Sports briefs

NBA

Hornets' Taylor banned 24 games

in domestic violence case

The NBA has suspended Charlotte Hornets forward Jeffery Taylor for 24 games without pay after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence assault and malicious destruction of hotel property last month. The third-year player will get credit for the 11 games he has missed, and will sit out an additional 13 games. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a release yesterday that "this suspension is necessary to protect the interests of the NBA and the public's confidence in it. Mr. Taylor's conduct violates applicable law and, in my opinion, does not conform to standards of morality and is prejudicial and detrimental to the NBA." Taylor, 25, was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

NHLPens' Dupuis out with blood clot

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis is out at least six months after doctors discovered a blood clot in his lung. The clot was discovered Monday after the 35-year-old complained of pain in his chest. He will use blood thinners to treat the condition but is out for the rest of the regular season and possibly beyond. The diagnosis is the latest setback for Dupuis, who missed the second half of last season after tearing the ACL in his left knee in December. Dupuis had six goals and five assists while playing in each of Pittsburgh's first 16 games. This isn't his first go-round with blood clots. He developed one in January shortly after the knee injury.

NASCARKurt Busch probed in domestic case

Police in Delaware have interviewed NASCAR driver Kurt Busch and are continuing to investigate allegations by his ex-girlfriend that he assaulted her in September at Dover International Speedway. Busch, 36, and his attorneys met with investigators Tuesday, a Dover police spokesman said. James Liguori, a Dover attorney who is helping to represent Busch, said the driver continues to deny the allegations made by 36-year-old Patricia Driscoll. -- AP