Massive Cleveland losing streak reaches 22
CLEVELAND, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Danny Granger's four late free throws Wednesday wrapped up Indiana's 117-112 win over Cleveland and pushed the Cavaliers closer to making NBA history.
The Cavaliers have lost 22 consecutive games and are one setback away from equaling the league's longest losing streak.
Vancouver lost 23 straight during the 1995-96 season and Denver equaled that mark two years later. Cleveland will play at Memphis Friday and then will host Portland Saturday.
The last Cleveland win came on Dec. 18 against New York. The Cavaliers have 41 losses in 49 games.
Cleveland battled back from a 17-point deficit in the second quarter and led by as many as three points with 3:10 to go in the fourth. After Indiana moved in front, the Cavaliers closed within one with 23 seconds left on a jumper by Christian Eyenga with 44 seconds to play.
Granger missed a 3-point try and the Cavaliers had a chance to regain the lead only to have Anthony Parker miss a jumper. Parker then fouled Granger, who made two free throws with 17 seconds left.
Granger's two additional foul shots with 11 seconds remaining clinched the victory.
Granger scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth period. Darren Collison added 22 points with nine assists. Indiana is 2-0 under interim coach Frank Vogel.
Ramon Sessions scored 25 for Cleveland and Antawn Jamison had 21.
Detroit's Franzen scores five goals
OTTAWA, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Johan Franzen, who just once this season had scored more than one goal in a game, produced five of them Wednesday in Detroit's wild 7-5 win over Ottawa.
It was the first five-goal game for a member of the Red Wings in 14 seasons. The Senators lost their eighth straight.
Franzen scored twice in the first period but Detroit trailed 3-2 after the first 20 minutes and the Red Wings were locked in a 4-4 tie heading into the final stanza.
Franzen put Detroit in front 30 seconds into the third period only to have Milan Michalek tie it 29 seconds later. Franzen delivered his fourth goal of the game on the power play with 12:50 to go and added an empty-netter with 34 seconds left.
He has 26 goals for the season after managing only 10 a year ago.
The hat trick was the first of Franzen's six-year career. His five goals came on 10 shots.
Jimmy Howard made 29 saves for the Red Wings.
Robin Lehner gave up four goals on 19 shots before being removed midway through the second period. The Ottawa losing streak is its longest since an 11-game skid 15 seasons ago.
Thorpe announces return to swimming
SYDNEY, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Australia's Ian Thorpe, the winner of five Olympic gold medals, announced Wednesday he is returning to competitive swimming.
He said he hoped to be ready for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Thorpe retired in November 2006 at age 24.
"Today I can say that I am now 100 percent mentally and physically committed to competing at the Olympic trials and am doing all in my power to best prepare for them and beyond," Thorpe said at a news conference.
He won an individual gold in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2000 Games in Sydney and was part of two winning relay teams at those Olympics. He won the 200- and 400-meter freestyle events in Athens four years later.
If Thorpe returns to the form he reached at the peak of his career, it would set up an anticipated duel with Michael Phelps of the United States.
Phelps won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, five of them in individual events. That brought his career Olympic gold medal total to 13, most in the history of the Games.
Lakers' Artest shoots down trade rumors
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers swingman Ron Artest Wednesday shot down rumors he was seeking a trade, insisting he's committed to helping the team.
Artest, responding to on an online report quoting anonymous sources as saying he wanted off the Lakers, told the Los Angeles Times he had no intention of asking to be dealt before the league's Feb. 24 trading deadline.
"No. Definitely not," he told the newspaper. "I feel good every day. We've got a chance to win multiple championships here ... trying to work towards another banner."
Despite a disagreement with Lakers Coach Phil Jackson late last season over public criticism leveled at him, Artest said he was committed to helping Los Angeles win a third straight NBA championship.
"We're sticking together," he said. "We're moving forward. That's all that matters."
The rumors came after the Lakers had struggled to a 4-4 record over an eight-game span that included losses to the Boston Celtics, the Sacramento Kings, the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Jackson told the Times he'd be surprised if Artest wanted a trade.
"I think Ron really cares about the team and his performance. … I think that Ron enjoys being in LA," Jackson said. "I think he likes the Lakers and I think he likes the action."
