SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is expected to miss several games because of a mild left ankle sprain.
The Spurs said Thursday the swelling in Parker’s ankle was minimal after being carried off the court Wednesday night in a victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Parker won’t play tonight against the Grizzlies and also will likely sit Sunday’s game against the Nuggets. No timetable for his return has been set.
• Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for kicking a water bottle in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Allenby best on toughest course
SAN DIEGO — Scott Piercy‘s name is atop the leaderboard at Torrey Pines after an 8-under-par 64 on the North Course, but the best round might have belonged to Robert Allenby.
Allenby, who has two wins and a runner-up finish in his last three starts, had a bogey-free 67 on a course built for the U.S. Open, making him the only player among the top 15 at the Farmers Insurance Open to play the South Course.
Piercy had a one-stroke lead over Ben Crane, Chris Tidland, Ryuji Imada and Matt Every, all of whom played the easier North Course.
Phil Mickelson made his 2010 debut on the South and played conservatively on his way to a 70.
Patrick unveils NASCAR schedule
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — IndyCar star Danica Patrick will compete in at least 12 NASCAR races this season and could make her debut in the season opener.
Patrick is waiting to decide whether to race in the Nationwide Series opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13.
JR Motorsports said it will decide after Patrick makes her stock car debut in the Feb. 6 ARCA race at Daytona. If she feels comfortable, she could race the following week in NASCAR’s second-tier series. If Patrick doesn’t drive the Nationwide race at Daytona, she will make her debut the following week in Fontana, Calif.
• Four-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson said he is feeling fine after he crashed during practice for this weekend’s 24-hour race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
• Tony George, who spent 20 years as president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and founded the Indy Racing League, told his Vision Racing team he was suspending operations because he lacked sponsors.
Footnotes.
The U.S. cross country ski team selected Simi Hamilton of Aspen as its 11th and final competitor at the Vancouver Olympics.
• Former all-star outfielder Jim Edmonds agreed to a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, hoping to return to the big leagues after sitting out last season.
• Dallas Stars rookie center Tom Wandell will have season-ending knee surgery after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament last week against the Vancouver Canucks.
• The United States qualified for the women’s Under-20 World Cup by beating Costa Rica 2-1 in Guatemala City.
