Sports News Roundup: NHL suspends Bruins' Backes 3 games for head hit; Australian Open tweaks extreme heat policy

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NBA roundup: Davis pours in 48 as Pelicans edge Mavs

Anthony Davis scored a season-high 48 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the host New Orleans Pelicans ended a five-game losing streak by beating the Dallas Mavericks 114-112 on Friday night. Julius Randle added 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday scored 18 for the Pelicans.

NHL suspends Bruins' Backes 3 games for head hit

The NHL on Friday suspended Boston Bruins forward David Backes three games without pay for what the league called "an illegal check to the head" of New Jersey Devils forward Blake Coleman. The hit happened during the Devils' 5-2 victory in Boston on Thursday. With two minutes remaining in the game, Backes skated from the left circle into the slot and put his shoulder into Coleman's face as Coleman cleared the puck. Backes drew a minor penalty on the play.

Golf - No Woods, but seven of world's top eight will play in Maui

Seven of the top eight players in the world rankings will contest next week's Sentry Tournament of Champions on the PGA Tour, but Tiger Woods will not be saying 'Aloha' to golf fans in Hawaii. There had been speculation Woods would play at Kapalua but he was not on the list of the final field of 34 players released by the tournament on Friday.

Bowl roundup: Clemson routs Notre Dame to reach CFP title game

Trevor Lawrence completed 27 of 39 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 2 Clemson rolled to a 30-3 win over No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday evening in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas. Clemson (14-0) advanced to the Jan. 7 national title game, where it will meet the winner of No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Oklahoma. The Tigers reached the final for the third time in four years and will seek their second championship in three seasons.

WADA discussing date for lab visit as deadline nears: Russia

Moscow and the World Anti-Doping Agency are discussing a date for WADA experts to visit and receive laboratory data, Russia's sports minister said on Saturday, as Russia's anti-doping agency, RUSADA, stands on the verge of suspension. RUSADA was stripped of its accreditation in 2015 after a WADA-commissioned report found evidence of widespread state-sponsored doping in Russian athletics, but conditionally - and controversially - reinstated in September.

Alpine skiing: Shiffrin passes heroine Schild with record 36th World Cup slalom win

American Mikaela Shiffrin became the women's all-time World Cup leader in slalom wins, surpassing childhood heroine Marlies Schild with her 36th career victory in Semmering, Austria, on Saturday. "Marlies for me is always going to be the best," Shiffrin, who also became the first ski racer in history to win 15 World Cup races in a single calendar year, told reporters.

Wizards guard Wall undergoes season-ending heel surgery

Washington Wizards All-Star point guard John Wall will undergo season-ending surgery on his left heel next week and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight months, the team announced on Saturday. Wall, who has reportedly been dealing with bone spurs in the troublesome heel for several years, sat out Washington's loss to Chicago on Friday and the victory over Charlotte 24 hours later.

NFL notebook: Steelers could be without Brown for finale

Needing a tie or win -- and help -- to get into the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers will fight for their season on Sunday without their kicker. And perhaps their best weapon on offense. According to multiple reports, All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown has not practiced at all this week after feeling discomfort in his knee last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Mike Tomlin told the media Friday that Brown will undergo tests on his knee, but made it clear Brown has not been ruled out of Sunday's home game against Cincinnati.

Australian Open tweaks extreme heat policy

Players in the men's draw at the Australian Open will be allowed 10-minute breaks during matches as part of an updated extreme heat policy at the year's first Grand Slam. Melbourne Park regularly sees days of scorching weather and organizers have come under fire from players who have complained of health and safety risks under the previous heat regime.

NHL roundup: Leafs take down Jackets

John Tavares scored two goals, Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists, and the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2 Friday night. Frederik Gauthier also scored for the Maple Leafs, who won their fifth game in a row and stopped the five-game winning streak by the Blue Jackets.