Category: Sports

The New York Rangers ended their five-game losing skid in dramatic fashion Saturday, overcoming an early two-goal deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout at home.

Vincent Trocheck delivered the decisive blow in the first round of the shootout, cutting from the lower left circle and firing a shot past goaltender Stuart Skinner on the glove side to secure the victory.

Pittsburgh appeared to control the game early, building a 2-0 advantage after Anthony Mantha and Ryan Shea found the net in the opening three minutes of the first and second periods respectively.

Mantha opened the scoring just 2:08 into the contest on a power play, deflecting Erik Karlsson’s shot from the right point past Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin.

The Penguins nearly extended their lead less than a minute later when Bryan Rust scored, but New York successfully challenged for goaltender interference after Mantha’s skate made contact with Shesterkin in the crease, nullifying the goal.

Shea did make it 2-0 early in the second period when his shot from the slot area found its way through traffic and past Shesterkin at 1:59.

New York began their rally when Mika Zibanejad cut the deficit in half with 10 minutes remaining in the middle frame, converting a one-timer off a pass from Trocheck during a power play opportunity.

Taylor Raddysh completed the comeback just 2:57 into the final period, redirecting a pass from Vladislav Gavrikov past Skinner’s pads to even the score at 2-2.

Shesterkin was outstanding in goal for the Rangers, making 31 saves total including five crucial stops in overtime. The Russian goaltender twice denied Evgeni Malkin in the final half of regulation and twice more in the extra session, then stopped rookie Egor Chinakov in the shootout’s second round.

The Rangers sealed their victory when Thomas Novak’s third-round shootout attempt sailed wide of the net.

Skinner made 23 saves for Pittsburgh before being beaten by Trocheck’s shootout winner.

The victory improved New York’s recent record to 3-11-2 over their last 16 games and 2-6-1 in their previous nine home contests. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh fell to 9-1-3 in their past 13 games and missed an opportunity to earn their third win against the Rangers this season.

Olympic champion Cole Hocker kept his perfect streak alive at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships, capturing victory in the 3,000-meter event during Saturday’s competition on Staten Island, New York.

The thrilling race at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex saw Hocker edge out two fellow Olympic teammates in an incredibly tight finish, clocking 7 minutes and 39.25 seconds. Yared Nuguse claimed second place just three hundredths behind at 7:39.28, while Nico Young rounded out the podium in third at 7:39.29.

The Paris Olympics 1,500-meter champion and recent world outdoor 5,000-meter titleholder has never tasted defeat at the national indoor championships. His winning resume includes double victories in the 1,500 and 3,000 events during 2022, plus another 1,500-meter crown in 2024.

“It was just staying attached to both Yared and Nico,” Hocker explained to NBC Sports. “I know both of them are such good finishers. It was just staying connected to them because only two go (to worlds), so I needed one of them.”

Saturday’s competition serves as the selection meet for the upcoming World Indoor Championships scheduled for March 20-22 in Poland. Each nation may qualify a maximum of two athletes per individual event, with potential third spots available through World Indoor Tour wild card selections.

Hocker and Nuguse will return to action Sunday for the 1,500-meter final as the national championships wrap up.

Other standout performances included Chase Jackson’s record-breaking effort in women’s shot put, launching 20.44 meters to surpass the previous American indoor standard. The two-time world champion had previously shared the old record of 20.21 meters and also holds the outdoor mark at 20.76 meters.

Pole vaulter Zach Bradford joined an exclusive club by clearing 6.01 meters, becoming just the eighth American man to reach the six-meter barrier in either indoor or outdoor competition.

Emily Mackay established a new championship standard in the women’s 3,000 meters with her winning time of 8:30.01, narrowly defeating Elle St. Pierre who finished in 8:30.07. The hurdles events saw Dylan Beard triumph in the men’s 60-meter race at 7.37 seconds, while Alia Armstrong took the women’s title in 7.82 seconds.

The women’s high jump witnessed the end of an era as Vashti Cunningham’s remarkable nine consecutive national indoor championships came to a close. Charity Hufnagel claimed victory with a clearance of 1.96 meters, while Cunningham settled for runner-up honors at 1.93 meters.

Additional event winners included Jasmine Moore in women’s long jump at 6.86 meters and Lauren Harris in the 5K racewalk with a time of 22:14.69.

On the men’s side, Russell Robinson dominated the triple jump with a leap of 16.59 meters, Isaiah Rogers captured the weight throw at 23.41 meters, and Nick Christie won the 5K racewalk in 19:13.37.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Thousands of Mexican soccer enthusiasts found a peaceful escape on Saturday while viewing the FIFA World Cup trophy, just seven days after their country experienced significant violent unrest.

The death and capture of the nation’s top-priority drug kingpin, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the previous Sunday sparked widespread violence, including the burning of vehicles and commercial properties.

Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco state and home to Akron Stadium – both a World Cup host venue and current location of the trophy display – saw the heaviest concentration of these violent episodes.

Under heavy security from Mexico’s military forces, National Guard units, and Jalisco state law enforcement, the trophy made its arrival at Akron Stadium in Zapopan, which sits within the greater Guadalajara metropolitan region.

“From this platform, we can affirm that Mexico is at peace, and there is tranquility to enjoy soccer,” declared Mexico’s Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez during the trophy ceremony, which featured appearances by former professional players Hugo Sanchez and Roque Junior.

“We would like to thank FIFA, the organisers, and the government of Jalisco for their trust, coordination with the Mexican government, and the relationship we maintain to make this international event a glorious experience,” Rodriguez continued.

The display includes not only the championship trophy but also memorabilia from past World Cup tournaments, including historic soccer balls and team jerseys.

“I think the passion for soccer is greater than anything else, so welcome everyone. I believe that the necessary measures are being taken, they have been preparing for a long time, so I don’t see why it couldn’t be held here (the World Cup),” fan Beny Martinez shared with reporters at the trophy event.

Akron Stadium is scheduled to host World Cup qualification matches featuring New Caledonia, Jamaica, and the Republic of Congo between March 26-31.

The venue will also serve as the site for four opening-round World Cup games.

“Today, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Jalisco, who showed solidarity and extraordinary responsibility during the events we experienced,” stated Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus.

“Today, Jalisco, I have no doubt, is establishing itself as the most Mexican World Cup venue,” the governor added.

The championship trophy will stay in Guadalajara through March 2, before continuing its tour to additional Mexican cities, including fellow host city Monterrey, and concluding in Mexico City this June.

“I think that even though it will be in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Mexico is more outrageous, more joyful, and, without a doubt, a better host,” commented Julian Lili, another attendee at the trophy exhibition.

The ATX Open will crown an American champion for the second year running after Peyton Stearns and Taylor Townsend both claimed semifinal victories Saturday in Austin, Texas, setting up Sunday’s championship showdown between the two Americans.

Stearns, seeded fourth in the tournament and a former University of Texas standout who captured All-American honors, a national singles title, and helped deliver two NCAA team championships during her college career in Austin, battled through a three-set thriller against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The victory sends Stearns to her first singles championship match since capturing her only career title in Morocco in 2024.

Townsend earned her spot in the final by defeating American compatriot Ashlyn Krueger in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-3, marking her debut appearance in a WTA singles final. The 2023 tournament also featured an all-American championship match when Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 7-5, 6-2.

Stearns needed slightly more than two hours to close out Birrell, claiming the final five games of the match to seal her advancement to her third career championship match. She successfully defended five of ten break point opportunities while capitalizing on seven of her ten chances, including converting two of the match’s final three break points.

Townsend faced early adversity against Krueger, dropping 12 of the opening 15 points and falling behind 0-4 in the first set before mounting her comeback. She responded by capturing six of the following seven games, breaking Krueger’s serve when her opponent was attempting to close out the set. Despite allowing a 5-1 tiebreak advantage to slip away, Townsend saved set point and eventually prevailed in the tiebreaker.

At the Merida Open Akron tournament in Mexico, Spain’s Cristina Bucsa pulled off a major upset by defeating top-seeded Jasmine Piolini of Italy, earning a championship match against Poland’s Magdalena Frech, who eliminated China’s Zhang Shuai in the other semifinal.

Bucsa recorded her first career victory over a Top 10 opponent, sweeping Piolini 7-5, 6-4 to reach her inaugural WTA 500 final. The Spanish player had previously lost all 10 encounters against Top 10 competitors before defeating the world’s seventh-ranked player in one hour and 33 minutes. Bucsa maintained her perfect set record for the week, building leads of 5-2 in the opening set and 4-0 in the second set during her upset victory.

Frech advanced by outlasting Zhang in a marathon 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3 battle lasting two hours and 35 minutes, securing her third WTA singles final appearance and second at the WTA 500 level in Mexico. The Polish player held four match points during the second set, but Zhang forced a deciding third set with her tiebreak victory.

Though Zhang accumulated nearly twice as many winners as Frech, the Polish competitor persevered for the victory. Following an exchange of breaks to start the final set, Frech captured the match’s last four games to complete her hard-earned triumph.

Luka Doncic marked his 27th birthday in style, putting up 26 points along with eight assists and six rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday night in San Francisco.

The Lakers entered the Bay Area having dropped three consecutive games but bounced back in emphatic fashion. After falling behind by two points early, Los Angeles responded with 10 straight points to take control and never looked back.

LeBron James contributed 22 points while connecting on 4 of 6 attempts from beyond the arc and shooting 7 of 13 overall from the field. James nearly recorded a triple-double, distributing a team-high nine assists while pulling down seven rebounds.

The Warriors struggled offensively, with only one player reaching double figures beyond 12 points. Gui Santos topped Golden State’s scoring with 14 points. Moses Moody contributed 12 points entirely from three-point range, making 4 of 10 attempts from deep. De’Anthony Melton chipped in 10 points while Al Horford provided eight points coming off the bench.

Hornets 109, Trail Blazers 93

Brandon Miller drained six three-pointers on his way to a team-leading 26 points as Charlotte defeated Portland at home.

Coby White made his long-awaited Hornets home debut after arriving via trade from Chicago and recovering from injury, contributing 20 points off the bench with 10 in each half to help Charlotte extend its winning streak to four games. The Hornets put the game away with a 10-0 scoring run that created a 17-point advantage in the final quarter.

Portland was paced by Jrue Holiday’s 25 points, while Jerami Grant added 21 points, marking his fourth consecutive contest with at least 20 points for the first time this season.

Heat 115, Rockets 105

Bam Adebayo recorded a double-double and Andrew Wiggins sparked a fourth-quarter comeback after returning from an in-game injury to power Miami past Houston at home.

Adebayo delivered 24 points and 11 rebounds to help the Heat end a two-game slide. Pelle Larsson contributed 20 points and Tyler Herro added 18 in a well-distributed offensive effort. However, it was Wiggins who provided the crucial fourth-quarter spark after taking an elbow to the jaw from Rockets center Alperen Sengun, requiring stitches to close a facial cut. Wiggins recorded 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Kevin Durant paced Houston with a game-high 32 points and eight assists. Amen Thompson recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, while Tari Eason added 10 points and 11 boards. Reed Sheppard provided 14 points and five assists for the Rockets.

Raptors 134, Wizards 125

Immanuel Quickley recorded 27 points and 11 assists to guide Toronto to a road victory over Washington.

Brandon Ingram contributed 24 points and RJ Barrett added 21 for Toronto, which ended a two-game losing streak. Jakob Poeltl posted 18 points and 10 rebounds while Scottie Barnes scored 18 for the Raptors, who shot an outstanding 71.4% in the second half while putting up 73 points. Toronto finished the game shooting 60% from the field.

Will Riley led Washington with 19 points, followed by Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George with 14 points each. Tristan Vukcevic added 13 points, while Bub Carrington and Justin Champagnie each finished with 12. The Wizards connected on 16 of 34 three-point attempts and shot 53.4% overall but suffered their fourth straight defeat.

Pelicans 115, Jazz 105

Saddiq Bey led New Orleans with 24 points as the Pelicans defeated Utah at home for the second time in three days.

Bey, who posted a season-high 42 points in Thursday night’s 129-118 victory, received double-figure support from rookie Jeremiah Fears with 18 points and a season-high 11 rebounds, Bryce McGowens with 18 points, Herb Jones with 17 and Jordan Poole with 11 as New Orleans extended its winning streak to four games. Top scorer Trey Murphy III missed his fifth straight game due to a right shoulder contusion, and second-leading scorer Zion Williamson managed just four points in 11 minutes before exiting with a right ankle injury.

Isaiah Collier scored 21 points to pace Utah, while Keyonte George returned from a six-game absence due to an ankle injury to contribute 17 points. Elijah Harkless added 14, Ace Bailey had 13, Kyle Filipowski scored 12 and Brice Sensabaugh contributed 10 for the Jazz, who dropped their fifth consecutive game.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson faces yet another injury concern after departing Saturday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz during the second quarter with a right ankle problem.

Team officials confirmed that Williamson would sit out the remainder of the contest due to the ankle issue, though the Pelicans managed to secure a 115-105 victory without their star player.

Acting head coach James Borrego described the situation as Williamson having “tweaked the ankle,” though he couldn’t immediately assess how serious the injury might be. “Hopefully, it’s nothing serious, and we’ll have him back out there very soon,” Borrego stated.

This marks another health concern for the frequently sidelined forward, who had already been absent for 16 contests this season due to different physical issues. Saturday’s game represented Williamson’s 35th consecutive appearance — a personal NBA record — stretching back to December 11, following a five-game absence caused by a right hip adductor strain.

During his limited time on the court against Utah, Williamson recorded four points, two assists, and one rebound across 11 minutes of action.

The former Duke standout, chosen first overall by New Orleans in the 2019 NBA Draft, has managed to participate in only 258 out of a possible 543 regular-season contests throughout his professional career. Prior to his current streak, he had never played more than 25 straight games, and he missed the complete 2021-22 campaign due to a fractured right foot.

New Orleans was already dealing with a shortened roster, playing without small forward Trey Murphy (right shoulder), center Yves Missi (left calf), and guard Dejounte Murray (reconditioning).

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will be forced to sit out a minimum of three games following Saturday’s MRI results that showed a strained right oblique muscle, according to team officials.

The 31-year-old All-Star sustained the injury during Thursday night’s 124-117 victory over Miami at home, though he managed to complete 31 minutes of action and contributed 26 points along with 11 rebounds despite the discomfort.

The veteran big man, who has been selected to seven All-Star games but has battled various injuries throughout his career, will be absent for Sunday’s matchup at Boston, followed by consecutive home contests against San Antonio on Tuesday and Utah on Wednesday.

Currently sitting at 33-26 for the season, Philadelphia has relied heavily on Embiid’s presence, posting a 21-12 record when he plays compared to 12-14 in his absence. This campaign, he has appeared in 33 contests as a starter, putting up 26.6 points per game while grabbing 7.5 rebounds and dishing out 3.9 assists in 31.2 minutes nightly.

Last season proved particularly challenging for the big man, as knee problems limited him to just 19 appearances and required surgical intervention in April. He started this year under a minutes restriction due to the knee concerns and missed five February games because of knee and shin complications.

Throughout his professional career, Embiid has maintained impressive averages of 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 blocks across 485 regular season starts, spanning 31.8 minutes per contest.

His postseason numbers reflect similar production, with 24.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks over 59 playoff starts while averaging 35.3 minutes.

