Sports briefs

GOLF

Tiger will return at Phoenix Open

The rowdiest event on the PGA Tour landed golf's biggest attraction yesterday when Tiger Woods said he will play the Phoenix Open for the first time in 14 years. The tournament starts Jan. 29.

In golf action, Russell Henley shot an 8-under-par 65, giving him a one-shot lead over Bae Sang-Moon in the opening round of the PGA Tour's Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii . . . England's Andy Sullivan shot a 2-under 70 for a two-round 136 total in the South African Open in Johannesburg to take a one-shot lead over South African star Charl Schwartzel (69).

NBA

Warriors beat Cavs despite J.R.'s 27

Klay Thompson scored 24 points and Stephen Curry had 23 points and 10 assists as host Golden State beat Cleveland, 112-94. Former Knick J.R. Smith scored 27 points, Kyrie Irving had 23 and Kevin Love added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who are 1-6 with LeBron James sidelined with a strained back and left knee. He's expected to miss at least two more games . . . North Babylon's Danny Green had 20 points to lead host San Antonio to a 100-95 win over Phoenix, ending the Suns' winning streak at four games . . . Jeremy Lin scored 18 points as the Lakers beat Orlando, 101-84, in Los Angeles . . . John Wall had 16 points and 12 assists for host Washington, which took a 20-point first-quarter lead and held on to beat Chicago, 102-86.

Kevin Durant scored 32 points and Dion Waiters made a splash in his home debut to help Oklahoma City beat Utah, 99-94. Waiters (15 points), in his first home game with the Thunder since being acquired from Cleveland this week, hit a three-pointer with 23 seconds left to put Oklahoma City up by four . . . Brandon Knight scored 14 points as host Milwaukee handed Minnesota its 14th straight loss, 98-84 . . . Al Horford had 19 points and 16 rebounds and visiting Atlanta held on for a 106-103 victory over Detroit to extend its winning streak to seven and snap the Pistons' run at seven.

The Suns beefed up their front line by acquiring Brandan Wright from the Celtics for a protected first-round draft pick. The 6-10 forward averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 35 games this season for Dallas and Boston.

Tarpley dies at age 50

Roy Tarpley, the former Dallas Mavericks star center whose NBA career was cut short by drug abuse, died at age 50 in a Texas hospital near Dallas. No cause of death was given. The 7-foot Tarpley was the seventh pick in the 1986 NBA draft out of Michigan. He played for the Mavericks until October 1991, when he was kicked out of the NBA for using cocaine.

NHLHorachek to lead Leafs this season

Peter Horachek will coach the Toronto Maple Leafs for the rest of the season. Team president Brendan Shanahan said the club won't hire a full-time coach until after the season. Horachek was promoted to interim head coach Wednesday after Randy Carlyle was fired.

Steven Stamkos scored his 22nd goal to break a third-period tie as Tampa Bay beat visiting Buffalo, 2-1 . . . James van Riemsdyk scored two goals as host Toronto topped Columbus, 5-2.

COLLEGES

Oregon loses wide receiver

Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington has been suspended for the national championship game after testing positive for marijuana. The 6-2, 191-pound redshirt freshman made his first career start in the victory over Arizona in the Pac-12 championship game, finishing with seven catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. He had seven catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns in Oregon's Rose Bowl win over Florida State on Jan. 1. -- APHofstra women beat Drexel in OT

Freshman Ashunae Durant's fast-break layup with 22 seconds left in overtime gave Hofstra a 53-52 women's basketball win over Drexel in Philadelphia.

Durant had 21 points and 17 rebounds, both of which were career highs, for the Pride (10-4, 3-0 Colonial Athletic Association). Kelly Loftus (12 points) hit all four of her three-point attempts in the second half, including one that tied the score at 48 with 35 seconds remaining in regulation. Elo Edeferioka had seven points and 12 rebounds. Drexel is 8-6, 2-1.