New Zealand's bid to pull one back despite losing the series was dealt a blow even before the toss, with Kane Williamson pulling out of the fourth T20I in Wellington with a left shoulder niggle. Tim Southee, his replacement, won the toss and decided to chase again, a formula that seemed to have worked for New Zealand up until the last over in Hamilton, where they were stalled by Mohammed Shami to force the game into a Super Over.

Williamson's unavailability paved the way for Daryl Mitchell's inclusion, while New Zealand also brought in batsman Tom Bruce in place of allrounder Colin de Grandhomme.

India rested Rohit Sharma, bringing in Sanju Samson to join KL Rahul at the top of the order, leaving the visitors with two wicketkeeping options. Samson was part of the shadow India A tour prior to linking up with the T20I squad following Shikhar Dhawan's injury. He has so far played two T20Is in four years.

The other two changes were in the bowling department, with India bringing in Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini in place of Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami.

"It's either been easy wins or one-sided losses for us as a side, so winning in the Super Over in Hamilton was a massive confidence booster," Kohli said. "The team is playing amazingly well. We haven't played as well as a team in T20Is like we have so far this year, in a World Cup year."

India: 1 Sanju Samson, 2 KL Rahul (wk), 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal , 10 Navdeep Saini, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Tom Bruce, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Daryl Mitchell 6 Tim Seifert (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Scott Kuggeleijn, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Hamish Bennett

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Even once the tournament got underway, the tributes to the late Kobe Bryant continued at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The former NBA star was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in California, and his death has been a constant point of discussion in the days since as the sports world continues to process the loss. Thursday at TPC Scottsdale, several players swapped out their Scotty Cameron putter covers for a purple and gold version, an homage to the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers with whom Bryant spent his entire 20-year career.

But some players took things a step further. California native Max Homa donned one of Bryant’s Lakers jerseys while he played the infamous par-3 16th hole, making par en route to a 72.

So, too, did Tony Finau, who also wore a pair of purple and gold shoes with Bryant’s two uniform numbers: 8 and 24.

“I only own one NBA jersey, so to give you an idea of how much Kobe meant to me, and just being a Laker fan in general,” Finau said after an opening-round 69. “When you think about L.A., you think about Kobe. So it was the one jersey I owned and I knew that, hey, this is the time.”

Justin Thomas sported his Bryant jersey the day prior during the pro-am, opting not for a Lakers version but one from Bryant’s high school alma mater of Lower Merion. He did the same again on Thursday.

“I’ve played a lot of golf in that, believe it or not. So it felt pretty comfortable,” Thomas said. “I felt like it was very fitting. There’s only one tournament all year you can put a jersey on and hit a swing, or hit a shot, and it just, the timing worked out to be here. So it was a no-brainer for me.”

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Billy Horschel appears in position to finally contend at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and he has exactly one club to thank for his sudden success.

Horschel has been a mainstay at this event, and this week marks his eighth straight trip to TPC Scottsdale. But he’s cracked the top 20 only once, that coming in his 2013 debut when he tied for 11th.

“I love this event. It’s always an event that I want to play really well in,” Horschel said. “I’ve probably put too much pressure on myself over the last couple years to try, and today I just woke up with a sense of calm and ease and it was like, whatever happens today happens.”

That pervading calm manifested into made putts Thursday, as Horschel went lights-out on the greens. He led the field in strokes gained: putting, picking up more than five strokes on the field, and he holed nearly 196 feet worth of putts including four putts from outside 25 feet. It all added up to an 8-under 63, and left the veteran alone in second, two shots off the lead of Wyndham Clark.

“I’m a really good putter, and then when I’m starting to roll putts from 25-plus feet in, it’s an added bonus. And that’s what I did well today,” Horschel said. “I hit some really good shots when I needed to and took advantage.”

Horschel has struggled out of the gate in the new year, missing the cut in Palm Springs and tying for 68th last week in San Diego. But Thursday, he opened with three birdies over his first six holes, and his bogey-free effort included an eagle on the par-5 third. Thanks in large part to a red-hot putter, he appears ready to contend for what could be his third top-10 finish of the young season.

“The hole doesn’t look bigger. I think what happens is I just see a line or I see a track towards the hole, really more defined, and so then the goal is just hit it with the right speed,” Horschel said. “And I feel like if it gets around the hole, the ball’s going to find some way to go in the hole.”

