Sports News Roundup: Celtics end Heat's five-game win streak; Figure skating-Japan's Hanyu injures ankle three months before Olympics and more

The Boston captain became the fifth player in team history to record a hat trick at age 36 or older, joining Hall of Famer Johnny Bucyk (six times), Jean Ratelle, Dit Clapper and Dave Andreychuk. Athletics-Bekele, Jepchirchir favoured as New York City Marathon returns Kenenisa Bekele is looking forward to his New York City Marathon debut and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir bids to build on her stellar 2021 when the famous five-borough race returns on Sunday after a year-long COVID-mandated hiatus.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NBA roundup: Celtics end Heat's five-game win streak

Jaylen Brown scored 17 points to lead six Boston scorers in double figures as the visiting Celtics routed the Miami Heat 95-78 on Thursday, using an impressive defensive effort to snap the Heat's five-game winning streak. Dennis Schroder scored 14 points, Aaron Nesmith had 13 and Romeo Langford chipped in 12 for Boston, which won its second straight following a three-game losing streak.

Figure skating-Japan's Hanyu injures ankle three months before Olympics

Yuzuru Hanyu's hopes of winning a third Olympic figure skating gold medal for Japan have suffered a blow after he pulled out of a tournament in Tokyo due to an ankle injury. With the Beijing Winter Games three months away, the country's skating federation said the 26-year-old had suffered ankle ligament damage and would miss the Nov. 12-14 NHK Cup.

Cricket-Morgan wants England to tackle racism 'head on'

England's limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan wants the cricket board to tackle the Yorkshire racism row "head on", insisting there was no place for any kind of discrimination against any player. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been rocked by former player Azeem Rafiq's allegation of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, which has been suspended from hosting international or major matches.

Cycling-Champions League geared to take track racing into new era

Once every four years the world's best track cyclists enjoy the Olympic Games limelight and captivate television audiences around the globe with high-octane gladiatorial racing.

For the rest of the time, however, road cycling rules and the velodrome specialists, outside of powerhouse nations such as Britain and the Netherlands, live a niche existence.

U.S. calls on China not to limit journalists' freedom at Winter Olympics

The United States on Thursday urged China not to restrict access and movement for journalists reporting on next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China this week said it was concerned about a lack of transparency from organizers of the Feb. 4-20 Games.

Soccer-Chelsea fan jailed for anti-Semitic tweets

A Chelsea supporter has been sentenced to eight weeks in jail by the Westminster Magistrates' Court for posting racist and anti-Semitic tweets. Nathan Blagg, 21, pleaded guilty to seven counts of sending offensive messages between Sep. 2020 and Feb. 2021.

Athletics-Runners cheer return of New York City Marathon

With sports stadiums packed full of fans and the bright lights of Broadway shining bright again, another 'Big Apple' institution returns from a COVID-19 hiatus on Sunday with the 50th running of the New York City Marathon. Last year's marathon was cancelled due to the pandemic and while this year's race will take place under an array of health and safety protocols competitors see its return as a sign of life getting back to normal.

NHL roundup: Patrice Bergeron's 4-goal game lifts Bruins past Wings

Patrice Bergeron matched a franchise record with a trio of power-play goals and scored four total to help the Boston Bruins skate past the visiting Detroit Red Wings 5-1 on Thursday night. Bergeron had been held without a goal during the Bruins' first seven games. The Boston captain became the fifth player in team history to record a hat trick at age 36 or older, joining Hall of Famer Johnny Bucyk (six times), Jean Ratelle, Dit Clapper and Dave Andreychuk.

Athletics-Bekele, Jepchirchir favoured as New York City Marathon returns

Kenenisa Bekele is looking forward to his New York City Marathon debut and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir bids to build on her stellar 2021 when the famous five-borough race returns on Sunday after a year-long COVID-mandated hiatus. The second-fastest marathoner of all time with a 2:01:41 personal best, Ethiopia's Bekele is the only runner in the men's field with a sub-2:06 performance to his name, but he will have to fend off Olympic silver medallist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands to reach the top of the podium.

Tennis-Hurkacz joins Ruud to complete ATP Finals field

Poland's Hubert Hurkacz and Casper Ruud of Norway will make their debuts in the ATP Finals later this month after the duo sealed the final two spots in the season-ending tournament in Turin, Italy. The 22-year-old Ruud has become the first Norwegian to make the cut for the Finals, which is played between the top eight men's singles players and doubles teams and will be held from Nov. 14-21.

(With inputs from agencies.)