The Kansas product, selected third overall by Philadelphia in the 2014 NBA Draft, earned league MVP honors during the 2022-23 campaign. His accolades include first-team All-NBA recognition in 2022-23, four additional second-team selections, and three All-Defensive second-team honors.

Kansas City put on an offensive clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, demolishing Colorado 16-3 behind a stellar performance from Lane Thomas, who collected two hits including a triple while driving in five runs.

The Royals’ batting attack proved unstoppable, amassing 13 hits and drawing 15 walks, with 11 different players recording at least one hit in the lopsided victory.

Colorado’s starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen struggled through two innings, surrendering five runs on four hits while walking four batters. Kansas City starter Seth Lugo performed much better, allowing two runs and six hits without issuing a walk over three innings of work.

The Rockies managed some bright spots as Jordan Beck and Charlie Condon each connected for home runs, with Condon’s blast marking his third spring training homer.

In other spring training action across Arizona and Florida:

Rangers 7, Dodgers 6

Sam Haggerty’s home run helped Texas edge Los Angeles in Surprise. The Dodgers, playing with a split squad, saw four different players – Dalton Rushing, Nick Senzel, Mike Sirota, and Jake Gelof – hit home runs. Andrew Velazquez and Nick Pratto each doubled for Texas, while Luis Curvelo earned the victory with a scoreless inning featuring three strikeouts.

Reds 9, Brewers 7

Dane Myers led Cincinnati’s victory over Milwaukee in Phoenix with two hits and three RBIs. The offseason acquisition from Miami has raised his spring average to .375. Matt McLain contributed two hits, including a home run and an RBI. Milwaukee jumped ahead early with four first-inning runs against Hunter Greene, with Andrew Vaughn driving in a run as part of his three-hit day. Andrew Fischer provided the Brewers’ only homer in the eighth inning.

Diamondbacks 8, Angels 5

Yassel Soler’s three-run homer powered Arizona past Los Angeles in Tempe. Luken Baker added a two-run blast and Jorge Barrosa contributed an RBI triple for the Diamondbacks. Angels pitcher Alek Manoah threw three shutout innings, allowing four hits and one walk, while Zach Neto hit a solo home run.

Cubs 6, Dodgers 2

Chicago’s pitching trio of Colin Rea, Ben Brown, and Javier Assad dominated in Glendale, combining for eight scoreless innings. The three hurlers struck out nine while allowing just three hits and no walks. Second-round draft pick Kane Kepley recorded two hits including an RBI triple. Los Angeles struggled in their second split-squad game, not scoring until the ninth inning on an Elijah Hainline walk.

White Sox 7, Guardians 5

Sam Antonacci launched his second spring training home run to help Chicago defeat Cleveland in Goodyear. Lamonte Wade Jr. doubled and drove in two runs, while starter Shane Smith earned the win with three innings of one-run ball. Cleveland’s 2023 first-round pick Ralphy Velazquez went 2-for-2, and Alex Mooney contributed a two-RBI single.

Giants 8, Athletics 2

Eric Haase’s grand slam capped a six-run second inning as San Francisco defeated Oakland in Mesa. Jean Carlos Sio homered in the eighth, and Trevor McDonald pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts. Michael Stefanic recorded Oakland’s only RBI, with their second run scoring on a ninth-inning error.

Padres 7, Mariners 1

San Diego’s bullpen dominated with six scoreless innings in Peoria. Six different relievers – Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller, Alek Jacob, Bradgley Rodriguez, Ty Adcock, and Kyle Hart – each threw a shutout frame, combining for six strikeouts and just one hit. Luke Raley homered 439 feet for Seattle’s only run, while Jackson Merrill hit a two-run blast for the Padres.

Red Sox 13, Twins 8

Max Ferguson’s seventh-inning grand slam sealed Boston’s victory over Minnesota in Fort Myers. Jarren Duran homered twice and drove in four runs, while Trevor Story tripled. Minnesota’s James Outman hit their lone home run, though the team collected 13 hits from 10 different players.

Cardinals 10, Marlins 2

First-round pick JJ Wetherholt continued his impressive spring, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs, one run, and a walk in St. Louis’ win in Jupiter. Cesar Prieto homered and doubled, while starter Michael McGreevy allowed one run and three hits over 2 1/3 innings. Miami’s Andrew Pintar went 2-for-3 with a homer and RBI double.

Blue Jays 7, Phillies 5

Josh Rivera’s home run highlighted a four-run sixth inning that carried Toronto past Philadelphia in Dunedin. The Phillies got homers from Bryan De La Cruz and Bryce Harper, while prospect Justin Crawford went 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot with a double, walk, and stolen base. Dylan Cease started for Toronto’s split squad, allowing one run and one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

Tigers 12, Rays 3

Corey Julks’ grand slam sparked a seven-run sixth inning as Detroit routed Tampa Bay in Lakeland. Julks finished 2-for-3 with a walk, while Josh Peck also homered. Starter Drew Anderson threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Taylor Walls finally got Tampa Bay on the board with a fourth-inning solo shot.

Nationals 3, Mets 2

Jake Irvin pitched three scoreless innings with four strikeouts to lead Washington over New York in Port St. Lucie. James Wood drove in the first run on a groundout scoring Seaver King, and Warming Bernabel added an RBI single in the sixth. Mark Vientos and Nick Morabito each hit RBI doubles in the seventh and eighth innings respectively for the Mets, but it wasn’t enough.

Braves 7, Orioles 5

Chadwick Tromp drove in three runs to power Atlanta past Baltimore in Sarasota. Tromp started the scoring with a second-inning RBI single, added another run on a sixth-inning groundout, then capped his day with an eighth-inning solo homer. Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman went 2-for-2 with a home run and double.

Yankees 5, Blue Jays 1

Paul Blackburn dominated for New York in Tampa, throwing four shutout innings while allowing four hits and no walks. Toronto’s Jose Berrios matched him with four scoreless innings, allowing no hits and two walks. After Berrios departed, the Yankees scored twice in the fifth on a Jose Caballero double, then added home runs from Austin Wells and Kenedy Corona.

Pirates 5, Astros 2

O’Neil Cruz launched a three-run homer as Pittsburgh defeated Houston in West Palm Beach. Cruz has been red-hot this spring, batting an impressive .538. Marcell Ozuna contributed two hits for the Pirates. Isaac Paredes hit a solo home run for Houston before weather conditions ended the game after six innings.

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung faces a minimum 10-day absence after medical imaging revealed an adductor strain injury.

The muscle injury was identified through MRI testing after Jung was removed from Thursday’s game lineup before the contest began.

Manager Skip Schumaker expressed optimism that Jung’s dedication to training could lead to a faster recovery than the typical timeframe.

“The thing about Josh is that he’s such a hard worker,” Schumaker told reporters on Saturday. “I think he’s going to get back quicker than that 14-day mark. His process has been so good. I felt like his work in the cages, in the backfield and the lives were about to translate on the field.”

“In the first couple games, he hit the ball as hard as anybody. I thought he was just trending in the right direction. Honestly, if there’s stuff happening, I’d rather it happen now.”

The 28-year-old Jung struggled through another difficult campaign in 2025, posting a .251 batting average alongside 14 home runs and 61 RBIs across 131 games, marking his second consecutive subpar season.

Jung’s career peaked during his rookie year in 2023 when he earned All-Star recognition and helped the Rangers capture their first World Series championship. That season, he delivered 23 home runs and 70 RBIs with a .266 batting average in 122 regular-season contests, earning fourth place in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

During the Rangers’ championship run, Jung excelled in postseason play, hitting .308 with three homers and eight RBIs over 17 games. His World Series performance was particularly impressive, as he batted .350 across five games.

The Rangers also face another injury concern with infielder Justin Foscue, who will miss at least 10 days with a strained right hamstring. However, Schumaker indicated this setback won’t impact Foscue’s roster chances. The 2020 first-round draft selection has struggled at the major league level, managing just three hits in 51 at-bats (.059) over 19 games during the past two seasons.

“It doesn’t change anything as far as his chances,” Schumaker said regarding Foscue, who celebrates his 27th birthday on Monday. “He’s just gonna lose at-bats, which sucks for him. But I think as far as him breaking camp or anything, there’s still four weeks left. He’ll still have two weeks left of camp, really, to try to build up. He should get more at-bats.”

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev claimed victory at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday after his opponent, Netherlands player Tallon Griekspoor, was unable to compete in the final due to a hamstring injury sustained in the United Arab Emirates tournament.

Griekspoor had battled through the injury during Friday’s semifinal match against Russian player Andrey Rublev, whom he beat in consecutive sets. Following that victory, Griekspoor revealed he would have withdrawn from the match had he lost the second set.

The championship marks Medvedev’s 23rd professional title and his second Dubai victory, having previously won there in 2023. This achievement represents the first time the third-seeded player has captured the same tournament twice in his career.

During his path to the final, Medvedev overcame top-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals without losing a single set throughout the entire tournament.

“Not how I want to win a final. Hoping the injury for (Griekspoor) is not too bad and wishing him a speedy recovery,” Medvedev posted on social media platform X.

At the BCI Seguros Chile Open in Santiago, German player Yannik Hanfmann pulled off a major upset by defeating tournament favorite Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, earning his spot in his first ATP Tour championship match in six years.

The unseeded 34-year-old Hanfmann, whose previous final appearance came in September 2020, dominated with his serve, winning 79% of first-serve points while Cerundolo struggled with 27 unforced errors despite capturing the Buenos Aires championship just two weeks earlier.

Hanfmann’s final opponent will be Italy’s second-seeded Luciano Darderi, who defeated Argentina’s third-seeded Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-3 in a match lasting one hour and 29 minutes. Darderi successfully defended four of six break point opportunities while Baez converted three of seven chances, despite the defending 2024 champion recording more winners and fewer errors overall.

University of Michigan sophomore basketball player L.J. Cason has suffered a devastating knee injury that will end his season prematurely. The guard sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Friday night’s game against Illinois.

Michigan officials confirmed the extent of Cason’s injury on Saturday. Throughout the season, the sophomore has been a valuable contributor coming off the bench, posting averages of 8.4 points and 2.4 assists per game while maintaining an impressive 50.3% shooting percentage across 28 contests for the Wolverines.

Despite the disappointing turn of events, Cason expressed his determination to overcome the setback. “This isn’t how I wanted my season to end, but I trust God’s plan, and I’ll attack rehab the same way I approach everything — with focus and determination,” Cason stated in an official announcement. “We’ve got many goals as a team, and I’ll be locked in supporting my brothers every step of the way.”

Head coach Dusty May expressed his disappointment about losing Cason with just two regular-season games left on the schedule. “First and foremost, our hearts hurt for L.J.,” May commented. “You never want to see a young man who has poured so much into this program have something like this happen. However, if there’s anyone equipped to handle this and the rehab process, it’s L.J. He’s resilient, he’s disciplined, and he has an incredible support system around him.”

The injury occurred during what had been a strong performance for Cason, who contributed nine points in just 13 minutes of play as Michigan dominated host Illinois 84-70. That triumph secured the Big Ten regular-season championship for the Wolverines.

The Florida native from Lakeland originally planned to attend Florida Atlantic University after high school. However, when May departed that program to take the helm at Michigan, Cason sought his release and chose to follow his coach to Ann Arbor.

Michigan enters the final stretch of regular-season play with an outstanding 27-2 overall record and 17-1 mark in Big Ten competition. The Wolverines will travel to face Iowa on Thursday before wrapping up the regular season at home against in-state rival Michigan State on Sunday.

SAN FRANCISCO — Before taking on the Golden State Warriors Saturday evening, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared a precious moment on the court with his youngest child, 11-year-old Zhuri James.

Following his pre-game warm-up routine at Chase Center, the NBA legend watched as his daughter practiced an unusual shooting technique — launching backward shots from the free-throw line. After multiple tries, Zhuri successfully banked one in.

When asked about her secret to making the challenging backward shot, Zhuri explained, “I don’t know, I tried to make sure I was in front of the basket.”

The father-daughter duo enjoyed their time together on the court, with Zhuri dribbling along the baseline while her dad practiced his own ball-handling skills. James noticed her efforts and flashed an encouraging smile before inviting her to join him for shots from various positions around the paint.

According to Zhuri, these court sessions are a rare treat during away games, though she occasionally gets similar opportunities at Lakers home contests — “sometimes but not a lot.”

The touching scene concluded with Zhuri tossing an alley-oop pass to her 41-year-old father, who finished with a thunderous dunk. The pair exchanged a special handshake before James told her “love you” and headed to the locker room to prepare for the matchup against Golden State, who were missing injured star Stephen Curry for the tenth consecutive game.

INDIANAPOLIS — Two former Notre Dame running backs brought back memories of their college days at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine when Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price decided to room together once again.

The arrangement mirrored their time as college teammates, but this time the dynamic duo that formed one of college football’s most explosive backfields are competing as individuals rather than partners. Both are focused on demonstrating their individual talents to boost their standing before April’s NFL Draft.

“I’m going to go out there and be myself, no matter where I go, no matter when my name’s called, I’ll be Jeremiah Love,” he said before Saturday’s workouts in Indianapolis.

“But it’s a great honor, seeing if people recognize me, and I plan to go out and prove myself right, prove everybody else right as well.”

The partnership between Love and Price produced remarkable results during their three seasons together, built on deep respect and admiration for each other’s contributions.

Love accumulated close to 3,000 rushing yards, placing him seventh on Notre Dame’s all-time rushing list despite starting just 29 games and carrying the ball only 71 times as a freshman. His 2025 campaign saw him establish a new program record with 21 total touchdowns, while becoming the first Irish player to record two touchdown runs of 90-plus yards. His outstanding performance earned him third place in last year’s Heisman Trophy voting.

Price proved to be far more than a complementary player, providing a powerful second option that kept opposing defenses from getting any relief when Love needed a breather.

Price accumulated nearly 1,700 rushing yards with 21 touchdowns and made history as the first Notre Dame player to record multiple kickoff returns of 100-plus yards.

Their combined success led to both earning All-American recognition last season, and draft analysts currently rate them as the top two running backs available in this year’s draft.

“Almost every coach and interview I had the past couple days,” Price said when asked how many teams have inquired about his play on special teams. “I told them all the same (thing), I love special teams and I attack it like I attack offense. I’m willing to do anything when it comes to special teams.”

Love and Price aren’t the only celebrated running back partnership reuniting in Indianapolis.

Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton arrived on campus in 2022 with enormous expectations as one of the country’s most highly-touted freshman backfield combinations. Though they delivered individually, becoming only the second pair of Nittany Lions teammates alongside Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards, they fell short of the ultimate goals of capturing a national championship or Big Ten title.

Despite the tendency for running backs to slide down draft boards, Allen and Singleton maintain top-10 rankings in this year’s class. Strong pre-draft performances could potentially elevate them back into the top five positions they once held.

Former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar endorses both players as excellent value selections regardless of their draft position.

“I definitely think they’re the two most complete backs in the country,” Allar said, noting Allen finished his career as the school’s career leader in all-purpose yards while Singleton set the program’s career mark for total TDs. “I am excited for them and to see them compete and grow as we move forward in our journeys together. And whoever gets those two guys are going to get guys that are dedicated to the team, very hard workers, and obviously really talented football players.”

