The Chicago Bulls (24-10) extended their win streak to seven with a 120-119 victory over the Washington Wizards on Jan. 1.
Bulls star DeMar DeRozan hit a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer for the second consecutive night. He also had one as the Bulls edged the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 31. DeRozan is the first player in NBA history with game-winning buzzer-beaters on consecutive days, according to Basketball Reference, ESPN.com noted.
DeRozan finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Nikola Vucevic led the team in rebounds, with 12.
The Bulls currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference. Their next game is Monday, Jan. 3, at 7 p.m. against the Orlando Magic at the United Center; the matchup will air on NBC Sports Chicago.
—Conversely, the Chicago Blackhawks (11-18-4) lost big to the host Nashville Predators (20-11-2), falling 6-1 on Jan. 1.
It was the Blackhawks' first game in two weeks as they came out of the NHL's extended holiday break.
The Blackhawks return home Sunday, Jan. 2, for a meeting against the Calgary Flames at the United Center.
—On Jan. 1 in Glendale, Arizona, the Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-2) staged a comeback and upended the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-2) 37-35 in the Fiesta Bowl—and spoiled the start of the Marcus Freeman era at the Indiana school.
Oklahoma State came up inches short of securing a College Football Playoff spot in a loss to Baylor at the Big 12 title game and fell into 21-point, first-half hole against Notre Dame before turning things around, CBS Sports noted.
Freeman was making his head coaching debut after now-former head coach Brian Kelly suddenly departed the school for LSU. ''We have to go back a see what the defense did schematically to give us some issues and try find a way to make sure that never happens again," Freeman said.
With its victory, Oklahoma State won its first major bowl since the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.
