Spurs’ Manu Ginobili expected to be out at least two months

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili will have surgery on his broken left hand and is expected to be out for at least two months.

Ginobili posted on Twitter on Wednesday that he will have a plate screwed onto his shooting hand Thursday. He broke his fifth metacarpal, below his pinkie, during the San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

“Not thrilled,” Ginobili wrote.

Ginobili, 34, is averaging 17.4 points a game and has overtaken Tim Duncan as the Spurs’ emotional and offensive leader.

Although San Antonio’s supporting cast this season is among the youngest of the Duncan era, the Spurs’ fortunes still rest with Ginobili, Tony Parker and Duncan, who will turn 36 in April and might be playing his final season.

Ginobili injured his hand Monday when he fouled Minnesota’s Anthony Tolliver.

“Six to eight weeks is the most common thing that’s been thrown around, so I assume that’s what it is unless the docs figure out differently tomorrow,” Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph is expected to sit out six to eight weeks after tearing a ligament in his right knee.

The 6-foot-9, 255-pound Randolph tore his right medial collateral ligament in the first quarter of the Grizzlies’ 104-64 loss at Chicago on Sunday. Memphis announced the injury Wednesday, a day after an MRI exam revealed the injury.

Randolph, 29, led the Grizzlies in scoring through the first four games of the season with an average of 14.8 points and had 7.5 rebounds per game.

Philadelphia, Memphis and New Orleans agreed on a multiplayer trade in which the 76ers are sending Marreese Speights to Memphis, the Grizzlies will send Xavier Henry to New Orleans and the Grizzlies and Hornets each will send a second-round draft pick to Philadelphia.

ETC.

Penn State focused on image

Penn State’s board of trustees and president focused on repairing the school’s tarnished image and braced for financial backlash in the immediate aftermath of the child sex-abuse scandal that erupted two months ago, going so far as to recommend reminding any outraged donors that they wouldn’t get their money back, according to internal memos obtained by the Associated Press.

Four memos sent Nov. 14-18 describe the school’s scrambling response less than two weeks after former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child molestation charges. Two Penn State administrators also were charged with lying to a grand jury and failing to properly report suspected child abuse.

Boise State’s Chris Petersen joined the ranks of college coaches making at least $2 million a year after the State Board of Education unanimously approved a $375,000 pay raise for Petersen for 2012.

His contract called for a 2012 salary of $1.625 million before the raise.

Yet another Australian Open campaign is in doubt for Serena Williams because of an injury.

In her first tournament since losing the U.S. Open final in September, Williams was serving for the match with a 6-2, 5-3 lead against Bojana Jovanovski on Wednesday when she twisted her left ankle and crashed to the court.

Williams, who sat out the Australian Open in 2002, 2004 and 2011 because she was hurt, limped through the next game before securing a 6-2, 6-4 win and advancing to the Brisbane tournament quarterfinals in her first trip Down Under since winning the 2010 Australian Open title.

She withdrew from the Brisbane event later Wednesday after having medical scans that confirmed a sprained ankle.

Her scheduled quarterfinal opponent, Daniela Hantuchova, advances to the semifinals.

Andy Murray was two points from defeat in the second set before he rallied to beat Gilles Muller, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-0, and moved into the quarterfinals, where he will face Marcos Baghdatis.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer eased into the Qatar Open quarterfinals in rare cool and windy conditions at Doha. Nadal routed Denis Gremelmayr, 6-2, 6-2, and Federer beat Grega Zemlja, 6-2, 6-3. Also advancing was Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who saved two set points in the first set before defeating Flavio Cipolla, 7-6 (8), 6-3.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and teammate Tomas Berdych won their singles matches in straight sets, giving the Czech Republic an insurmountable 2-0 lead over the United States in the Hopman Cup at Perth, Australia. Kvitova opened with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Berdych beat Mardy Fish, 6-3, 6-3. Berdych and Kvitova made it a sweep when they beat Mattek-Sands and Fish, 6-3, 7-5, in mixed doubles.

The Chicago Cubs reached an agreement to trade pitcher Carlos Zambrano to the Miami Marlins for pitcher Chris Volstad, according to multiple reports.

Zambrano wore out his welcome with the Cubs after repeated meltdowns. The former ace cleaned out his locker and talked about retiring after being ejected during a loss to Atlanta on Aug. 12. He was suspended without pay and then it was decided he would sit out the rest of the season.

Relief pitcher Fernando Rodney agreed to a $2-million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander will be paid $1.75 million next season. The deal also includes a $2.5-million club option or a $250,000 buyout for 2013.

Rodney was 3-5 with three saves and a 4.50 earned-run average in 32 appearances with the Angels last season. He could fill a setup role or compete with Kyle Farnsworth for the closer’s job.

Tim Howard became the fourth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League when the American put in a wind-blown clearance for Everton during a 2-1 loss against Bolton.

His right-footed kick from about five yards inside his penalty area bounced about 30 yards from the Bolton goal and was blown by the wind over leaping Bolton goalie Adam Bogdan.

The game also marked Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan’s return to Everton.

Rangers Coach John Tortorella was fined by the NHL for comments critical of the league and the officials after New York’s Winter Classic victory over Philadelphia. ESPNNewYork.com and the NBC Sports Network reported that the fine was $30,000.

Tortorella questioned several calls that were made and not made by referees Ian Walsh and Dennis LaRue late in the 3-2 victory Monday, including a penalty shot that was awarded to Philadelphia with 19.6 seconds left in regulation. Henrik Lundqvist stopped Danny Briere on the attempt.

Tortorella suggested that NBC, which televised the game, and the NHL might have been in collusion to get the score tied.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo was suspended seven games by the NHL for boarding Edmonton Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert on Monday. Carcillo was given a major penalty and ejected from the game. … Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque was suspended for five games by the NHL for elbowing Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom in the head. Bourque was given a minor penalty for the hit.