Each of the four running backs faces specific challenges in proving their NFL readiness.

Though Love impressed scouts with his signature hurdles and demonstrated improved pass-catching ability in 2025, he feels his blocking capabilities haven’t received proper recognition. Price and Allen must demonstrate they can handle increased workloads against the bigger, stronger defenders they’ll face in the NFL, while Singleton needs to prove his health after appearing at Friday’s media session with his broken right foot in a walking boot.

“Obviously, I’m upset that I’m not doing anything right now,” Singleton said. “At the same time, I’m still grateful to be out here.”

Singleton expects to remove his walking boot next week and intends to participate in pro day workouts to give scouts a direct look at his abilities.

For this weekend, however, the four running backs enjoyed a nostalgic reunion.

“The biggest thing that makes me feel comfortable is we were roommates during this process, and we were roommates at Notre Dame on the road,” Price said, referring to Love. “So it just feels like an away game for us.”

Kansas City has reached an agreement with veteran outfielder Starling Marte, according to multiple reports emerging Saturday.

Financial details of the deal have not been revealed, and the agreement remains subject to Marte passing a physical examination.

The 37-year-old veteran posted a .270 batting average while contributing nine home runs and 34 RBIs across 98 games during his final season in New York. Marte concluded a four-year stint with the Mets after initially joining the organization on a four-year, $78 million deal before the 2022 season.

Throughout his 14-year major league career, the two-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award recipient has maintained a .285 batting average while accumulating 163 home runs, 667 RBIs, and 361 stolen bases. His professional journey has taken him through organizations including the Pittsburgh Pirates (2012-20), Arizona Diamondbacks (2020), Miami Marlins (2020-21), Oakland Athletics (2021), and most recently the New York Mets (2022-25).

Irish golfer Shane Lowry delivered a spectacular performance Saturday, carding an 8-under-par 63 that propelled him into a tie for first place at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Lowry now shares the top position with Austin Smotherman, who entered Saturday as the tournament leader after two rounds. Smotherman had a chance to maintain his solo lead when he faced an eagle opportunity from less than 16 feet on his final hole, but the putt came up short and he settled for a birdie, finishing with a 69 for the day.

Both golfers head into Sunday’s championship round at PGA National’s Champion Course with matching scores of 13-under-par 200.

Trailing by just one shot are Taylor Moore, who posted a 67 Saturday, and Colombia’s Nico Echavarria, who turned in a 66.

Lowry’s outstanding round included six birdies through his first 10 holes, and he capped off his day with additional birdies on his final two holes.

The 31-year-old Smotherman is seeking his inaugural PGA Tour victory. His recent form has been inconsistent, as he failed to make the cut in three of his four tournaments earlier this season.

Echavarria played flawlessly Saturday, recording a clean round without any bogeys, positioning himself well for what would be his third PGA Tour championship.

Several other players remain within striking distance. Jimmy Stanger sits at 11-under after shooting a 65, while Ricky Castillo (64) and Canada’s A.J. Ewart (68) are positioned at 10-under. Joel Dahmen trails the leaders by four strokes following his 68.

Stanger’s Saturday round was much steadier than Friday’s roller-coaster performance. After recording a bogey on the second hole, he collected seven birdies over his remaining holes, a stark contrast to Friday’s wild round that featured two eagles and two double-bogeys.

Last year’s champion Joe Highsmith struggled significantly, shooting 76 and finding himself in 67th place at 5-over-par.

Tournament officials moved Saturday’s tee times up by several hours due to anticipated weather issues later in the afternoon. Players started from both the first and 10th tees to accommodate the schedule change.

Mexico’s top sports official announced Saturday that a major international diving competition will move forward after all, despite being cancelled earlier this week over safety concerns.

Rommel Pacheco, who leads Mexico’s National Sports Commission (CONADE) and is a former professional diver, declared that the World Diving Cup competition “is no longer cancelled and is entering a rescheduling phase,” though he did not provide a new date for the event.

Taking to Instagram, Pacheco expressed gratitude for collaboration with international organizers. “We acknowledge the support and coordination with World Aquatics,” he stated, while also recognizing Mexican sports and diplomatic officials. “We remain committed to supporting sport.”

The diving competition had been set to take place March 5-8 in Zapopan, located in Jalisco state. However, World Aquatics pulled the plug on Thursday after multiple international embassies issued travel warnings following violent unrest triggered by the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera, commonly called “El Mencho.”

World Aquatics has not yet confirmed the rescheduling announcement from Mexican officials.

The violence has sparked wider questions about Mexico’s capacity to safely host major international sporting competitions.

Despite these concerns, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Tuesday that security measures would undergo review and assured there was “no risk” for fans planning to attend World Cup matches in Mexico this summer.

According to World Aquatics’ Thursday announcement, athletes seeking to qualify for the Diving World Cup Super Final in Beijing this May will now have their performance evaluated based solely on results from a competition in Montreal.

The MLS Cup champion Inter Miami squad has been invited to the White House for a ceremonial visit this Thursday, according to multiple news outlets.

The Miami Herald has confirmed that the entire Herons roster, featuring global soccer icon Lionel Messi, will participate in the White House ceremony alongside President Donald Trump. The timing works perfectly for the team, as they’re scheduled to take on D.C. United in Washington just two days later on Saturday.

Inter Miami made franchise history by claiming their inaugural MLS Cup title with a decisive 3-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps on December 6 at their home venue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This won’t be the first White House visit for Herons co-owner David Beckham, who previously celebrated at the presidential residence in 2012 when his Los Angeles Galaxy team was honored for their 2011 championship season.

According to a Saturday report from The Athletic, the New York Giants are preparing to release inside linebacker Bobby Okereke as part of a financial restructuring effort.

The decision to part ways with the veteran defender, who will celebrate his 30th birthday this July, would create $9 million in salary cap relief for the Giants heading into the 2026 season.

During his three-year tenure with New York, Okereke has been the team’s top tackler in two seasons, recording 143 tackles in the 2025 campaign and 149 tackles back in 2023.

In his most recent season, Okereke contributed one sack, two interceptions, and recovered one fumble while starting all 17 games for the Giants in 2025.

Throughout his seven-year NFL career, the linebacker has accumulated 805 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven interceptions, and 11 forced fumbles across 110 games with 95 starts. His professional journey began when Indianapolis selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft, where he played four seasons with the Colts before joining New York.

A former major league baseball player will spend the rest of his life behind bars after receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole Friday for killing his father-in-law in a 2021 shooting incident.

Dan Serafini, 52, was handed the sentence in an Auburn, California courtroom following his July conviction on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. The crimes occurred during what prosecutors described as a burglary at his in-laws’ North Lake Tahoe residence.

The attack claimed the life of 70-year-old Gary Spohr, who died from a gunshot wound. Spohr’s wife, 68-year-old Wendy Wood, initially survived her injuries but tragically took her own life the following year.

During Friday’s sentencing hearing, Placer County prosecutor Morgan Gire spoke about the victims, calling Spohr and Wood devoted grandparents.

“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.

Before receiving his sentence, Serafini spoke to the court and continued to deny his guilt in the shootings. According to MyNews4, he claimed he was celebrating with his wife, Erin Spohr, when the incident took place and described himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes.”

Serafini’s professional baseball career spanned more than a decade after the Minnesota Twins drafted him 26th overall in 1992. The Bay Area native made his major league debut in 1996 and played until 2007, suiting up for six different organizations including the Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.

Throughout his 11-year career, Serafini appeared in 104 games with 33 as a starting pitcher. He compiled a 15-16 win-loss record with a 6.04 earned run average and recorded one save while striking out 127 batters across 263 2/3 innings pitched.

More than 17,000 hockey fans made history Friday night when they packed Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, establishing a new United States attendance record for women’s professional hockey.

The sellout crowd of 17,335 spectators witnessed the Toronto Sceptres defeat the Seattle Torrent 5-2 in what marked both teams’ return to action following the Olympic break.

Seattle competed without their team captain Hilary Knight, who recently helped lead Team USA to Olympic gold at the Milan Cortina Games. Knight remains on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a lower-body injury during Olympic competition.

Friday’s attendance figure surpassed the previous U.S. record of 17,228 fans, which was established on January 18 when Montreal Victoire took on the New York Sirens at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The Torrent also shattered their own franchise attendance record, which stood at 16,014 fans from their inaugural home game on November 28, 2025, when the expansion team first took the ice at the Seattle venue.

According to league officials, PWHL attendance has increased by 17 percent during the third season, with this growth measured across 61 games played before the Milan Cortina Olympics break.

Soccer’s international governing body announced Saturday that it is closely monitoring the situation in Iran following recent U.S. military action against the country.

The developments occur with just months remaining before the World Cup kicks off in June, featuring games across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran secured its spot in the tournament by advancing through Asian Football Conference competition.

The Iranian national team has been placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. Their tournament schedule includes two matches in Los Angeles and one game in Seattle.

FIFA’s secretary general Mattias Grafstrom told reporters the organization is carefully watching how events unfold.

“I read the news (about Iran) this morning the same way you did,” Grafstrom stated during the International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting in Cardiff, Wales, according to ESPN.

“We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.”

Iran participated in the World Cup draw ceremony held in Washington, D.C. last December.

“We will continue to communicate as we always do with three (host) governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe,” Grafstrom added.

International soccer officials have given the green light to major rule modifications designed to eliminate stalling tactics and accelerate match tempo, with these adjustments scheduled to debut during the 2026 World Cup and throughout all competitions worldwide.

The International Football Association Board reached these decisions during their 140th Annual General Meeting held Saturday in Hensol, Wales.

Among the most notable modifications is implementing countdown timers for throw-ins and goal kicks.

When officials determine that a throw-in or goal kick is being unnecessarily delayed or intentionally stalled, referees will display a five-second visual timer. Teams that fail to resume action before time runs out will lose possession, with throw-ins switching to the opposing team and delayed goal kicks resulting in corner kicks for opponents.

This expansion builds upon previous regulations introduced last year targeting goalkeepers who excessively hold onto the ball.

Substituted players will now have just 10 seconds to exit the field after officials display the substitution board or signal the change.

Teams that exceed this timeframe will see their incoming player forced to wait until the next play stoppage after one full minute of action, though the departing player must still exit immediately.

Any player requiring medical evaluation on the field or whose injury halts play must leave the pitch when action resumes and stay off for one minute. Officials designed this rule to prevent teams from using fake injuries to waste time.

The meeting also endorsed three modifications to video assistant referee procedures. VAR officials can now intervene in additional scenarios when clear evidence exists: incorrect second yellow cards leading to ejections, cases involving wrong player identification, and corner kicks mistakenly awarded.

Beginning July 1, updated Laws of the Game will permit non-hazardous items to be worn when properly covered, and allow referees to use chest or head-mounted cameras.

Additional clarifications addressed dropped ball situations, giving possession to whichever team would have maintained control if play hadn’t stopped, and accidental double contacts during penalty attempts.

The board also agreed to examine issues involving players leaving the field to protest referee decisions or team officials encouraging such behavior, plus players covering their mouths during confrontations with opponents.

The Oklahoma City Thunder mounted an impressive comeback from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 127-121 in overtime action Friday night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made his presence felt immediately upon returning from an abdominal strain that had sidelined him since February 3rd, contributing 36 points to help Oklahoma City erase their early deficit. Meanwhile, Chet Holmgren dominated the boards with a personal-best 21 rebounds while adding 15 points to the winning effort.

Despite Gilgeous-Alexander sitting out the extra period, the Thunder found success through Alex Caruso, who built on his strong late-game performance to finish with 12 points overall.

Denver’s Jamal Murray put together a spectacular offensive display with 39 points, including three long-range shots in the game’s final 30 seconds. Nikola Jokic nearly recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists, while Christian Braun matched Jokic’s scoring output with 23 points.

Pistons 122, Cavaliers 119 (OT)

Detroit’s Jalen Duren delivered a dominant performance with 33 points and 16 rebounds, leading the home team back from a nine-point late-regulation deficit to capture an overtime victory against Cleveland.

Cade Cunningham contributed 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out during regulation for Detroit, which has now captured seven victories in their last eight contests. Ausar Thompson provided additional support with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Cleveland was paced by Jarrett Allen’s 25 points and nine rebounds, but the Cavaliers have now dropped three of their past four games. The team played shorthanded without their regular starting backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell (groin injury) and James Harden (thumb injury).

Celtics 148, Nets 111

Boston dominated the second half to cruise past visiting Brooklyn, with Nikola Vucevic recording 28 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes of action.

After holding just a six-point advantage midway through the third quarter, the Celtics exploded for an 82-54 second-half scoring advantage. Jaylen Brown contributed 28 points, seven rebounds and nine assists for Boston, which connected on 66.7% of their field goal attempts while securing their 10th victory in 12 outings.

Brooklyn was led by Michael Porter Jr.’s 18 points, with Danny Wolf adding 16 points as the Nets extended their losing streak to seven games.

Grizzlies 124, Mavericks 105

Memphis received 25 points from Cam Spencer and a career-high performance from Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who recorded his first professional double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, as the visiting Grizzlies handed Dallas their seventh consecutive home defeat.

Scotty Pippen Jr. provided 15 points for Memphis, which ended a three-game skid. GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells each scored 12 points in the victory.

Dallas received 16 points and eight rebounds from Brandon Williams, but the Mavericks have now lost 12 of their previous 14 contests. Daniel Gafford was efficient with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

Knicks 127, Bucks 98

Jalen Brunson exploded for 22 first-quarter points on his way to a game-high 27, powering visiting New York to a convincing win over Milwaukee.

OG Anunoby contributed 24 points while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 17 points and 13 rebounds for New York, which shot an impressive 21-for-42 (50%) from three-point range. Landry Shamet scored 15 points, Josh Hart added 12, and Mikal Bridges and Mohamed Diawara each contributed 10 points.

Milwaukee was led by Myles Turner’s 19 points, with Kyle Kuzma adding 17 and Bobby Portis contributing 14. Ryan Rollins scored 13 points while Kevin Porter Jr. recorded 11 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, who had previously won eight of their last 10 games.

With barely any time left on the overtime clock, Chris Kreider delivered the game-winner with just 13 seconds to spare, propelling the Anaheim Ducks to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.

The Ducks extended their hot streak to four consecutive wins behind a strong offensive showing. Pavel Mintyukov contributed both a goal and an assist, while Jacob Trouba, Leo Carlsson, and Ryan Poehling each found the back of the net for Anaheim. Between the pipes, Lukas Dostal turned away 29 shots, though Winnipeg came close to scoring several more times with five shots striking the goalpost either directly or off deflections.

For the visiting Jets, who now stand 2-1-2 over their last five outings, Alex Iafallo and Kyle Connor each recorded a goal and assist combination. Logan Stanley and Cole Perfetti were playmakers with two helpers each, while Gabriel Vilardi and Elias Salomonsson also lit the lamp for Winnipeg.

Despite the loss, Connor Hellebuyck delivered a solid performance in net for the Jets, making 35 saves on 40 shots faced.

Sabres 3, Panthers 2

Beck Malenstyn netted the decisive goal during the middle portion of the final period, lifting Buffalo to victory in Sunrise, Florida.