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Wyndham Clark beat darkness - and everyone else Thursday at TPC Scottsdale.

Playing in the second-to-last group off the 10th tee, Clark shot a career-best 10-under 61 to take the first-round lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

He had eight birdies in a 10-hole stretch from No. 12 to No. 3, added two more on Nos. 7 and 8 and putted out for par on No. 9 just after sunset.

"I hit a lot of fairways and I just gave myself a lot of looks and the putter was hot," Clark said.

Clark was a stroke off the course record of 60 set by Grant Waite in 1996 and matched by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001 and Phil Mickelson in 2005 and 2013.

The 26-year-old former University of Oregon player is in his second full season on the tour. He missed the cuts the last two weeks, shooting 69-79 last week at Torrey Pines.

"I actually played really well the last two weeks," Clark said. ''I just wasn't making putts. I wasn't capitalizing."

Billy Horschel was second, holing nearly 200 feet of putts in an afternoon 63.

"I looked on the leaderboard and saw I was at 8 under and I saw Billy Horschel was, too," Clark said. "I said, 'Man, he's going to rain on my parade.' So, kind of to myself I said, 'All right, let's go get past him.'"

Horschel had an eagle and six birdies.

"Any day you shoot 8 under, no bogeys, you can't complain," Horschel said.

He had the big putting day after working with instructor Todd Anderson.

"We made a couple changes, a couple tweaks to the putting stuff that was a little off," Horschel said.

J.B. Holmes was another stroke back after a roller-coaster start - highlighted by a hole-in-one - and big finish in the morning wave. He won the event in 2006 and 2008 for his first PGA Tour titles.

"I like playing in the desert. I just enjoy being here," Holmes said. "The greens are always usually in great shape. They're in great shape this week - they're quick, they're firm."

The long hitter from Kentucky played the first five holes in even par, following a double bogey on the second, with a birdie on the third, the ace on the fourth and a bogey on the fifth. He used a 7-iron on the 175-yard fourth.

"I didn't feel like everything was going my way, so I wasn't thinking it was actually going to go in," Holmes said. "But I hit it up there. I knew it was a good shot, and I thought I'm going to have a short putt for birdie and then it disappeared."

Holmes birdied the final three holes and seven of the last 10, hitting to 4 feet on 16 and 17 and closing with a 25-footer. He fought right elbow pain, seeking treatment from his trainer at the turn.

"It's been hurting a little bit more lately than it normally does," Holmes said.

Tom Hoge, Harris English, Bud Cauley and Byeong Hun An shot 65, and Nate Lashley, K.J. Choi, Sungjae Im, Adam Long and Hudson Swafford were at 66.

Jon Rahm opened with a 67. He can jump from No. 3 to No. 1 in the world with a victory, provided top-ranked Brooks Koepka - tied for 48th in the Saudi International after an opening 70 - finishes out of the top four.

"I'll take four days of playing tee to green as good as I did today," Rahm said.

The former Arizona State star wore maroon and gold shoes in honor of late Sun Devils and Cardinals football player Pat Tillman.

Playing partner Justin Thomas played the 16th in a Kobe Bryant jersey from the late Lakers great's high school days at Lower Merion in Pennsylvania.

"I've played a lot of golf in that, believe it or not, so it felt pretty comfortable," Thomas said.

The fourth-ranked Thomas shot 68 following a two-week break. He opened the year at Kapalua with his second victory of the season, then missed the cut in Honolulu.

Hideki Matsuyama, the 2016 and 2017 winner, matched Rahm with a 67 in the threesome with Thomas.

Defending champion Rickie Fowler had seven bogeys in a 74. Jordan Spieth also shot 74, making four bogeys. Bubba Watson, playing alongside Spieth, bogeyed two of his last three for a 69.

January 31: New Zealand v India, 4th T20I, Wellington

Our XI: KL Rahul (wk), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (capt), Martin Guptill, Shreyas Iyer, Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Tim Southee

NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant) updates

Captain: Virat Kohli

For once, Kohli might not be the most popular captain choice going around, with KL Rahul in fine form and Rohit Sharma finding his hitting range in the third T20I. Kohli is yet to make a fifty in this series - he has 94 runs from three innings at a strike rate of 132.4 - and this could be the day for that big score.

