No progress reported in NHL meetings
ISELIN, N.J., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The NHL and representatives of its players union met with federal mediators Wednesday without making progress toward ending an 88-day lockout.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told reporters outside the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in Iselin, N.J., no breakthroughs were made during the day.
"We met for about 6 1/2 hours today with the assistance of federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh, and the parties were actually never in the same room together," Daly said. "We did several different caucus meeting rooms and really there is nothing new to report. We don't have a conclusion to the process."
Daly indicated the NHL Players Association would meet Wednesday night and communicate with Beckenbaugh, who would then "get back to us tonight."
Some 13 players along with NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr and Special Council Steve Fehr, attended the session, including center Brendan Morrison, who told The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger he was "discouraged" and "frustrated" by the lack of progress.
"It's bargaining," he said. "It has to be give and take. It just can't be give and it just can't be take from one side or the other."
The lockout has forced the cancellation of all games through Dec. 30.
Warriors stun Heat in Miami
MIAMI, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Draymond Green finished off a late rally Wednesday with a layup in the final second that gave Golden State a 97-95 win over Miami.
The surprising Warriors won their fifth straight and handed Miami only its second home loss of the season.
Miami took a 95-91 lead on a jump shot by Dwyane Wade with 3:51 to play and the Heat did not score another point.
Stephen Curry brought the Warriors within two by hitting a jumper with 2:35 to go and David Lee tied it with a pair of free throws 39 seconds later.
Shane Battier had a chance to put Miami in front with 15 seconds to go, but his 3-point attempt misfired. Green then came through with a layup that went through the basket with nine-tenths of a second showing on the clock.
The Warriors have won 12 of their last 15 games and improved to 9-4 on the road.
Klay Thompson led Golden State with 27 points, Lee finished with 22 and 13 rebounds and Jarrett Jack added a season-best 20 points.
LeBron James had 31 points for Miami, but the Heat lost for the third time in five games.
Lattimore to enter NFL draft
COLUMBIA, S.C., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- South Carolina junior running back Marcus Lattimore said Wednesday he would enter the NFL draft next spring.
Lattimore suffered a severe knee injury on Oct. 27 during a Gamecocks' victory over Tennessee and he eventually underwent surgery to repair ligament damage.
Even though Lattimore missed the final three games of the regular season, he still led South Carolina in rushing with 662 yards and 11 touchdowns.
His sophomore season was limited to seven games due to another knee injury, that setback coming after he had been named the Southeastern Conference's freshman of the year in 2010.
Despite his shortened college career, Lattimore will leave South Carolina with a school record 41 touchdowns.
In another draft-related announcement Wednesday, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron said he would remain with the Crimson Tide for his senior season.
McCarron will go into the national championship game against Notre Dame as the nation's leader in passing efficiency. He has thrown for 26 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
Indians send Choo to Reds in 3-team deal
CLEVELAND, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Indians Wednesday parted with Shin-Soo Choo in a three-team, nine-player trade that sent the slugging outfielder to the Cincinnati Reds.
In the transaction, the Indians shipped Choo, infielder Jason Donald and approximately $3.5 million to the Reds while also sending reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Tribe in return received pitchers Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw from the Diamondbacks and outfielder Drew Stubbs from the Reds.
Minor-league infielder Didi Gregorius went from Cincinnati to Arizona as part of the deal.
Choo, an eight-year veteran, batted .283, hit 16 homers and drove in 67 runs over 155 games with the Indians last season. He will likely replace Stubbs in the Reds' outfield.
Stubbs batted .213 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs in 136 games last season.
The 21-year-old Bauer, meanwhile, was the third-overall draft choice in 2011 draft and was named the Diamondbacks' Minor League Pitcher of the Year thanks to a 12-2 record with a 2.42 ERA in 22 combined starts for Class A Reno and Class AA Mobile.
