Sports News Roundup: Kawhi Leonard pours in 29 as Clippers defeat Raptors; Top 25 roundup: UCF rallies, shocks No. 3 Kansas and more

Kansas got a boost from Smya Nichols, who scored 22 points, and Holly Kersgieter's 19 points. Jalen Johnson leads way as Hawks knock off 76ers Jalen Johnson scored 25 points, seven of them in overtime, with a career-high 16 rebounds and seven assists to help the Atlanta Hawks end a two-game losing streak with a 139-132 win over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Pelicans' long-range shooting adds to Warriors' struggles

Herbert Jones led an early barrage of 3-pointers, Jonas Valanciunas went for 21 points in 21 minutes, and the New Orleans Pelicans shellacked the Golden State Warriors 141-105. on Wednesday night in San Francisco. Three days after leading by as many as 50 points while blitzing the host Sacramento Kings 133-100, the Pelicans used nine 3-pointers -- three by Jones -- in a 46-point first quarter that put the Warriors in a huge hole, and they never recovered.

Women's Top 25 roundup: Kansas hands No. 4 Baylor first loss

Taiyanna Jackson scored a career-high 27 points and added 19 rebounds as Kansas handed visiting No. 4 Baylor its first loss of the season, 87-66, on Wednesday night in Lawrence, Kan. Jackson shot 9 of 12 from the floor and also added two assists, two steals and three blocks for the Jayhawks (8-7, 1-3 Big 12). Kansas got a boost from Smya Nichols, who scored 22 points, and Holly Kersgieter's 19 points.

Jalen Johnson leads way as Hawks knock off 76ers

Jalen Johnson scored 25 points, seven of them in overtime, with a career-high 16 rebounds and seven assists to help the Atlanta Hawks end a two-game losing streak with a 139-132 win over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Atlanta tied the game at 132-132 when Johnson made two free throws at 1:07. Then he came up with a steal and drained a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left. Philadelphia led by three in overtime with 2:31 remaining but did not score another point.

Alexandar Georgiev, Avs shut out reeling Knights

Valeri Nichushkin had two goals, Alexandar Georgiev had 25 saves for his second shutout of the season and 15th of his career and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Denver on Wednesday night. Logan O'Connor also scored and Mikko Rantanen had two assists for the Avalanche, who have won six of their last eight games.

Jazz extend homecourt dominance over Nuggets

Jordan Clarkson registered 27 points and nine assists off the bench and the Utah Jazz dismantled the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets from the outset while posting a 124-111 victory on Wednesday night at Salt Lake City. Lauri Markkanen added 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Jazz won for the ninth time in their past 11 games. Utah has won its last three, all against elite teams, beginning with road victories over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

Top 25 roundup: UCF rallies, shocks No. 3 Kansas

Jaylin Sellers scored 18 points and UCF defeated a Top 5 program for just the second time in school history, upsetting No. 3 Kansas 65-60 on Wednesday night in Big 12 play at Orlando, Fla. Darius Johnson added 17 points, six assists and three steals and Ibrahima Diallo had 13 points as the Knights (10-4, 1-1 Big 12) overcame a 16-point deficit to prevail in their first-ever meeting with Kansas. The upset came in UCF's Big 12 home debut and was their first Big 12 conference win.

Kawhi Leonard pours in 29 as Clippers defeat Raptors

Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points and celebrated his new three-year, $152.4 million contract extension Wednesday as the Los Angeles Clippers earned a 126-120 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors. Paul George also scored 29 points and Ivica Zubac added 12 points with 11 rebounds as the Clippers improved to 16-3 since the start of December. The Clippers won both home games in a span where they will play five of seven on the road and are 4-1 in the stretch so far.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder defeat Heat to halt series skid

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points and Jalen Williams narrowly missed out on a triple-double to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 128-120 win over the host Miami Heat on Wednesday. The Thunder continued their hot shooting, finishing 59.3 percent from the floor, their ninth consecutive game shooting 50 percent from the floor or better. Oklahoma City is shooting 55.4 percent from the field during that stretch.

NBA roundup: Celtics make history at home, down Wolves in OT

Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 45 points, including 12 in overtime, to help the Boston Celtics improve their home record to 18-0 by beating the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 127-120 on Wednesday. Jaylen Brown added 35 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who set a franchise record for consecutive home victories at the start of a season, originally set by the 1957-58 team. Minnesota hasn't won a game in Boston since the 2004-05 season.

Bulls can't hold big lead, but top Rockets in OT

Coby White scored a game-high 30 points and Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic notched double-doubles to boost the Chicago Bulls to a 124-119 overtime victory against the visiting Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Chicago led by as many as 16 on the way to its third straight victory. Outscored 56-30 in the paint, the Bulls connected on 19 3-pointers, with White drilling six. His final make from deep boosted the Bulls' advantage to four points with 1:04 left in the extra session.