Vice-captain: KL Rahul

Rahul averages an astounding 54.55 from his last ten T20 innings, and has been clearing boundaries with ease throughout the series. An equally worthy choice for captain, especially if you'd like a safe, in-form pick.

Hot Picks

Kane Williamson

Williamson's 48-ball 95 in the third T20I is now his highest score in the format, and it was an innings where he didn't spare even Jasprit Bumrah at the death. While he couldn't quite finish the job in Hamilton, he looks in fine form.

Rohit Sharma

Sharma was coming off two consecutive single-digit scores but smashed a 40-ball 65 in the chase, before dragging India over the line in the Super Over. He struggled to get going at Wellington's Westpac Stadium, the venue for this game, when India toured here last - three runs from two limited-overs innings - and would be looking to put that behind this time.

Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja is the joint-highest wicket-taker in the series so far, but more importantly, has an incredible economy rate of 5.90 after three games, comfortably the lowest among bowlers who have bowled more than two overs. He has only conceded four boundaries from ten overs and is a bankable bowler to have in your side in a series largely dominated by batsmen.

Value Picks

Tim Seifert

Seifert made a 26-ball 33 in the second T20I, the only substantial batting opportunity he has had so far this series. While he has struggled to get going at the death, Seifert's T20I best (84 off 43) came as an opener on this ground the last time these two sides faced off. India, of course, did not have either Bumrah or Mohammed Shami in that game, but it was an indication of what Seifert is capable of with bat in hand.

Shreyas Iyer

Iyer is India's second-highest run-getter in the series with 119 in three innings, at an outstanding strike rate of 152.6. His composure and big-hitting abilities have come to the fore, especially during the two successful chases India had in the first two games.

Points to note:

• Kohli indicated India are likely to make changes after winning the series 3-0. Keep an eye on the toss and team news before finalising your XI

• The last three games on this ground have all been high-scoring, with sides batting first putting up 170-plus scores and winning each time. It might be worth tilting your balance towards the side batting first

India 5 for 150 (Kaur 42*) beat England 7 for 147 (Knight 67) by five wickets

Harmanpreet Kaur held her nerve to steer India to victory with three balls to spare in the opening match of the tri-series in Canberra after opposite number Heather Knight helped England recover from a poor start with the bat.

India were well ahead of the rate early in the chase as Shafali Verma showed her power at the top and Jemimah Rodrigues gave glimpses of her class at No. 3, but made heavy weather of it in the second half and with 26 needed off 18 balls it was starting to favour England. However, Kaur and Deepti Sharma got it down to six from the final over and the captain finished it with a lofted six.

Knight, who was dropped twice, led England's revival with a career-best 67 as they rebounded from 4 for 59 to post a competitive total alongside a lively innings from Tammy Beaumont.

There were a couple of controversial moments during the match: Fran Wilson was bowled off what looked like a no-ball and Amy Jones, the England wicketkeeper, claimed a catch which had fallen to the ground in the first over India's chase before the third umpire reversed the decision.

Gayakwad dents England but fielding hurts India

Rajeshwari Gayakwad was playing her first T20I since June 2018 and made an early impression on her return removing Jones in her first over and Danni Wyatt in her second as England struggled early in the powerplay. However, then India's fielding started to let them down as Nat Sciver was dropped on 8 by Kaur at mid-off then Knight was spilled at deep midwicket on 5 by Rodrigues. Knight was missed for a second time on 13, although this was a tougher chance at long-on, the same over Sciver had fallen which would have left England in a big hole.

Captain's best and Beaumont's new role

England were stumbling on 4 for 59 at the halfway mark after the somewhat controversial dismissal of Wilson who was bowled by Shikha Pandey with what appeared to be a no-ball but was allowed to stand by the third umpire. Knight led from the front to put the innings back on track alongside Beaumont who continued to settle into her new middle-order role which began in the series against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur. The pair added 69 in seven overs as Knight brought up her second T20I half-century and progressed to career-best while Beaumont showed her leg-side power including a clean strike over long-on for six. However, when the pair fell India closed out well as the final two overs cost just 11.

Jones catch controversy

It appeared England had struck a key early blow when Smriti Mandhana edged her first ball to Jones who dived to her left to take the chance one handed. However, replays soon showed the ball had spilled from Jones' glove as she tumbled on the ground although she had continued to claim the catch. Mandhana was most of the way off the field when she was told to stop by team-mates and the on-field umpires went to the TV official. The only element of debate was whether Jones had been in control of the ball for long enough, but it soon became clear this wasn't the case and the decision was overturned.

