Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

As record losses mount, Pistons face NBA-best Celtics

The Detroit Pistons are stuck in reverse and will attempt to win their first game since Oct. 28 when they face the Boston Celtics on the road Thursday. The Pistons set an NBA record for futility when they lost to Brooklyn 118-112 Tuesday night. With the loss, Detroit became the first NBA team to lose 27 consecutive games in a single season.

NBA approves Mark Cuban's sale of Mavs' majority stake

The NBA Board of Governors approved Mark Cuban's sale of the controlling interest in the Dallas Mavericks to casino mogul Miriam Adelson and her family. Patrick Dumont, Adelson's son-in-law and the president and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., will serve as the Mavericks' governor.

Tulane missing some key players vs. Virginia Tech in Military Bowl

Tulane is searching for its second straight 12-win season but the Green Wave are also buried in a deluge of adversity. Tulane (11-2) will attempt to overcome the challenges when it faces Virginia Tech (6-6) in the Military Bowl on Wednesday at Annapolis, Md.

Commanders to start QB Jacoby Brissett vs. 49ers

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start for the Washington Commanders on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Ron Rivera made the announcement before practice on Wednesday.

Bengals designate CB Cam Taylor-Britt to return from IR

The Cincinnati Bengals cleared starting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt to return to practice on Wednesday. The team designated him for a return from injured reserve and opened his 21-day practice window.

No. 18 Clemson crushes Queens

PJ Hall scored a game-high 27 points, 20 of which came in the first half, to lead No. 18 Clemson to a 109-79 victory over visiting Queens on Friday. RJ Godfrey added 19 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the field as Clemson (10-1) breezed past the Royals thanks to 69 first-half points -- its third most points in a half in school history, and the most since 1993. Joseph Girard III also tallied 19 points for the Tigers, whose 109 points were their most since scoring 118 points in a February 2002 win over Wake Forest. Chauncey Wiggins scored 13 points and added six rebounds for the Tigers.

NHL-best Canucks put points streak up against Flyers

The Vancouver Canucks will try to pick up where they left off when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. The Canucks went into the holiday break riding a nine-game point streak (7-0-2) and leading the NHL with 49 points.

Packers suspend Jaire Alexander 1 game for coin-toss fiasco

The Green Bay Packers suspended cornerback Jaire Alexander for one game on Wednesday for conduct detrimental to the team stemming from his coin-toss blunder last week that nearly cost the club a possession. Alexander will miss Green Bay's game against the host Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

No. 9 North Carolina looks to light up Charleston Southern

No. 9 North Carolina has experienced plenty since last playing a home game earlier this month. The Tar Heels, who have been off since Dec. 20, will look to tune up for their upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference schedule with a nonconference clash against Charleston Southern on Friday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Twins sign RHP Josh Staumont to one-year contract

The Minnesota Twins signed right-hander Josh Staumont to a one-year contract on Wednesday. Financial terms were not announced for Staumont, who posted a 5.40 ERA and no decisions in 21 appearances (one start) with the Kansas City Royals last season. He was placed on injured reserve on June 7 and missed the remainder of the season following thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

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