Alex Tuch recorded both a goal and assist, while Peyton Krebs added an insurance marker into the empty net. Goaltender Alex Lyon made 28 stops for Buffalo, which has now captured two consecutive victories following the Olympic break and boasts an impressive 8-2-1 record across their most recent 11 contests.

Sam Bennett tallied a goal and assist while Matthew Tkachuk also scored for Florida, which has dropped six of their past eight matchups. Netminder Daniil Tarasov recorded 36 saves in the losing effort.

Utah 5, Wild 2

Lawson Crouse found the net twice, powering Utah to victory over the visiting Minnesota Wild.

Clayton Keller contributed one goal and two assists for Utah, which has compiled a strong 12-4-1 mark over their last 17 games and maintains an 18-9-2 home record this season. Logan Cooley and Barrett Hayton also scored, with Jack McBain, Nick Schmaltz, and Mikhail Sergachev each providing two assists.

Matt Boldy registered a goal and assist while Kirill Kaprizov also scored for Minnesota, which saw its six-game winning run come to an end. The Wild suffered just their second regulation loss in their past 12 games, going 9-2-1 over that stretch.

Capitals 3, Golden Knights 2

Pierre-Luc Dubois recorded two goals and one assist, while Logan Thompson made 24 saves to guide Washington past the visiting Vegas Golden Knights.

Aliaksei Protas and Rasmus Sandin each contributed two assists, and Jakob Chychrun also scored for the Capitals, who pushed their home winning streak to five games and captured their sixth victory in seven recent contests.

Braeden Bowman and Tomas Hertl scored for Vegas, with Akira Schmid finishing with 27 saves for the Golden Knights, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.

With the clock winding down in overtime, Chris Kreider delivered the decisive blow with just 15 seconds remaining, lifting the Anaheim Ducks to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.

The game-winning sequence unfolded when Kreider and Beckett Sennecke executed a perfect 2-on-1 breakaway in the final moments of the extra period. Sennecke, who recorded his third helper of the evening, set up Kreider with the championship pass.

The triumph marks Anaheim’s fourth consecutive victory and continues their impressive 11-2-0 record over their past 13 contests.

Pavel Mintyukov contributed both a goal and an assist for the Ducks, while Jacob Trouba, Leo Carlsson, and Ryan Poehling added the remaining tallies for Anaheim.

Between the pipes, Lukas Dostal turned away 29 of 33 attempts to secure his 23rd victory of the campaign. Lady Luck also smiled on Dostal, as Winnipeg struck iron five times throughout the contest on direct shots and deflections.

The Jets have collected points in four of their previous five outings (2-1-2 record), though they squandered another opportunity to climb in the postseason standings.

Alex Iafallo and Kyle Connor each recorded a goal and assist combination for Winnipeg, while Logan Stanley and Cole Perfetti contributed two helpers apiece. Gabriel Vilardi and Elias Salomonsson rounded out the scoring for the visiting Jets.

Despite the defeat, Connor Hellebuyck delivered a strong performance, making 35 saves on 40 Anaheim attempts.

The action began immediately, with Iafallo lighting the lamp just 74 seconds after the opening faceoff on Winnipeg’s initial shot attempt. The Jets struck again early in the middle frame when Vilardi converted a power-play opportunity at the 2:25 mark, firing a one-timer from the slot.

The second period featured fast-paced action with Anaheim outshooting Winnipeg 17-14. Among the numerous scoring chances, Trouba’s seemingly harmless shot from the point managed to beat a screened Hellebuyck with 41 seconds remaining before the intermission.

Winnipeg caught the Ducks off-guard once more just 1:27 into the final period when Salomonsson netted his inaugural NHL goal and point in his 15th professional appearance.

Anaheim rallied to level the contest by the halfway point of the third period. Carlsson converted on the man advantage 6:32 into the frame, followed by Mintyukov capitalizing on a substantial rebound opportunity at the 9:59 mark to tie the game.

Poehling produced a spectacular goal to give Anaheim the lead at 16:50 of the third period, but Connor answered back with the tying goal at 18:38 to force overtime.

The Memphis Grizzlies delivered a dominant performance Friday night, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 124-105 and pushing the home team’s losing streak at their own arena to seven consecutive games.

Cam Spencer paced Memphis with 25 points, while Olivier-Maxence Prosper recorded his first professional double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Grizzlies received balanced scoring throughout their lineup, with Scotty Pippen Jr. contributing 15 points and both GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells adding 12 points apiece.

Memphis showcased impressive depth, putting seven different players into double-digit scoring while their reserves produced 60 points. Taylor Hendricks provided valuable bench production with 11 points and eight rebounds.

The victory allowed Memphis to end a three-game slide while continuing their recent dominance over Dallas, marking their sixth straight win in the series. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have now dropped 12 of their last 14 contests.

Dallas received solid individual efforts from Brandon Williams, who posted 16 points and eight rebounds, and Daniel Gafford, who shot efficiently for 14 points on 7-of-8 attempts. Dwight Powell recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Max Christie added 13 points. AJ Johnson managed 12 points despite struggling with his shot, connecting on just 3-of-13 attempts.

Naji Marshall, coming off a season-best 36-point performance against Sacramento on Thursday, was limited to just four points on 2-of-6 shooting in 24 minutes of action.

Memphis controlled the game from start to finish, never surrendering the lead after Pippen scored the first two baskets. The Grizzlies established a 14-point advantage after the opening quarter and stretched their lead to 22 points before intermission, taking a 64-44 advantage into the locker room.

The visitors continued to pull away in the second half, building their largest lead to 34 points late in the third quarter when Spencer converted two free throws with 4:57 remaining in the period.

Both squads were missing key contributors due to injuries. Memphis played their 16th consecutive game without star point guard Ja Morant, who has been sidelined since late January with a left elbow injury. Dallas was without rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, who remains out with a midfoot sprain.

The road victory also ended Memphis’s five-game losing streak away from home.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A heated confrontation during the final quarter led to multiple ejections as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 127-121 in overtime Friday evening.

The incident occurred when Thunder guard Lu Dort committed a foul against Denver’s star center Nikola Jokic during a crucial moment in the contest. Following the foul, Jokic confronted Dort face-to-face, sparking a heated exchange between both teams. Officials assessed Jokic and Thunder player Jaylin Williams with matching technical fouls, while Dort received a Flagrant 2 foul and was removed from the game.

The aggressive play began early in the contest and continued throughout the evening.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received an early technical foul after hurling the basketball at Jokic, who had made contact with him following a dead ball situation. Denver’s bench also drew a technical foul during the third quarter, while players from both squads engaged in verbal exchanges and physical confrontations throughout the matchup.

Cincinnati-born tennis player Peyton Stearns, a former University of Texas standout, has reached the semifinals at the ATX Open following a hard-fought 6-1, 5-7, 7-5 triumph over Russia’s Oksana Selekhmeteva on Friday.

The fourth-seeded Stearns needed two hours and 31 minutes to complete the victory in a contest that saw 14 total service breaks, with Stearns claiming eight of those breaks during her homecoming to Austin, Texas.

Stearns will face Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in the semifinals after Birrell defeated fellow Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-3 in their quarterfinal matchup.

The American player has reached two tournament finals during her professional career, falling short in Bogota, Colombia in 2023 but capturing the title in Rabat, Morocco in 2024.

Fellow American Taylor Townsend also secured a semifinal berth with a comeback victory over Swiss qualifier Rebeka Masarova, winning 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 after dropping the opening set.

Townsend’s semifinal opponent will be another American, Ashlyn Krueger, who defeated China’s Yuan Yue 7-6 (5), 6-4 in their quarterfinal encounter.

At the Merida Open Akron in Mexico, Poland’s Magdalena Frech scored an upset victory over Czech Republic’s fourth-seeded Marie Bouzkova, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in quarterfinal action.

Frech’s previous semifinal appearance came in 2024 at Guadalajara, Mexico, where she captured her only professional title to date.

China’s Shuai Zhang will meet Frech in the semifinals after Zhang defeated Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva of Andorra 6-1, 6-3.

Spain’s Cristina Bucsa advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez. Bucsa awaits the winner of Friday evening’s quarterfinal between Italy’s top-seeded Jasmine Paolini and Great Britain’s Katie Boulter.

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics have been scorching hot since the All-Star break concluded, and they’ve now etched their names into the record books with a historic offensive explosion.

Boston delivered one of the most dominant shooting performances in NBA history during their commanding 148-111 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. The team connected on an impressive 66.7% of their shots (52 out of 78 attempts), marking their second-best field goal percentage ever recorded. Only their legendary 67.9% shooting night against Golden State on November 21, 1984 surpassed Friday’s display.

The Celtics’ three-point shooting was equally spectacular, as they drained 64.7% from beyond the arc. This remarkable accuracy resulted in an 80.8% effective field goal percentage — the highest mark in league history. The effective field goal percentage accounts for the additional value of three-point baskets compared to two-pointers.

All-Star guard Jaylen Brown spearheaded the offensive onslaught with 28 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Recent trade acquisition Nikola Vucevic matched Brown’s scoring output with 28 points while grabbing 11 rebounds for his third double-double since joining Boston.

“I thought we just did a good job reading the game,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought we made the right reads throughout most of the entire game. I thought tonight Vooch really looked comfortable in his offensive reads and his offensive screening. He unlocked a lot of stuff for us.”

The team’s depth was on full display as all 13 available players found the scoring column. Boston also demonstrated exceptional ball security, turning the ball over just three times in the second half.

“We just try to read the game and take what’s there,” Brown said.

With five victories in six contests since the All-Star break, Boston now focuses on Sunday evening’s home clash with the Philadelphia 76ers — a game that could mark Jayson Tatum’s highly anticipated return to action.

The matchup was originally scheduled for earlier in the day but NBC moved it to an 8 p.m. primetime slot, fueling speculation about Tatum’s potential comeback.

Tatum has been sidelined for 41 weeks after suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon last May during the final moments of Boston’s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

The league mandates that Boston release their initial injury report by 5:00 p.m. EST Saturday before Sunday’s home game against Philadelphia.

Following a practice session with the Celtics’ G League affiliate two weeks ago, Tatum remained uncertain about his return timeline.

“It doesn’t mean that I’m coming back or I’m not, it’s just following the plan. So it’s just another step,” Tatum said. “I don’t know percentage. I just know I feel a little bit better everyday. I just try to focus on that.”

In that same interview, Tatum expressed concern about potentially disrupting the chemistry of a team currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference with a 39-20 record.

“I’m just hyper aware of what’s going on. I think it would just stem from that. Obviously, I know what I bring to the table and bring to the team. But I’m also aware that these guys have been playing extremely well,” Tatum said.

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev advanced to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final after defeating top-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2 during Friday’s semifinal match in the United Arab Emirates.

The third-seeded Medvedev will face off against Tallon Griekspoor from the Netherlands, who defeated fifth-seeded Russian player Andrey Rublev 7-5, 7-6 (6) in the tournament’s other semifinal contest.

With a career record of 22-19 in professional tennis finals, Medvedev previously claimed the 2023 Dubai championship by beating Rublev. The Russian has an unusual career statistic he hopes to change on Saturday – he has never captured the same tournament twice.

Medvedev’s serving performance proved decisive against the Canadian Auger-Aliassime, connecting on 88% of his first serves while preventing his opponent from earning any break point opportunities.

Griekspoor brings a 3-2 career finals record into Saturday’s match, having gone 1-1 in championship matches during 2024. The Dutch player secured the opening set with the match’s lone service break, then fought off two set points against Rublev in the second-set tiebreaker by claiming the final four points.

In other tennis action at the BCI Seguros Chile Open, two Argentine players advanced with straight-set quarterfinal victories in Santiago.

Top-seeded Francisco Cerundolo dispatched American Emilio Nava 6-1, 6-1 in just 66 minutes, while third-seeded Sebastian Baez knocked out the tournament’s final Chilean competitor, eighth-seeded Alejandro Tabilo, 7-6 (2), 6-1.

Cerundolo’s semifinal matchup will be against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann, who mounted a comeback victory over Lithuanian lucky loser Vilius Gaubas 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Baez will square off with second-seeded Luciano Darderi, who prevailed in an all-Italian quarterfinal against qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

At the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico, fifth-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli is positioned to capture his third professional tour title, with all three coming within the past 12 months.

Cobolli outlasted Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4 in their semifinal encounter. The Italian held a 36-26 advantage in winners, including a 13-7 edge in aces, while committing just one fewer unforced error than Kecmanovic (37-36).

Cobolli awaits the winner of Friday’s late semifinal between eighth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima in an all-American showdown.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association has modified its financial demands in ongoing contract negotiations, submitting a revised proposal to the WNBA on Friday that reduces the union’s revenue-sharing request, according to multiple media reports.

The players’ union now wants 26% of the league’s total gross revenue, backing down from their earlier demand of 27.5%. This adjustment represents approximately $100 million less over the duration of a potential collective bargaining agreement.

Under the union’s latest offer, the salary cap would start at roughly $9.5 million in the first year of a new contract. This figure remains nearly $4 million higher than what the league is willing to accept.

The WNBA has maintained its financial position in recent negotiations, continuing to offer 70% of net revenue to players. Multiple reports indicate this amount translates to approximately 15% of gross revenue.

The players’ association also modified its housing proposal, now requesting that the league provide housing for players earning less than 75% of the maximum salary, rather than the previous threshold of 80%.

League officials have agreed to provide housing for all players during the first year of any new agreement. After that initial year, the WNBA proposes covering housing costs only for rookie players, those on developmental contracts, and players earning minimum salaries.

Media reports earlier this week revealed that both parties face a March 10 deadline to reach an agreement to prevent disruptions to the 2026 season schedule.

The ongoing negotiations have put free agency on pause, while the league still needs to conduct an expansion draft to populate rosters for two new franchises: the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire.

According to the current timeline, the college draft is scheduled for April 13, with training camps beginning six days afterward. The season’s opening games are planned for May 8.

Dallas Stars veteran center Tyler Seguin’s season has come to an early end after suffering a torn ACL that will keep him off the ice through the playoffs, according to NHL sources who spoke with various media outlets Friday.

The Stars have submitted official documentation to the league that will provide them with an additional $6 million in salary cap relief before the March 6 trade deadline approaches. Combined with the $3.82 million in cap space they were already using, Dallas now has access to Seguin’s full $9.85 million salary allocation.

Both the NHL and NHL Players’ Association must give their approval for this transaction to become official.

Seguin, who serves as an alternate captain for Dallas, sustained his injury during the team’s matchup with the New York Rangers on December 2nd when he collided with defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

Medical staff helped him leave the ice, and he subsequently had surgical repair performed on the torn ACL in his right knee.

Team officials indicated they would reassess his condition following the Olympic break.

Throughout his 16-year NHL career, Seguin has accumulated 367 goals and 459 assists, reaching 826 total points across 1,016 games. His championship experience includes winning the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins during his first professional season in 2010-11.

Following three years with Boston, Dallas acquired him through a trade. Seguin demonstrated remarkable durability with the Stars, participating in at least 68 games during 10 of his initial 11 seasons with the franchise.

However, recent years have brought injury challenges, as hip surgery limited him to just 20 games in 2024-25, while this season saw him play 27 games before the knee injury.

Currently, the Stars hold third place in the Western Conference standings with 79 points after completing 58 games.

Former Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako has suffered another setback in his legal battle to return to the court, with the Alabama Supreme Court rejecting his latest appeal on Friday.

