NBA: Wade, Heat drub Grizz

In Miami, Dwyane Wade had 28 points, nine assists and four blocks in a 55-second span of the opening quarter as the Heat ran away early to beat the Grizzlies 118-85.

* In New Orleans, Chris Paul returned from a concussion and scored a season-high 33 points to go with 15 assists, seven rebounds and five steals, and the Hornets beat the Kings 115-103.

* In Dallas, Kobe Bryant overcame a sore left ankle to score 16 points, helping the Lakers beat the Mavericks 96-91. Bryant briefly left the game during the third quarter after turning the ankle.

NCAA: Ga. Tech ousts Hewitt

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt, who took the Yellow Jackets to the national championship game in 2004, was fired after his fourth losing season in the last six years. Athletic director Dan Radakovich said a national search for a replacement would begin immediately.

Hewitt had a 190-162 record in 11 seasons with the Yellow Jackets.

* Utah coach Jim Boylen was fired after four seasons, two days after the Utes ended a second straight losing season.

BOXING: Cotto by TKO

In Las Vegas, Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) stayed disciplined despite the best efforts of Ricardo Mayorga (29-8-1) to turn the fight into a brawl, then stopped Mayorga in the final round to retain his piece of the 154-pound title.

On the undercard, Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski earned a $50,000 payday during Day 1 of the NFL lockout in his second professional fight, stopping Richard Bryant at 1:45 of the first round of a scheduled four-round bout.

* Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) stopped Sergiy Dzinziruk (19-1, 10 KOs) by TKO in the eighth round, knocking down the Ukrainian middleweight three times at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Conn. Yuri Foreman (28-2), the aspiring rabbi who lost his piece of the 154-pound title to Cotto this summer, took a beating at the hands of Pawel Wolak (29-1) for his second straight loss.

GOLF: Matteson grabs lead

In Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, Troy Matteson shot a 6-under 66 in the Puerto Rico Open to open a three-shot lead as he goes after the third PGA Tour victory. Matteson seized control by matching the best score of the day, finishing with seven birdies and a bogey to reach 16 under.

* In Newport Beach, Calif., Nick Price followed his record-tying first round (11-under 60) with a 3-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead over Mark Wiebe and Mark O’Meara in the Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic.

ETC.: UFC buys Strikeforce

The parent company of the UFC has purchased rival mixed martial arts promoter Strikeforce, though they will continue to operate as separate entities. Strikeforce has grown over the past few years, with a roster of stars that includes Fedor Emelianenko. It also has output deals with premium cable network Showtime.

* In Toronto, Mikhail Grabovski and Phil Kessel scored in a 2:33 span early in the third period of the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 comeback victory over the Sabres in Toronto. . . . In Raleigh, N.C., Steve Mason made 29 saves and the Blue Jackets turned back the Hurricanes, 3-2.

* In Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom this season and clinched the discipline title, while Lindsey Vonn narrowed the gap behind Maria Riesch for the overall title from 38 points to 23.

* Arsenal went out of a third competition in two weeks when Manchester United reached the FA Cup semifinals with a 2-0 victory. Seven defenders started for United.