Kaur's calmness

A powerplay of 1 for 52, led by the contrasting styles of Verma and Rodrigues, put India ahead of the rate but then England started to squeeze once Verma had picked out deep midwicket. However, Kaur found the boundary often enough to ensure things stayed within the realms for India despite the struggles of Taniya Bhatia to find her timing. With 22 needed off 14 balls, Sharma managed a vital boundary off Sophie Ecclestone and was then dropped at long-on by substitute Mady Villiers from the first ball of the penultimate over which ended up costing 11. Kaur made sure there was no final-ball drama with a wonderful lofted drive off Katherine Brunt to seal the game.

LOS ANGELES -- The LA Clippers honored Kobe Bryant in a variety of ways Thursday night in the first basketball game played at Staples Center since the former Lakers great died, but coach Doc Rivers and the team agreed there is one ultimate way to pay tribute to him.

"The best way if you want to honor Kobe, and we talked about this even on Sunday, is to go win," Rivers said before the Clippers played the Sacramento Kings. "Not just win tonight, but win it.

"So that's our journey. It was already our journey, and then this happens, and I think our guys understand if you really want to salute him, he made a lot of sacrifices to be a winner, Kobe did. ... And so for us to win, we're going to have to do the same thing, otherwise we will not win. So I think that's our journey now as well."

The Clippers played Sunday and won in Orlando, Florida, just hours after Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. The team was supposed to play the Lakers on Tuesday, but the NBA postponed the game until further notice to allow for more time to grieve.

The Clippers, too, were affected by Bryant's death. Rivers was close to Bryant and battled with him in two NBA Finals as coach of the Boston Celtics. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George grew up in Southern California and were close to Bryant. Both attended Bryant's camp at his basketball facility before the season started, and Leonard shared the same helicopter pilot -- Ara Zobayan, who died in the accident.

Several Clippers players looked up to Bryant, and Lou Williams was a teammate of Bryant's with the Lakers.

In their first game back in the building Bryant called home for almost two decades, the Clippers wore warm-up shirts with a "KB24" logo on the front and his Nos. 8 and 24 on the back during pregame. The coaching staff wore Kobe Nike shoes and purple ties.

The marquee in the Staples Center hallway that leads to the locker rooms, which usually announces the teams that are playing that night, instead read, "REST IN PEACE KOBE AND GIGI" with purple and gold hearts.

The Clippers played a video tribute to Bryant, Gianna and all those who were lost in the helicopter crash, narrated by George, who said Bryant was the reason he first picked up a basketball.

And a spotlight shined on Bryant's retired No. 8 and No. 24 for the entire game, a 124-103 Clippers loss. Typically, the Clippers have the retired Lakers jerseys up high in the arena covered during their games.

"It's been tough all week, though Sunday was brutal, it really was," Rivers said. "It was a hard day for everybody, though, really for everyone, and then just everywhere you go you're reminded, people come up and want to talk about it. I've been sent more pictures over the last three days, you know really personal pictures with Kobe and I at dinner, Kobe and I at different stuff, so it's been a tough week for me, tough week for the whole city.

"You know what I told my players is that's OK," he continued. "I don't know how each person should handle this emotionally, like I'm not versed on what to do there. I do know each one should handle it in his own way, and I told our guys to feel free in whatever way. I think we're reflecting, we're trying to a lot more now, we're trying to celebrate his life now as well after we've gotten over the shock, which I don't know if we have yet, so that's where I'm at."

Kings coach Luke Walton played with the Lakers from 2003 to '11, won two championships with Bryant and was coach of the franchise from 2016 to '19. He remained close with Bryant and said he walked around LA Live outside Staples Center when the team arrived at its hotel at 2 a.m. PT.

Walton saw that even in the middle of the night, people came to mourn Bryant.

"It was ... it was emotional," Walton said. "It wasn't a lot, [but] there was people at 2 in the morning. ... They were chanting. There was a group of people chanting 'Ko-be' ... 2 in the morning. And you're looking around and, again, seeing how many people he touched, and the flowers and the candles and the messages and the handwritten notes, it was an emotional setting."

Bryant touched so many in the NBA, including several on the Clippers. Assistant Tyronn Lue played for the Lakers from 1998 to '01 and remained close to him. Rivers said he turned to Lue at one point Sunday during the game against Orlando and saw Lue in tears.