The 23-year-old center has been fighting through the court system for two months, trying to challenge NCAA eligibility rules that prevent his return to college basketball. His record now stands at one victory and two defeats in Alabama courts.

Bediako’s basketball journey has been complicated. After two seasons with the Crimson Tide, he declared for the 2023 NBA Draft but wasn’t selected. The San Antonio Spurs signed him to a two-way deal, though he was cut before appearing in any NBA games. He then spent portions of three seasons competing in the G League.

The Ontario native from Brampton wanted to return to Alabama and initially succeeded in January when a Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge granted him a temporary restraining order. This legal victory allowed him to rejoin the team despite NCAA restrictions.

During his brief return under the court order, the 7-foot center appeared in five contests, starting twice. He put up solid numbers with 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while Alabama posted a 3-2 record in those matchups.

His playing time ended abruptly on February 9 when a different circuit court judge rejected his request for a preliminary injunction to continue competing. The original judge, James H. Roberts Jr., had stepped aside from the case due to his and his wife’s status as Alabama athletics boosters.

Bediako’s legal team then filed an appeal and requested what they called “interim injunctive relief” earlier this week, hoping to get him back on the court while the appeal process continued. However, the state’s highest court turned down that request, keeping him sidelined for now.

Miami Heat All-Star guard Norman Powell faces a multi-week absence after sustaining a right groin strain, team officials confirmed on Friday.

The injury occurred during the second quarter of Thursday evening’s 124-117 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers on the road. Powell managed just three points and three rebounds across 10 minutes of play before leaving the contest.

Prior to Thursday’s matchup, Powell had been marked as questionable due to the same groin concern. Friday’s MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain, with the Heat designating him as week-to-week for recovery purposes.

The 32-year-old veteran will be absent for a minimum of four contests before team medical staff reassesses his condition.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra explained to media members that team doctors had given Powell medical clearance before the Philadelphia game.

“It was that one slide against (Tyrese) Maxey and he overextended it,” Spoelstra explained. “So that’s the same one that he’s been dealing with.”

In his debut campaign with Miami, Powell tops the team’s scoring charts with 22.5 points per game. His previous career-best season average was 21.8 points across 60 contests with the Los Angeles Clippers last year.

Throughout his professional career spanning 666 games (308 as a starter), Powell maintains a 13.9-point average across stints with Toronto (2015-21), Portland (2021-22), the Clippers (2022-25), and Miami. He has connected on 1,198 three-point shots at an impressive 39.7% clip.

Additionally, the Heat announced that forward Nikola Jovic will sit out Saturday’s home matchup against Houston due to a back injury.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King has spoken out about a controversial moment involving the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team after they were heard laughing during President Donald Trump’s joke targeting the women’s team, who also claimed Olympic gold.

The incident occurred during a Sunday phone conversation where Trump congratulated the men’s squad on their overtime win against Canada at the Milano Cortina Olympics. Trump extended invitations to the State of the Union address and White House, then made a comment about the women’s team.

“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said, before joking that failing to invite the women would likely result in his impeachment.

The sound of multiple players laughing triggered swift criticism across social media platforms.

King, who has championed social equality throughout her career, took to social media to address the situation, stressing that true leadership and character are revealed in private moments, not just public appearances.

“When athletes play for their nation, they are competing for something bigger than themselves,” wrote King, who captured 39 Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions. “The gold medal wins by both the USA women’s and men’s hockey teams are equally important and historic.”

The tennis icon referenced her extensive athletic background while acknowledging the excitement that follows major victories.

“I’ve also spent a lot of time in locker rooms throughout my playing days, and I fully understand the range of emotions that exist following a big win,” she said. “Even so, hearing members of the USA men’s hockey team laughing at a joke at the expense of the women’s hockey team was uncomfortable.”

King encouraged the public to concentrate on both teams’ extraordinary accomplishments and the need for athletes to stand together across gender lines.

“Let’s not lose sight of what a monumental moment this is for hockey, women’s sports and our country,” King wrote. “And let’s make sure that men and women support each other.”

The women’s hockey team turned down the State of the Union invitation for Tuesday’s address, explaining they had scheduling conflicts and previous obligations while thanking officials for acknowledging their success.

Several male team members have since described the locker room moment as regrettable, with team captain Auston Matthews stating they admire the women’s team and maintain “nothing but love and respect” for them and their accomplishments.

An oblique muscle injury suffered during the second day of fall practice completely disrupted Garrett Nussmeier’s final season as LSU’s starting quarterback in 2025.

The muscle strain prevented Nussmeier from throwing effectively, causing severe pain with every pass attempt throughout the campaign. LSU head coach Brian Kelly initially kept details of the injury private until facing questions about his quarterback’s condition, though Kelly was dismissed before the season concluded.

“My injury occurred in fall camp — Day 2, practice two of fall camp. How much did it affect me? I think it was pretty evident,” Nussmeier explained regarding how the injury impacted his play. “I really wasn’t able to throw the football. I had a stabbing pain in my ab every time I went to go throw the football.”

The quarterback, whose father Doug Nussmeier serves as the Saints’ offensive coordinator and played in the NFL, compiled impressive career statistics with the Tigers, recording 52 touchdown passes against 24 interceptions while accumulating 7,699 passing yards.

LSU benched Nussmeier for the final three regular season games in 2025, ending his campaign with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. The disappointing finish came after he had deliberated whether to return to Baton Rouge following an outstanding 2024 season.

Now Nussmeier is working to establish himself as the second quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft during Senior Bowl activities. His primary competition for that distinction comes from SEC conference opponent Ty Simpson from Alabama. Simpson reported positive feedback from his meeting with New York Jets leadership, including head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich.

The Jets hold the second overall draft selection, trailing only the Las Vegas Raiders at number one. Most draft analysts expect Las Vegas to choose Heisman Trophy recipient Fernando Mendoza from Indiana with the top pick.

Draft experts continue debating whether any other quarterback in this year’s class merits first-round consideration. Simpson expressed confidence in his readiness after leading Alabama for one season as the starting quarterback.

“First off, I think I’m ready. I’m a franchise quarterback,” Simpson declared. “Alabama prepares you the most for the NFL … The Alabama locker room is as close to an NFL locker room as you can get.”

NFL teams evaluating Nussmeier want confirmation of his recovery while also assessing whether his smaller frame can withstand professional football and if his arm strength meets starting quarterback standards.

Nussmeier explained that healing the injury during the season proved impossible because the weekly game schedule prevented the necessary rest and rehabilitation process.

“It was a frustrating deal, and it wasn’t LSU’s fault. It wasn’t the doctor’s fault. They did a great job of taking care of me and the trainers there,” Nussmeier said. “It was just a rare deal. It was just a thing that we really didn’t figure out what it was until about two months ago.”

The LSU signal-caller has made significant physical progress recently, rebuilding core strength over the past month.

“Feeling much more like myself, which has been exciting,” Nussmeier noted. “Learning how to retrain myself, get rid of the bad habits that I had created and just to be able to get to throw the football like I know I can.”

Multiple news sources confirmed Friday that the Atlanta Falcons have terminated assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis following rape allegations against him in Michigan.

The termination occurred after Darko State News published details about alleged violent conduct and displayed screenshots of electronic messages between Lewis and the woman making the accusations. These alleged incidents occurred during Lewis’s tenure as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan between 2023 and 2024.

Prior to Lewis’s dismissal, the Falcons released a public statement addressing the situation.

“We are aware of allegations regarding LaTroy Lewis,” the organization stated. “We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”

The 32-year-old Lewis joined the Falcons organization on February 10 under newly appointed head coach Kevin Stefanski.

A native of Ohio, Lewis had a brief NFL playing career as a linebacker, appearing in two games for the Houston Texans during the 2017 season. He transitioned to coaching at the collegiate level beginning in 2020. Most recently, Lewis served as Toledo’s defensive line coach during the previous season.

Atlanta delivered a powerful offensive display Friday, crushing Boston 15-8 in spring training action at North Port, Florida, led by Mike Yastrzemski’s two-homer performance and Ronald Acuna Jr.’s grand slam.

Yastrzemski, grandson of Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, connected for home runs in both the second and fourth innings, bringing his spring total to three long balls in four contests. The Braves erupted for an explosive 11-run third inning, with Acuna and Matt Olson both going deep to build a commanding 13-3 advantage.

Atlanta pitcher Chris Sale struggled in his outing, surrendering three runs on three hits across 2 2/3 innings, though he outperformed Boston’s Brayan Bello, who was hammered for five runs in just two frames. The Red Sox managed five home runs from Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Marcelo Mayer, Nathan Hickey and Tyler McDonough.

In other spring action, the Yankees demolished Minnesota 17-5 in Fort Myers, with Spencer Jones joining four other New York players in the home run parade. Jones drove in three runs and scored twice, launching his third spring homer. New York seized control early with an 8-1 second-inning lead on homers by Jasson Dominguez and J.C. Escarra, while Luis Gil earned the victory with one run allowed over 2 1/3 innings.

Pittsburgh rallied late to defeat Baltimore 6-1 in Bradenton, despite an impressive debut from Orioles newcomer Shane Baz. The right-hander, acquired from Tampa Bay in December for four prospects and a draft pick, was flawless through 2 1/3 hitless innings with four strikeouts. Pirates starter Mitch Keller matched that performance with four strikeouts over 2 1/3 scoreless frames, and Termarr Johnson delivered a crucial two-run single in a five-run seventh inning.

Tampa Bay edged Toronto 6-5 in Port Charlotte, with former Oriole Cedric Mullins making an impact in his new uniform. Mullins drove in two early runs and hit his first home run as a Ray in the third inning. Junior Caminero contributed a two-run single in the first, and Ryan Vilade provided the game-winner with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly.

The Mets overwhelmed St. Louis 14-3 in Jupiter, powered by MJ Melendez’s back-to-back home runs and four RBIs. A.J. Ewing also homered while driving in three runs for New York, which received three shutout innings from Freddy Peralta. Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt, ranked as the organization’s top prospect, homered for his first spring hit.

Philadelphia’s split squad defeated Miami 10-2 in Clearwater behind 14 hits, including two each from Trea Turner and Adolis Garcia. The Phillies collected six doubles and got contributions from 10 different hitters while building a 4-0 first-inning lead for veteran Aaron Nola. Meanwhile, Detroit’s other split squad crushed Philadelphia 16-8 in Lakeland with an 11-run sixth inning explosion.

Los Angeles Angels narrowly beat Cincinnati 4-3 in Goodyear, with Logan O’Hoppe’s two-run homer leading the way. Denzer Guzman added an RBI double, and Brent Suter held the Reds to one run over two innings. Chicago’s White Sox split squad topped Texas 3-1 in Glendale on LaMonte Wade Jr.’s two-run blast.

Colorado walked off against San Diego 3-2 in Scottsdale as Zac Veen delivered his second spring training walk-off homer. The 24-year-old outfielder, who gained attention for adding 43 pounds in the offseason, has become a fan favorite after overcoming substance abuse challenges.

Milwaukee defeated Chicago’s other split squad 5-2 in Phoenix, with Luis Rengifo driving in two runs including a solo homer. The Cubs topped Cleveland 8-6 in Mesa behind Dansby Swanson’s three RBIs, while Kansas City edged Oakland 7-6 in Surprise on Bobby Witt Jr.’s three-run homer. San Francisco capped the day with a 12-4 rout of the Dodgers in Scottsdale, collecting 14 hits including Victor Bericoto’s three-run blast.

INDIANAPOLIS — The spotlight shines brightest on Heisman Trophy recipient Fernando Mendoza as quarterback prospects showcase their talents at the NFL’s annual scouting combine.

The former Indiana signal-caller brings everything professional teams seek in a cornerstone quarterback. His intelligence, mobility, rapid decision-making, and quick release complement his powerful arm and ideal physical dimensions. Three seasons as a starter and a national title further enhance his resume.

Despite being lightly recruited initially, Mendoza refuses to assume anything is guaranteed. The widely projected first overall selection in April’s draft welcomes the pressure that comes with high expectations. Even if the quarterback-hungry Las Vegas Raiders look elsewhere, the Massachusetts native plans to channel his football idol’s approach.

“Whatever team drafts me, I’m grateful — whether it’s the No. 1 pick or whether it’s the 199th pick,” Mendoza stated, referencing the exact position where Raiders minority owner and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was chosen in 2000.

Few expect Mendoza to fall nearly that far, although draft surprises aren’t unprecedented.

Carson Beck entered 2024 as the projected top selection before a late-season elbow injury requiring surgery prompted his move from Georgia to Miami. During last February’s combine, Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward appeared destined for early selection. Ward ultimately went first to Tennessee, while Sanders waited until Cleveland selected him 144th overall.

This year presents a clearer picture, with Mendoza firmly established as the class leader.

His elevated status brings unique opportunities. Mendoza recently trained alongside two-time Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning, plus Daniel Jones, Indianapolis’ former starting quarterback. He even had a brief phone conversation with Brady during meetings with Raiders executives.

Media attention followed him constantly Friday, from photographers at his press conference to television interviews and cameras tracking his movements through the Indiana Convention Center. He won’t participate in Saturday evening’s throwing session, citing insufficient preparation time following Indiana’s 16-game championship run. Instead, he’ll demonstrate his arm strength at his April 1 Pro Day.

“It’s been hectic,” Mendoza explained. “A lot of our teammates were joking we played the natty on Jan. 19, and Jan. 23 we had three days of celebrating with a parade. Then it was all off to training. Everybody was going to Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago to go train. That process of being dispersed so quickly shows why you need to be enabled in the present moment, how much it matters to be in the present moment and how much you’ve got to really enjoy the good times while they last.”

Several quarterbacks in attendance relate to Mendoza’s whirlwind experience.

Beck dedicated last spring and summer to rehabilitation, working to demonstrate his return to pre-injury form. His efforts paid off as he guided Miami to the national championship game in their home venue, rebuilding his draft value while positioning himself as a potential first-round selection.

“You look at the beginning of the 2024 season, going into it, nobody envisioned that season to go that way, starting with myself,” Beck reflected. “I didn’t know I was going to get injured at the end of the season. I didn’t know I was going to end up coming back to college for another year. That was never the plan, right? So when the injury happened, I had declared for the draft. I was going to go through the process and from that point, I’m gone. It’s like ‘OK, Gunner (Stockton) is next up.’ So when I decided to not go to the NFL, it was like, ‘I’m going to go somewhere else.’”

Drew Allar faces his own rehabilitation challenge on an accelerated timeline.

He chose to return to Penn State last fall instead of entering the professional ranks, hoping to capture a national championship. The season deteriorated quickly for the preseason top-ranked team, culminating in head coach James Franklin’s midseason dismissal.

In mid-October, Allar sustained a broken left ankle requiring season-ending surgery. Now he’s working to convince NFL evaluators of his complete recovery.

“As soon as I really got back to school and started my rehab process my whole focus has been getting to this point, being healthy enough to have the chance to put myself out there and throw,” Allar said. “So I am really excited to go out there on Saturday and just cut it loose.”

Unlike Mendoza, Allar intends to throw but won’t participate in running drills.

For Mendoza, this represents a unique platform to demonstrate his readiness to follow Brady’s path and become a franchise cornerstone. His immediate goal, however, remains securing employment.

