Americans advance while top seeds falter...Nets, Bulls short-handed...Charlotte dismisses Mayfield

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar (KOO'-chur), Hunter Mahan (MAY'-han) and Steve Stricker are among seven Americans who've advanced to the third round of the Match Play Championship in Arizona. Americans Robert Garrigus (GAR'-ih-guhs), Scott Piercy and Webb Simpson also won their second-round matches. Second-round losers include third seed Luke Donald, fourth seed Louis Oosthuizen (WUHST'-hy-zen), No. 5 Justin Rose and Charles Howell III, leaving Watson as the lone top-10 seed to reach the third round.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets are without guard Joe Johnson for tonight's game against Houston because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Interim coach P.J. Carlesimo (kahr-LES'-ih-moh) says the pain was bothering Johnson after Wednesday's victory over Milwaukee, when he managed only eight points just one night after hitting the game-winning jumper to beat the Bucks.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau (TIH'-bih-doh) says guard Kirk Hinrich (HYN'-rihk) will miss tonight's game against the Charlotte Bobcats with a lingering right elbow injury, but center Joakim (JOH'-kihm) Noah and guard Marco Belinelli will play. Hinrich has missed nine of the team's last 10 games. The Bulls are looking to bounce back against the NBA-worst Bobcats following last night's blowout loss to Miami.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte director of athletics Judy Rose has announced that junior guard DeMario Mayfield has been dismissed from the men's basketball team for violation of athletic department policy. Mayfield has been suspended since Jan. 30 for violating school rules for a third time in two seasons. He was averaging a team-high 11.7 points with 3.6 rebounds this season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Columbus Blue Jackets center Artem Anisimov (ah-NEE'-sih-mohv) has returned home one day after absorbing a scary hit in a game against the Red Wings in Detroit. Anisimov was taken off the ice on a stretcher after being struck in the head by Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey. Anisimov's head then hit the ice as Quincey fell on top of him.