hole tournament.
– KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii ó Brad Bryant shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over Bernhard Langer after two rounds in the Champions Tour’s season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.
RACING
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ó The pole-winning Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype driven by former Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice, David Donohue, Darren Law and Antonio Garcia was out front Saturday night after the first six hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
In a seesaw battle with several other prototypes, Rice was at the wheel of the lead car as the first quarter of the race ended with a full-course caution brought out when a GT class car hit the wall and lost a wheel.
The first three hours of the event were cleaner than usual, with no caution flags on the 3.56-mile road circuit that snakes through the infield and also uses about three-fourths of the 21/2-mile NASCAR oval.
NFL
ALEXANDRIA, Va. ó Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonathan Dekker was arrested early Saturday and charged with obstruction of justice.
Dekker, who injured his knee in August and spent the season on injured reserve, was released on $1,000 bond, police said.
BASEBALL
PHILADELPHIA ó Chase Utley says his rehab from hip surgery is on schedule, and the Philadelphia Phillies second baseman expects to be ready by opening day.
Utley, who underwent right hip surgery Nov. 24, said Saturday he is just weeks away from starting to swing a bat.
“In two to three weeks ó that would be nice,” Utley said. “If everything goes as planned, that’s what we want to do. And right now, we’re on schedule.”
– Milwaukee’s Trevor Hoffman, whose $6 million, one-year deal includes up to $1.5 million in incentives, is not an overpowering pitcher. He’s relied on his changeup for the majority of his 554 saves, including 30 of 34 chances last season.
– DETROIT ó The Detroit Tigers and right-handed pitcher Brandon Lyon agreed to a $4.25 million, one-year contract.