“Right now, I’m unemployed,” he acknowledged. “So this is my job interview and like everyone says, it’s the most important job interview of your life. So right now, I’m just trying to do everything to hopefully get employed.”

Legal battles involving college athlete compensation and eligibility requirements appear destined to continue indefinitely unless federal lawmakers establish clear regulations or the entire collegiate sports system undergoes major restructuring, according to industry experts.

Several universities including Duke and Cincinnati have taken legal action against their former quarterbacks, seeking financial compensation for what they claim are violations of revenue-sharing agreements when the players entered the transfer portal. Washington similarly threatened court action against its quarterback before the player ultimately decided to stay with the Huskies.

Meanwhile, numerous college athletes have launched their own legal challenges to extend their competitive careers and earning opportunities. This trend began with Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia in 2024 and most recently includes Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris this week, both seeking to overturn traditional eligibility restrictions.

University of Illinois professor Michael LeRoy, who specializes in labor and sports law, noted this week how college sports officials previously celebrated the House vs. NCAA settlement as the start of a more stable period since it permitted schools to pay athletes directly.

“That,” LeRoy said, “has been a spectacular miscalculation.”

When third-party payments to college athletes for their name, image and likeness began in 2021, most observers expected these arrangements would provide students with modest spending money. Few anticipated the substantial financial opportunities now available to elite athletes in 2026 through both revenue-sharing deals and NIL contracts.

Athletes now have strong incentives to extend their college careers to maximize their earning windows, while the prospect of greater financial rewards elsewhere motivates players to abandon existing revenue-sharing agreements with their current schools.

While it might appear obvious that athletes who sign revenue-sharing contracts with penalty clauses should be held accountable for breaking those agreements, the legal reality proves more complex.

Philadelphia contract law specialist Andrew Hope, who advises educational institutions on NIL issues, explained the nuanced nature of these disputes.

“As a general matter of contract law, liquidated damages are typically enforced to the extent they are considered a good-faith effort to estimate a loss to one of the parties in case of a breach. They are not supposed to be punitive in nature,” said Hope.

Since revenue-sharing contracts compensate athletes for their NIL rights rather than athletic performance, Hope noted that players contend penalty clauses don’t genuinely represent the actual value lost by schools when they transfer. Universities naturally disagree with this interpretation.

Duke pursued legal action to prevent quarterback Darian Mensah from transferring and signing with another institution, reaching a negotiated resolution within a week. Cincinnati demanded $1 million in damages from quarterback Brandon Sorsby for abandoning the second year of his contract when he moved to Texas Tech.

Kansas City-based sports attorney Mit Winter expects most contract disagreements will conclude through negotiated settlements, as neither schools nor athletes want to endure the time and costs associated with prolonged court proceedings.

Hope observed that traditional employee contracts would include non-compete provisions requiring departing workers to pay damages.

“But you can’t have that,” he said, “because these students aren’t employees.”

Winter believes three potential developments could halt the wave of lawsuits challenging the standard four-seasons-over-five-years eligibility framework.

Federal legislation granting the NCAA antitrust protection represents one possibility. Current eligibility lawsuits claim the NCAA restricts economic opportunities by limiting how long individuals can earn money as college athletes. While the proposed SCORE Act in Congress would provide such antitrust protection, the legislation’s prospects remain uncertain.

Winter suggested the Supreme Court might uphold existing NCAA eligibility regulations. However, the high court unanimously ruled against the NCAA in 2021’s NCAA vs. Alston case. Justice Brett Kavanaugh notably wrote that NCAA rules would likely struggle against future antitrust challenges, adding that “The NCAA’s business model would be flatly illegal in almost any other industry in America.”

LeRoy argued that private equity firms’ growing involvement in college athletics further undermines the NCAA’s case for antitrust exemption.

“The eligibility disputes really come down to: Do you characterize the market for college players as people seeking a degree while concurrently playing a sport? That’s the NCAA’s view,” LeRoy said. “But courts more often than not accept the players’ characterization that it’s a market for athletic services, it’s commercial in nature. If a court uses the word ‘commercial,’ it’s over for the school and the NCAA.”

Winter identified collective bargaining as the third potential solution for eligibility disputes, though this would require recognizing athletes as employees with union representation.

Winter predicted that football and basketball players in Power Four conferences will eventually gain employee status.

“There are more and more people in college athletics who are getting behind an idea like that — some athletic directors and for sure some coaches,” he said. “The NCAA itself is still opposed to it. It’s always possible the schools break off from the NCAA and do their own thing.”

Should the Power Four conferences, or specifically the influential Big Ten and Southeastern conferences, separate from the NCAA in football and basketball, collective bargaining could resolve questions about eligibility duration, whether athletes with professional backgrounds can return to college competition, and numerous other issues that have become problematic gray areas for the NCAA.

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi found himself on the ground Thursday night after a security officer accidentally brought him down while tackling a field invader during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory against Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico.

The incident occurred near the final whistle when a shirtless supporter sprinted onto the pitch and managed to embrace the two-time MLS Most Valuable Player at midfield. As security moved in to remove the intruder, the guard inadvertently pulled Messi down along with the fan during the takedown.

Before security could respond, two additional fans had already made their way to the center of the field – one wearing a Barcelona uniform and another in Miami colors. One managed to snap a photo with the soccer legend while Messi autographed the other fan’s jersey.

The 38-year-old Argentine star, who entered the match during halftime and scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 70th minute, quickly returned to his feet and showed no signs of injury from the mishap.

Thursday’s match at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon was initially set for February 13 as Miami’s final preseason contest, but organizers had to reschedule after Messi sustained a hamstring injury.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons officials terminated assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis on Friday following the emergence of sexual assault allegations circulating on social media platforms.

The firing occurred just hours after team management announced they were investigating the accusations that recently came to light online.

“We are aware of allegations regarding LaTroy Lewis,” team officials stated Friday prior to Lewis’s termination. “We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”

Attempts to reach Lewis for comment through social media messaging were made.

The accusations trace back to Lewis’s tenure at the University of Michigan, where he initially worked as a graduate assistant during the 2022 season before advancing to assistant defensive line coach for two subsequent years.

Following his Michigan stint, Lewis served as Toledo’s defensive line coach for the 2025 season before Atlanta hired him just weeks ago.

Milford Police officials, whom social media reports indicated responded to an emergency call involving Lewis, stated that police documentation was not immediately accessible. Requests have been submitted to Ann Arbor Police for incident reports and protective orders connected to the accusations published online by podcast host Justin Spiro.

“The Ann Arbor Police Department was just recently made aware of allegations regarding a sexual assault reported to have occurred on December 5, 2024,” department spokesman Chris Page stated. “The AAPD Detective Bureau launched an immediate investigation into the incident. This investigation remains active and ongoing.”

Page explained that department protocols prohibit releasing names of individuals unless formal criminal charges are filed.

Lewis previously worked alongside former Michigan head coaches Sherrone Moore and Jim Harbaugh. Moore faced termination in December following an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and subsequently received charges for three criminal offenses, including felony home invasion and stalking.

“As we have noted, the university launched an investigation of the circumstances and conduct leading to Sherrone Moore’s firing, as well as a broader culture review of the athletic department,” Michigan spokesman Paul Corliss stated Friday. “We continue to urge anyone with relevant information to reach out to the law firm conducting the investigation.

“The work is ongoing, and we will be able to share more when it is completed.”

Lewis, age 32 and originally from Akron, Ohio, distinguished himself as a linebacker at Tennessee and appeared in two NFL contests with the Houston Texans during the 2017 season.

For the first time in Olympic history, the United States claimed both hockey gold medals at the Winter Olympics, with each team defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime while maintaining perfect tournament records.

The historic achievement quickly became entangled in political controversy:

— Women’s Hockey: The female athletes largely avoided political discussions. Most players said they didn’t even notice Vice President JD Vance and his security detail attending two early tournament games, where they sat across from the American bench. After Megan Keller scored the championship-winning goal, the team celebrated their third Olympic gold by draping themselves in American flags.

“We’re America’s team in the best way and through positivity and trying to inspire through sport,” captain Hilary Knight said. “And whatever political climate is going on, we’re just trying to have a positive impact through our play, and obviously show up and represent our country to the best of our ability, because we are proud Americans and there’s great unity that we can find through sport together.”

— Men’s Hockey: The celebration after Jack Hughes scored the winning goal was electric, with Hughes flashing a gap-toothed smile while teammates honored late player Johnny Gaudreau, who passed away in August 2024. FBI Director Kash Patel joined the team in their locker room, and they received a congratulatory phone call from President Donald Trump.

— Men’s Hockey: Trump extended an invitation for the team to attend his State of the Union address two days later, then mentioned he would need to invite the women’s team as well. He joked that failing to invite the women could lead to his impeachment, a remark that drew laughter from players but was widely viewed as inappropriate. Several players joined Trump at the White House on Tuesday and received recognition during his congressional speech.

— Women’s Hockey: The women’s team never received a presidential phone call and only learned about the White House invitation hours after the men’s championship game concluded. They respectfully declined, citing previously arranged travel plans. While Trump indicated the women would visit the White House eventually, no specific date has been set, and the team’s earliest availability would be after the PWHL season concludes in late May. Instead, most team members plan to attend a “She Got Game” event hosted by rapper Flavor Flav in Las Vegas this July.

— Women’s Hockey: Flying commercially on USA Hockey’s budget, the women faced travel delays when their planned route through New York was changed to Atlanta due to weather conditions. They were offered the opportunity to attend the State of the Union but chose to return home instead. Having spent an additional week in Milan due to their earlier tournament start, they were ready to resume the PWHL season, which restarted Thursday.

— Men’s Hockey: The male players traveled on a charter flight funded by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association, flying directly to Miami. The NHL season resumed Wednesday.

Throughout this week, several men’s team members have faced questions about their reaction to Trump’s controversial joke. Many explained they were caught up in the celebration’s excitement. Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman acknowledged they “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s comments.

“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,” Knight said Wednesday

Despite the political complications, both teams developed strong bonds in the Olympic village and actively supported each other’s championship pursuits, something they’ve highlighted this week.

“We watched other events together,” said Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk. “We went and supported them. We loved the women’s team. The women’s team loved us and we’re so proud that we had a clean sweep of gold medals and just so much respect for them and the other athletes.”

As the controversy seemed to subside, a manipulated TikTok video appeared on the White House social media account showing U.S. player Brady Tkachuk seemingly making derogatory comments about Canadians. Brady Tkachuk, Matthew’s brother who plays for Ottawa in Canada’s capital, objected to the post, which included a disclaimer about AI-generated content.

“I’m not in control of any of those accounts,” he said. “I know that those words would never come out of my mouth.”

Brady Tkachuk also denied being the voice heard yelling “close the northern border” during Team USA’s call with Trump. The identity of that voice remains unknown.

— Men’s Hockey: Players have returned to NHL schedules and playoff competitions, often facing teammates they competed against in Milan. While Matthew Tkachuk brought his gold medal to practice, he kept a low profile to avoid offending his Canadian teammates.

— Women’s Hockey: The PWHL resumed play after a month-long Olympic hiatus, while seven U.S. college players prepare for conference playoffs. The PWHL is experiencing significant growth following the Olympics, marking the biggest boost since the league’s establishment three years ago.

League officials reported their largest in-season ticket sales days on February 24 and 25. February merchandise sales increased by 101% compared to the season’s first two months. The league’s 61 Olympic participants gained 760,000 additional social media followers collectively, and YouTube viewership jumped 200%.

INDIANAPOLIS — Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who finished second in Heisman Trophy balloting, announced Friday his intention to participate in passing drills at the NFL scouting combine.

Signal-callers are set to complete their workout routines on Saturday. Meanwhile, Heisman champion Fernando Mendoza from Indiana, projected as the top overall draft selection, plans to delay his throwing session until Indiana’s pro day scheduled for April 1.

Pavia revealed he’ll skip other on-field exercises and reserve those activities for Vanderbilt’s pro day on March 18.

Draft analysts project him as a later-round selection primarily due to physical measurements. Pavia stands just under 5-foot-10, while Mendoza towers at 6-5.

However, the Vanderbilt star doesn’t lack self-assurance, though that trait has occasionally created issues. He previously criticized Heisman Trophy voters through social media before issuing an apology.

During Friday’s media session, Pavia stated he didn’t “care what people think about me,” while highlighting his intellectual approach to football.

“I think my mind is just underrated, just the way I process,” Pavia said. “I feel like I’m a fast processor.

“I’m humble, and I get my confidence from my process. And if you saw what, how much I put into this, you would see where I get my confidence from.”

Whether described as confidence or boldness, Pavia led Vanderbilt — traditionally among the Southeastern Conference’s weakest programs — to a No. 9 ranking in The Associated Press poll during last season.

He now aims to translate that success to professional football, and Pavia appeared to joke about his reputation both on and off the field.

“(Vanderbilt) Coach (Clark) Lea always stressed that your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until you’re 25, and I just turned 24,” Pavia said. “So I’ve got like 360 days to go.”

Dallas has applied the franchise tag to wide receiver George Pickens this Friday, a strategic decision that will likely secure the player approximately $30 million for the 2026 season as both parties negotiate a potential long-term agreement.

According to a source familiar with the situation who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press, the Cowboys will utilize the non-exclusive franchise tag option. This approach allows Pickens to enter discussions with other NFL teams, though Dallas retains the right to match any competing offers since the tag details have not been officially announced.

The franchise tag application was anticipated since autumn 2024, when Pickens began demonstrating exceptional performance during his standout 2025 campaign after arriving via trade from Pittsburgh, where his professional journey had experienced challenges.

Based on overthecap.com projections, the single-year agreement under the franchise tag designation is estimated at $28.8 million for wide receivers. Both the Cowboys organization and Pickens have until July 15 to reach terms on an extended contract that would supersede the one-year arrangement.

Should Pickens choose to sign with another organization and Dallas opts not to exercise their matching rights under the non-exclusive terms, the franchise would receive compensation equivalent to two first-round draft selections.

While the financial terms become guaranteed upon Pickens signing the single-year deal, he risks potential fines for missing required offseason minicamp sessions or training camp activities if he holds out seeking a more favorable contract.

The receiver, who celebrates his 25th birthday this Wednesday, achieved personal bests last season with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdown catches as part of one of the NFL’s top offensive units. Despite their offensive success, Dallas struggled defensively and concluded the season with a 7-9-1 record, extending their playoff absence to two consecutive years.

The former Georgia standout, selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, excelled playing alongside CeeDee Lamb, who recently entered the second season of his four-year, $136 million extension. Lamb’s deal currently positions him as the third-highest paid receiver in the league with a $34 million annual average.

Lamb’s contract negotiations resulted in him missing all offseason activities and training camp in 2024 as he held out before signing his extension approximately two weeks prior to the season’s start.

The franchise tag was unavailable for Lamb’s situation because he was entering his fifth-year option, an automatic provision included in all first-round rookie contracts. Second-round selections like Pickens receive four-year deals, and he earned $6.8 million throughout his initial contract.

During his three seasons in Pittsburgh, Pickens displayed considerable athletic ability, but also exhibited concerning behavioral issues that prompted former head coach Mike Tomlin to publicly question his professional maturity.