"He's struggling," Rivers said. "In the middle of the game, I turn to Ty to ask a question, and he couldn't, he was crying and literally couldn't function because he had a very personal relationship with him as a player, as a teammate and then as a friend after that. So he's doing the best, they all are.

"You know Kawhi and him had a very good relationship, very close relationship, spent a lot of time together this summer, and so this is not one of those things that goes away right away, and I don't know when it goes away."

Bradley Beal isn't an NBA All-Star, and he isn't happy about it.

One of the notable players not selected as a reserve Thursday, the Washington Wizards guard sounded off on his omission after adding to his gaudy season-long scoring totals with a 34-point night against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

"I'm a little pissed off about it," Beal, a two-time All-Star, told NBC Sports Washington after the Wizards' 121-107 victory. "I know how I am, [so] I was kind of expecting it, honestly. It's disrespectful, but the real ones know [I'm an All-Star]. I'll just keep competing. I'm going to try to get my team in the playoffs for sure."

The numbers are on Beal's side.

His 28.7 points per game entering Thursday ranks third in the Eastern Conference. According to research by the Elias Sports Bureau, the only player to average that many points entering the All-Star break and not be an All-Star was World B. Free in 1978-79 (minimum 25 games).

"It's just very frustrating and disappointing for a guy to put up historic numbers, and he made the conscious decision this summer to stay the course and to play his heart out with great leadership to build something in Washington, as opposed to jumping ship to take an easier path," Beal's agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN's Tim Bontemps, referring to the two-year, $72 million extension his client signed with Washington before the season. "He chose not to do that, and instead stayed the course -- only to not be recognized as an All-Star because his team hasn't won enough games when, in fact, the Wizards (16-31) have exceeded expectations.

"It can't be just about the gross numbers of wins and losses. It has to be, 'What is your impact on the game?' And so I think the coaches are sending a horrible message to players, that if you want to be loyal and go through the tough times in your organization, you're not going to be an All-Star in those tough times."

Added teammate Thomas Bryant: "He was [snubbed]. Hands down, 100 percent. This should be unexplainable. He should be a shoo-in. It's just not right."

When the All-Star Game starters were announced last week, Beal finished sixth among East guards despite being ranked second in the player vote as part of the weighted scoring system. Eight East reserves were picked by the coaches and announced Thursday night, with Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry and Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons among that group.

Beal wasn't alone in his frustrations.

Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones criticized the fact his star player, Devin Booker, did not make the West team.

"I've played with and against multiple All-Stars in this league and Devin Booker is undoubtedly an NBA All Star," said Jones, a 14-year NBA veteran.

Booker, who has never made an All-Star team, is averaging 27.1 points per game, fifth-most in the West, and 6.4 assists per game on 51% shooting this season. The only other players in NBA history to average 27 points and six assists on 50% shooting in a season are LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Stephen Curry and Oscar Robertson.

Others sounded off on social media.

Among them was reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who asked how his 41-win Milwaukee Bucks could have only two players -- himself and Khris Middleton -- on the East team.

How on earth are we about to have almost 50 wins before All Star and we don't have 3 All Stars in the game???? @EBled2 is an All Star!

— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) January 31, 2020

Of course, players still can get last-minute nods to the Feb. 16 game in Chicago by way of injury replacements.

CLEVELAND -- Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said he was pushed by a fan when he dove into the stands going after a loose ball during Thursday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The play occurred late in the fourth quarter of Toronto's 115-109 victory. Lowry retrieved a missed shot by teammate Pascal Siakam that was headed out of bounds.

Video showed Lowry landed on two fans in the first row of seats and one appeared to press his hand on the six-time All-Star's back as he returned to the floor. Lowry turned and looked at the fan as play continued.

"I got pushed, and that's the second time it's happened to me," Lowry said. "The next time it happens, I don't know if I'll be able to control myself. Fans like that shouldn't be able to lay any hands on you and shouldn't be a part of our game."

Lowry was pushed by a minority owner of the Golden State Warriors during last season's NBA Finals when he dove into the stands going after a loose ball under similar circumstances.

This time, Lowry saved the possession for the Raptors and Serge Ibaka hit a 3-pointer that gave Toronto a 105-101 lead. Lowry, selected to next month's All-Star Game earlier in the day, went up court on defense after the basket.