Belichick defends Patriots once more

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Saying his team “followed every rule to the letter,” New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick described in detail how his team prepares its footballs on game day and defended his players from chatter that they made it to the Super Bowl by cheating.

“At no time was there any intent whatsoever to try to compromise the integrity of the game or to gain an advantage,” Belichick said in an unscheduled availability on Saturday afternoon, eight days before the Patriots will play the Seattle Seahawks for the NFL championship.

Speaking once again with authority on a topic he previously professed ignorance of, Belichick said the team conducted an internal study on the process of getting game balls ready. Most of the steps are designed to make them tackier, which has a noticeable effect on how it feels, he said, but the process could also affect the pressure inside the ball, which is harder to tell by touch.

NBA’s Hawks win 16th straight game

ATLANTA — Paul Millsap scored 20 points and Al Horford added 19 as Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta extended its franchise-record winning streak to 16 games with a 112-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jeff Teague finished with 15 points and seven of Atlanta’s 30 assists as the Hawks won for the 30th time in 32 games.

The Hawks took their first double-digit lead on Mike Scott’s three-point play at the 9:31 mark of the second quarter, and their biggest advantage was 18 on a 3 by Millsap late in the second. Minnesota trimmed the lead to twice in the closing minutes, but couldn’t get any closer.

Jiminez’ late birdies claim Tour victory

KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii — Miguel Angel Jimenez rallied to win the Champions Tour’s season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship, birdieing six of the final nine holes for a one-stroke victory over Mark O’Meara.

The Spaniard closed with a 6-under 66 for his second victory in three career starts on the 50-and-over tour. He broke a tie with O’Meara with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.

Jimenez finished at 17-under 199 at Hualalai Golf Club. O’Meara shot a 64. The two-time Champions Tour winner finished second for the 15th time.

Brown snares 1st U.S. skating title

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Jason Brown won his first U.S. title, holding off Adam Rippon thanks to his big lead after the short program.

Joshua Farris, skating last, had a chance to overtake Brown on Sunday, but one of his triple-jump combinations didn’t count because he did a double toe loop three different times. It was still a successful event for Farris, who finished third to earn a chance to go to the world championships.