The Steelers eventually traded Pickens to Dallas in exchange for a third-round draft selection and additional late-round pick swaps between the organizations.

First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who spent 25 years as an NFL assistant before his promotion, avoided publicly criticizing Pickens throughout the season. However, both Pickens and Lamb faced discipline when they were benched for the opening series against Las Vegas after violating team curfew during a casino visit the previous evening.

The Cowboys have also secured running back Javonte Williams with a three-year, $24 million contract extension as a free agent.

Similar to Pickens, the 25-year-old Williams revitalized his professional trajectory during his inaugural Dallas season. His 1,201 rushing yards marked the highest total for a Cowboys running back since two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott accumulated 1,357 yards in 2019.

A heartfelt letter from an 8-year-old girl may have played a role in bringing veteran pitcher Max Scherzer back to the Toronto Blue Jays for another season.

Following Scherzer’s agreement to a one-year, $3 million contract on Wednesday, his wife Erica May-Scherzer shared a touching handwritten letter that their daughter Brooke had penned to the baseball team back in December. The youngster had asked her parents to send the note to Toronto, expressing her desire to see her father return to the Blue Jays.

The December 15th letter read: “Dear Blue Jays, I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time. I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, the (CN) Tower and of course the stadium. I am looking forward to come back next season. Love, Max Scherzer daughter”

The 41-year-old right-handed pitcher brings extensive experience to Toronto, boasting eight All-Star selections and a career record of 221-117 with a 3.22 ERA. Throughout his career, Scherzer has played for multiple teams including Arizona, Detroit, Washington, the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and Texas before joining Toronto. His 3,489 career strikeouts place him 11th all-time, just 20 strikeouts shy of Hall of Fame legend Walter Johnson.

During his previous stint with the Blue Jays last season, Scherzer compiled a 5-5 record with a 5.19 ERA across 17 starts and 85 innings pitched. He contributed to Toronto’s postseason run with three starts, including a standout performance in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series where the team defeated Seattle 8-2. Scherzer also took the mound for Games 3 and 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Toronto FC has finalized the signing of United States Men’s National Team forward Josh Sargent in a blockbuster deal announced Friday.

The 26-year-old striker joins the MLS club from Norwich City of England’s EFL Championship in a transaction valued at as much as $27 million, marking one of the most expensive signings in league history.

Sargent will take up a designated player position and has committed to the club through the 2030-31 season.

“We are thrilled to welcome Josh to Toronto FC as a foundational piece of what we have been building here at the club since last summer,” general manager Jason Hernandez said. “He brings high-level experience in some of the strongest leagues in the world and an international pedigree at just 26 years old. He is a proven goalscorer, with a winning mentality and the intelligence that will lead our attack for years to come.”

During his professional career, Sargent tallied 71 goals and 24 assists across 240 appearances between Norwich (2021-25) and German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen (2018-21).

The Canadian club secured his rights by purchasing his right of first refusal from St. Louis City for as much as $725,000 in general allocation money.

“I am excited to join Toronto FC and start a new chapter in my life with my family in Toronto,” Sargent said. “I am grateful to everyone at the club for their belief in me and all the support throughout the process to make this move possible.

“From the initial conversations with Toronto FC, what excited me the most about the project was the ambition to be a competitive and winning team. I can’t wait to hit the ground running and play in front of all the fans at BMO Field.”

On the international stage, Sargent has netted five goals in 29 appearances for the United States national team.

Toronto kicked off their 2026 MLS campaign with a 3-2 defeat to FC Dallas last Saturday. The club travels to face the Vancouver Whitecaps this Saturday evening.

The newly formed Cadillac Formula One team announced Friday that their inaugural racing vehicle will carry the designation MAC-26, paying homage to American motorsports legend Mario Andretti, the 1978 world champion.

The racing icon, who turns 86 on Saturday, serves as a board member for the General Motors-supported American squad set to become the eleventh team competing when the new season kicks off March 8 in Australia.

Andretti played a crucial role in obtaining the team’s position on the grid, following resistance from current teams to an earlier bid spearheaded by his son Michael, who eventually withdrew from the project.

The acronym MAC represents Mario Andretti Cadillac.

Team CEO Dan Towriss explained the naming decision in a statement: “Naming our first chassis MAC-26 reflects the spirit Mario carried into Formula One and the belief that an American team belongs on this stage. His story embodies the American dream and inspires how we approach building this team every day.”

The squad will field veteran drivers Sergio Perez from Mexico and Finland’s Valtteri Bottas for the upcoming season.

Billy Gillispie’s tenure as head basketball coach at Tarleton State University will come to an end, with ESPN reporting Friday that he will not be returning for the upcoming season.

Associate head coach Glynn Cyprien has been filling the role as acting head coach while Gillispie has been away from the team, missing 11 games during the current season because of health-related concerns.

According to the ESPN report, university officials plan to conduct a comprehensive nationwide search to find Gillispie’s replacement.

During his six-year stint leading the Texans, Gillispie compiled a 92-89 coaching record, with this season’s team posting a 14-15 record. The university placed him on administrative leave in October while officials investigated an anonymous complaint regarding his coaching methods.

The 66-year-old coach has previously faced scrutiny over his coaching approach. In September 2012, he stepped down from his position at Texas Tech after just one season, citing health issues amid accusations of mistreating players.

Throughout his 14-season collegiate coaching career, Gillispie holds a 240-197 overall record, having led programs at UTEP from 2002-04, Texas A&M from 2004-07, Kentucky from 2007-09, Texas Tech in 2011-12, and most recently Tarleton State. Under his guidance, his teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament on four occasions.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid reached the 100-point milestone for the sixth year running with a goal and assist performance, while teammate Leon Draisaitl extended his 30-goal streak to eight seasons as the Oilers crushed the Los Angeles Kings 8-1 on Thursday evening, breaking their longest losing streak of the season at four games.

McDavid’s achievement marks his ninth career 100-point campaign, placing him third in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky’s 15 and Mario Lemieux’s 10 such seasons.

Draisaitl contributed one goal and three assists in the dominant performance, while Zach Hyman added a goal and two helpers. Jake Walman found the net twice, Andrew Mangiapane tallied a goal and assist, and goaltender Connor Ingram turned away 21 shots for Edmonton, which was looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s 6-5 defeat to Anaheim.

Los Angeles managed just one goal from Warren Foegele as the Kings extended their slide to five straight losses (0-4-1), keeping them three points behind a playoff position. Starting goalie Darcy Kuemper was pulled after allowing four goals on 15 shots, with Anton Forsberg finishing the game by making 18 saves.

Wild 5, Avalanche 2

In Denver, Matt Boldy netted two empty-net goals and added two assists while Joel Eriksson Ek also scored twice as Minnesota defeated Colorado in a clash between two of the league’s elite teams.

Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson was outstanding with 44 saves as the Wild extended their winning streak to six games, tightening the Central Division race. Mats Zuccarello contributed another goal and Kirill Kaprizov recorded two assists.

Colorado received two goals from Martin Necas, two assists from Nathan MacKinnon, and 31 saves from Mackenzie Blackwood. The Avalanche maintain their league-leading position with 85 points while Minnesota sits tied for second overall with 80 points.

Hurricanes 5, Lightning 4

Sebastian Aho’s power-play goal in the third period broke the deadlock as Carolina recovered from surrendering a three-goal advantage to defeat Tampa Bay in Raleigh, with the Eastern Conference’s top two teams squaring off.

The Hurricanes exploded early as Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall, and Nikolaj Ehlers all scored within the first seven minutes of their return from the Olympic break. Seth Jarvis contributed a goal and assist while Andrei Svechnikov had two assists. Goalie Brandon Bussi made 24 stops.

Tampa Bay’s Brandon Point recorded a goal and assist for the Lightning, who were playing their second game since the break after beating Toronto the previous night. Brandon Hagel, Nikita Kucherov, and Dominic James also scored for Tampa Bay, which continued without head coach Jon Cooper for the second consecutive game following his father’s passing.

Red Wings 2, Senators 1 (OT)

Dylan Larkin completed his two-goal performance by scoring the overtime winner at 1:50 as Detroit prevailed over Ottawa on the road.

Red Wings netminder John Gibson stopped 26 shots as Detroit ended a rough stretch where they had won just once in five games (1-3-1) before the break. Lucas Raymond contributed two assists in the victory.

Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk scored the lone goal for the Senators, who had been playing well with five wins in six games before the break. Linus Ullmark made 18 saves in the losing effort.

Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 1

Brad Marchand scored twice as Florida returned from the Olympic layoff with a convincing victory over Toronto in Sunrise, as both Eastern Conference teams battle for playoff positioning.

Evan Rodrigues added a goal and assist for the Panthers while Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk also found the net. Anton Lundell recorded two assists and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots for Florida, which had struggled with a 1-5-0 record heading into the break.

John Tavares provided Toronto’s only goal as the Maple Leafs dropped their second straight game since returning from the break. Joseph Woll made 32 saves in defeat.

Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 2

Boston overcame an early one-goal deficit by scoring three consecutive goals and maintained their lead to defeat Columbus at home.

Viktor Arvidsson scored twice while Sean Kuraly and Morgan Geekie also lit the lamp for the Bruins, who improved to 5-0-3 over their last eight contests. Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves, with Michael DiPietro stopping two shots after Korpisalo temporarily left with an injury in the second period.

Adam Fantilli tallied a goal and assist while Kirill Marchenko also scored and Mason Marchment assisted on both goals for Columbus, whose seven-game winning streak came to an end. Elvis Merzlikins turned away 19 shots.

Islanders 4, Canadiens 3 (OT)

Jean-Gabriel Pageau netted the game-winner at 1:46 of overtime as New York completed a comeback victory in Montreal.

Matthew Schaefer scored twice, Anders Lee tied the contest late, and Simon Holmstrom recorded two assists for the Islanders, who have now won three straight games. Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves in the victory.

Noah Dobson scored twice against his former club, Cole Caufield added a goal, and Samuel Montembeault made 22 saves for Montreal, which has lost two of three (1-0-2) but extended their point streak to six games (4-0-2).

Penguins 4, Devils 1

Connor Clifton and Egor Chinakhov scored 50 seconds apart during a three-goal third period as Pittsburgh, playing without superstar Sidney Crosby, broke open a close game to defeat New Jersey at home.

Tommy Novak opened the scoring, Evgeni Malkin recorded two assists, Blake Lizotte added an empty-net goal, and Arturs Silovs was solid with 28 saves for Pittsburgh. Crosby will be sidelined for at least four weeks with a lower-body injury sustained while representing Canada at the Milan Cortina Games.

Paul Cotter scored for New Jersey, which sits second-to-last in the Eastern Conference and matched a season-high with their fifth straight loss, part of a dismal 1-7-0 stretch. Jacob Markstrom made 31 saves.

Predators 4, Blackhawks 2

Ryan O’Reilly scored the decisive goal late in the third period to lift Nashville past Chicago at home.

Roman Josi delivered a perfect pass to O’Reilly, who tipped the game-winner past Spencer Knight with 3:16 remaining to secure the victory for Nashville. Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, and Matthew Wood also scored, while Justus Annunen remained perfect at 4-0 in his career against Chicago with a 21-save performance.

Connor Bedard was impressive in defeat, scoring for the Blackhawks, and Tyler Bertuzzi also found the net. Spencer Knight finished with 22 saves for Chicago.

Flyers 3, Rangers 2 (OT)

Matvei Michkov scored twice, including the overtime winner, as Philadelphia rallied to edge New York at Madison Square Garden and extend the Rangers’ struggles.

Michkov skated around J.T. Miller and fired a shot through Igor Shesterkin’s five-hole at 2:10 of overtime for his 15th goal of the season. Trevor Zegras scored the other Philadelphia goal as the Flyers overcame a 2-0 midgame deficit.

Samuel Ersson made 23 saves as Philadelphia won for just the fourth time in 11 games (4-4-3). Sam Carrick and Alexis Lafreniere scored for New York, which has now lost five straight (0-4-1) and posted a 2-11-2 record since their Winter Classic victory over Florida on January 2.

Flames 4, Sharks 1

Nazem Kadri scored twice and goaltender Dustin Wolf continued his dominance against his childhood team as Calgary defeated San Jose on the road. The Flames have now won 50 consecutive games when scoring four or more goals.

Connor Zary and Mikael Backlund each contributed one goal and one assist for Calgary, which secured their second straight victory. Wolf, a native of nearby Gilroy, California, made 34 saves to improve his record to 10-2 in 12 career games against the Sharks.

Tyler Toffoli scored the opening goal for San Jose, which has dropped five consecutive games (0-4-1). Yaroslav Askarov stopped 25 shots in the loss.

Blues 5, Kraken 1

Dylan Holloway returned from injury to score three goals and add an assist, leading St. Louis past Seattle at home.

Pius Suter contributed a goal and two assists for the Blues, who won just their second game in 10 contests (2-7-1) in their first action following the three-week Olympic break. Jordan Kyrou also scored while Jonatan Berggren and Justin Faulk each recorded two assists. Joel Hofer made 23 saves.

Kaapo Kakko scored for Seattle, which has lost both games since returning from the break. Philipp Grubauer made 27 saves in defeat.

Phoenix completed a thrilling comeback Thursday night when Royce O’Neale buried a three-pointer with just 1.7 seconds on the clock, lifting the Suns to a dramatic 113-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at home.

The Suns erased a 13-point second-half deficit to secure the win. O’Neale had put Phoenix ahead 110-108 on an earlier possession, but LeBron James answered with a tip-in to knot the score at 110-110 with 22.7 seconds remaining. Phoenix opted to use the entire shot clock, with Grayson Allen penetrating before finding Collin Gillespie, who located O’Neale open on the left wing for the game-winner.

Allen led Phoenix with 28 points on six made three-pointers, while Gillespie contributed 21 points and also connected on six shots from beyond the arc. The victory allowed the Suns to take the season series despite a dominant 41-point effort from Luka Doncic, who added eight rebounds, eight assists and six three-pointers. James finished with 15 points, including 10 after halftime, and Marcus Smart chipped in 14 for Los Angeles, which has now dropped five of its last seven contests and holds just a one-game lead over Phoenix for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

Hornets 133, Pacers 109

Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel established a new NBA single-season record for three-pointers by a first-year player, while Brandon Miller tied his season-high with 33 points in the Hornets’ road victory over Indiana in Indianapolis.

Knueppel’s 28-point showing included eight three-pointers, matching his own franchise rookie mark and pushing his season total to 209. LaMelo Ball added 20 points and eight assists, with Moussa Diabate recording 14 points and 11 rebounds as Charlotte extended their franchise-record road winning streak to nine games.

The Pacers got 20 points and seven assists from Andrew Nembhard, plus 19 bench points from Micah Potter and 16 from Jarace Walker, but continued their slide with a fifth consecutive loss and ninth defeat in their past 11 outings.

Spurs 126, Nets 110

Julian Champagnie delivered 26 points in his return to New York as San Antonio stretched its longest winning streak since 2015-16 to 11 games with a victory over Brooklyn.

Champagnie’s stellar performance helped compensate for another quiet night from Victor Wembanyama, who managed just 12 points and eight rebounds. Stephon Castle contributed 18 points, including 13 in the first quarter, while Devin Vassell scored 14 and De’Aaron Fox added 14 with 10 coming in the third period.

Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. tallied 25 points with 17 in the third quarter during a comeback attempt, but the Nets absorbed their sixth straight defeat. Day’Ron Sharpe provided 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, with rookie Danny Wolf also scoring 14.

Rockets 113, Magic 108

Kevin Durant exploded for 40 points as Houston erased a 19-point deficit with a stunning 21-0 third-quarter run to defeat Orlando on the road.

Reed Sheppard supported Durant with 20 points on five three-pointers, while Alperen Sengun added 16 points and Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 13 as the Rockets captured their third straight victory.

Orlando received 30 points from Desmond Bane and 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds from Paolo Banchero. The Magic appeared in control with a 76-57 advantage and 5:04 remaining in the third quarter before Houston’s game-changing 21-0 surge over 3:31 gave them the lead. Sengun’s layup with 3:07 left provided the decisive basket.

76ers 124, Heat 117

Tyrese Maxey posted 28 points, 11 assists and five steals to power Philadelphia past Miami at home.

Joel Embiid delivered 26 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, who closed the game with an 8-0 run to secure their third consecutive win. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 points and eight rebounds to the victory.

Miami got 29 points and 14 rebounds from Bam Adebayo and 25 points with seven assists from Tyler Herro off the bench, but the Heat suffered their second straight loss.

Timberwolves 94, Clippers 88

Anthony Edwards scored 31 points and Donte DiVincenzo contributed 18 as Minnesota defeated a short-handed Los Angeles squad in Inglewood, California.

Jaden McDaniels and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 12 points while Rudy Gobert grabbed 13 rebounds, helping the Timberwolves improve to 5-1 since February 9th and 2-0 on their current three-game road trip that concludes Sunday in Denver.

The Clippers got 18 points from Derrick Jones Jr. and 14 from Bennedict Mathurin but played without Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and John Collins (head/neck injuries). Kris Dunn scored 11 for Los Angeles, which has now lost three in a row for the first time since a five-game skid in December.

Hawks 126, Wizards 96

Former Washington players Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum combined for 58 points against their former team, leading Atlanta to a dominant victory over the visiting Wizards.

The pair, acquired in last month’s trade that sent Trae Young to Washington, sparked Atlanta’s second wire-to-wire win over the Wizards in three days. Kispert established career highs with 33 points and 11 field goals, including six three-pointers, while McCollum scored 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Both players scored 22 points in the opening half.

Washington was paced by Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Justin Hardy and Justin Champagnie with 14 points each. The Wizards played without leading scorer Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain) for the sixth game and second-leading scorer Kyshawn George (left knee contusion).

Trail Blazers 121, Bulls 112

Jerami Grant scored 27 points and Toumani Camara added 16 as visiting Portland defeated struggling Chicago.

Robert Williams III recorded 14 points, a season-high 14 rebounds and four blocks, while fellow reserve Vit Krejci also scored 14 as the Trail Blazers won their sixth game in nine outings.

Chicago got 20 points and seven rebounds from Matas Buzelis and 19 bench points from Tre Jones, but the Bulls extended their losing streak to 11 games, tying the third-longest skid in franchise history.

Kings 130, Mavericks 121

Precious Achiuwa established a career-high with 29 points to lead Sacramento past Dallas on the road.

Achiuwa shot 13-of-19 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range, and collected 12 rebounds. Maxime Raynaud scored 22 points with Daeqwon Plowden adding 19 off the bench.

Dallas received a season-best 36 points and 10 rebounds from Naji Marshall but fell short of a third straight victory. Khris Middleton contributed 17 points and Brandon Williams had 16.

Pelicans 129, Jazz 118

Saddiq Bey erupted for a season-high 42 points along with seven assists and five rebounds to lead New Orleans past Utah in Salt Lake City.

Zion Williamson added 20 points and four steals as the Pelicans captured their third consecutive victory. Dejounte Murray tallied 17 points, nine assists and four steals in his second game back from an Achilles tendon injury.

Utah was led by Ace Bailey’s 23 points, with Brice Sensabaugh adding 20 bench points. Despite shooting 50% from the field, the Jazz dropped their fourth straight game.

With just 1.7 seconds left on the clock, Royce O’Neale drained a crucial three-pointer that sealed a dramatic 113-110 comeback win for the Phoenix Suns against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at home.

The Suns had battled back from being down 13 points in the second half to pull off the victory. O’Neale had already put Phoenix ahead 110-108 on the previous trip down court, but LeBron James answered with a tip-in basket to even the score at 110-110 with 22.7 seconds showing.

Phoenix decided to use their remaining time for a single scoring attempt. Grayson Allen penetrated toward the basket before passing to Collin Gillespie, who then spotted O’Neale standing alone on the left side for the winning shot.

Allen led all Phoenix scorers with 28 points while connecting on six shots from three-point range. Gillespie contributed 21 points and also knocked down six three-pointers as the Suns managed to overcome a dominant 41-point performance from Luka Doncic. The victory gives Phoenix a 3-1 advantage in the season series, with one final meeting scheduled for April 10 in Los Angeles.

Doncic was nearly unstoppable, hitting six three-pointers while recording eight assists and eight rebounds. He fell just short of recording his seventh triple-double this season, shooting 12-of-21 from the floor and making 11-of-12 attempts from the free-throw line.

O’Neale finished with 13 points and three three-pointers as Phoenix shot an impressive 22-of-50 (44%) from beyond the arc. The offensive explosion was a welcome change after the Suns managed just 77 and 81 points in their two previous contests, both season-low totals.

James contributed 15 points with 10 coming after halftime, while Marcus Smart added 14 points for Los Angeles. The Lakers have now dropped five of their last seven games and hold just a one-game edge over Phoenix for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.

The Suns seized control with a 96-86 advantage and 7:43 remaining after putting together a decisive 13-0 scoring run that featured a unique six-point possession. Gillespie connected on a three-pointer and added a free throw after former Phoenix player Deandre Ayton was whistled for a flagrant foul on a closeout, giving the ball back to the Suns.

Oso Ighodaro capped off that possession with a slam dunk, pushing the Phoenix lead to 101-89 – their biggest margin of the night – before Los Angeles began their comeback attempt.

Doncic’s sixth three-pointer of the evening brought the Lakers within 103-101 with three minutes left, but Gillespie immediately responded with his sixth three-pointer to maintain Phoenix’s cushion.

Jake LaRavia converted two free throws with 1:29 on the clock to trim the gap to 108-105, then Austin Reaves buried a three-pointer to knot the score at 108-108, setting up the dramatic finish.

Los Angeles had taken control earlier by opening the third quarter with 11 straight points, part of a larger 25-4 surge that began midway through the second quarter. Ayton’s dunk – his first points of the game – extended the Lakers’ lead to 60-49 with 8:05 left in the third period.

Three highly-ranked tennis players faced unexpected eliminations during Thursday’s action at the Merida Open Akron in Mexico, as several top seeds fell short of reaching the quarterfinal round.

Emma Navarro, the tournament’s second seed and defending champion who holds the world’s 20th ranking, suffered a straight-set defeat against China’s Shuai Zhang, losing 6-4, 6-4. Fellow American Ann Li, seeded third, also exited the competition after falling to Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez in a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-4 match. Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the seventh seed, experienced a decisive loss to Poland’s Magdalena Frech, 6-0, 6-3.

The defending champion’s match began promisingly as Navarro secured an early break against Zhang’s serve and established a commanding 4-1 advantage in the opening set. However, Zhang mounted an impressive comeback, claiming five consecutive games to capture the first set. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Navarro building a 3-1 lead only to watch Zhang win five of the following six games to complete the stunning upset.

Meanwhile, Italy’s top-seeded Jasmine Paolini made a successful tournament entrance, dominating Australia’s Priscilla Hon, a lucky loser, with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 victory. Paolini’s performance included 13 winners against 14 unforced errors, while she claimed an impressive 90% success rate on second-serve points, winning nine of ten opportunities and capitalizing on six of eleven break point chances.

At the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, Australia’s unseeded Ajla Tomljanovic delivered a significant upset by defeating second-seeded Iva Jovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to secure her quarterfinal berth.

Jovic, currently ranked 18th globally, initially controlled the match by breaking Tomljanovic’s serve in the tenth game to claim the first set. The Australian responded by breaking the American’s serve in the fifth game of the second set before holding her own service to force a deciding third set. Physical concerns appeared to affect Jovic throughout the match, as she began with her right leg taped and later required medical attention to address her left leg after dropping the second set.

The final set saw Tomljanovic establish an early 2-0 advantage before Jovic rallied to level the score at 4-4. However, the Australian secured a crucial break in the ninth game and successfully served out the match in the tenth game to complete her victory.

American players Peyton Stearns, the fourth seed, and Ashlyn Krueger both advanced smoothly to the quarterfinals, joined by Australia’s Kimberly Birrell who also moved forward in the competition.

Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime maintained his impressive momentum Thursday, defeating Czech player Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (2) to secure his spot in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semifinals in the United Arab Emirates.

The tournament’s top seed has now captured victory in 11 of his 12 matches this month while pursuing his third consecutive tournament final appearance. The Canadian player aims to surpass his 2025 performance in Dubai, where he was defeated in the title match.

Thursday’s match saw Auger-Aliassime dominate the service game, delivering 16 aces compared to Lehecka’s seven. The Czech competitor failed to break his opponent’s serve throughout the entire contest.

Auger-Aliassime will face Russia’s third-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals after Medvedev overwhelmed American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-1 in his quarterfinal match.

The tournament’s second semifinal will pit Russia’s fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev against Netherlands player Tallon Griekspoor. Rublev defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 6-4, while Griekspoor eliminated sixth-seeded Czech player Jakub Mensik 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

BCI Seguros Chile Open

Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, the third seed and three-time tournament finalist in Santiago, Chile, advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Chilean player Cristian Garin 7-6 (2), 1-6, 7-5.

The Argentine claimed the Santiago championship in 2024 but suffered final defeats in both 2022 and 2025. Thursday’s victory came largely through his defensive prowess, successfully defending seven of Garin’s eight break point opportunities.

Fellow Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, the tournament’s top seed, easily dispatched Denmark’s Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-2. Chile’s eighth-seeded Alejandro Tabilo rallied to defeat Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, while American Emilio Nava overcame Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 7-5, 6-3.

Abierto Mexicano Telcel

Italy’s fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli survived a challenging first set against Chinese qualifier Yibing Wu, ultimately prevailing 7-6 (4), 6-1 in Acapulco, Mexico’s quarterfinal round.

Cobolli demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, successfully saving all eight of Wu’s break point attempts, including two that could have claimed the opening set and two additional opportunities in the match’s closing game.

American Frances Tiafoe, seeded eighth, progressed past Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, while Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic eliminated France’s Terence Atmane 6-3, 6-3. The evening’s final contest featured Monaco’s sixth-seeded Valentin Vacherot against American Brandon Nakashima.

Two Ohio State defenders made a strong impression during Thursday’s workout sessions at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, posting impressive athletic numbers that caught the attention of professional scouts.

Linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese both clocked identical 4.46-second times in the 40-yard dash. Styles, who played middle linebacker for the Buckeyes, and Reese, who announced earlier this week that he’s preparing for a pass-rushing role in the NFL, demonstrated exceptional speed for their position.

Styles delivered a standout performance across multiple drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 6-foot-5, 244-pound defender recorded a remarkable 43.5-inch vertical jump, surpassing the previous combine record of 43 inches set by safety Nick Emmanwori in 2025. His broad jump exceeded 11 feet, marking the day’s best result, while he completed the three-cone drill in 7.09 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.26 seconds. Reese chose not to participate in the vertical jump or broad jump events.

Among defensive ends, Texas Tech’s David Bailey posted the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.50 seconds. Bailey, who measures 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds with a 35-inch vertical jump, is anticipated to be chosen within the first 10 picks.

Draft analysts currently project both Styles and Reese to be selected among the top 15 overall picks when the draft takes place in April.

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, viewed as a potential second-round selection, led all linebackers in agility drills with a 6.90-second three-cone time and a 4.19-second short shuttle performance.

Los Angeles FC has locked up their star striker Denis Bouanga with a new contract that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season.

The club made the announcement Wednesday, revealing the agreement also contains a team option for the 2029-30 campaign for the 31-year-old forward.

Since joining LAFC in 2022, Bouanga has earned MLS All-Star honors and Best XI recognition for three consecutive seasons. The prolific scorer has netted a club-record 105 goals while adding 43 assists across 155 matches in all competitions.

Bouanga played a key role in LAFC’s championship run in 2022, helping the team capture both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup. He holds the unique distinction of being the only MLS player to record three consecutive seasons with 20 or more goals.

LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington praised the extension, stating: “At this club, performance matters. Denis has delivered at an elite level with historic consistency since the day he arrived, and he has helped us win multiple trophies. This new contract reflects that. We’re proud of what he’s accomplished here and are motivated to continue building on that success together.”

The forward wasted no time making his mark this season, contributing one goal and one assist in LAFC’s commanding 3-0 victory over reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami in their season opener last Saturday.

Bouanga expressed his appreciation for the new deal, saying: “I’m grateful to LAFC for the trust they’ve shown in me. From the beginning, my family and I have felt at home in Los Angeles. It’s an honor to represent this club and our supporters every time I put on the jersey. I believe in what we are building here, and I’m motivated to keep improving, winning more trophies, and helping this club reach even higher.”

The French-born player represents Gabon on the international stage, where he has scored 17 goals in 53 appearances for his country.

The life of New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes remains far from ordinary weeks after his historic overtime goal delivered the United States its first Olympic men’s hockey championship in nearly five decades at the Milan Cortina Games.

The 24-year-old athlete continues to navigate the overwhelming attention that followed his gold medal-winning shot against Canada, still sporting a gap-toothed grin from injuries sustained during the Olympic finals.

Even playing away from home in Pittsburgh Thursday evening, Hughes was met with thunderous applause from the crowd at PPG Paints Arena. The reception came during a pre-game tribute that also honored members of the U.S. women’s Olympic team and Pittsburgh’s own Sidney Crosby, who captained Team Canada.

The 18,288 fans in attendance began chanting his name before breaking into patriotic “U-S-A” cheers, creating an unexpected moment for the visiting player wearing number 86.

“I was thinking going into the game, I knew they’d do something, but obviously, you know, Crosby’s the biggest athlete here,” Hughes explained after contributing an assist in New Jersey’s 4-1 defeat. “So I’m sure they were cheering for Canada as well, but obviously a lot of proud Americans in the crowd tonight. And that was something I’ll always remember.”

The scene echoed a similar tribute Pittsburgh supporters gave Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller sixteen years earlier, after Miller’s Team USA fell to Crosby’s golden goal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Unlike Miller’s squad that earned silver, Hughes carved his name into American Olympic history by delivering the championship-clinching goal in Italy. His recent schedule has included prestigious visits to the White House and an appearance during President Trump’s State of the Union address.

Following celebrations in his home state of New Jersey on Wednesday, Hughes expressed surprise at receiving similar recognition on enemy ice, with another potential tribute awaiting when the Devils travel to St. Louis this Saturday.

“Obviously, it’s not going to last forever, but just really cool,” he remarked.

Hughes acknowledged the relentless pace has prevented him from fully absorbing the magnitude of his achievement. While transitioning back to regular NHL competition has proven difficult after what he described as “probably the best moment of my life,” returning to the rink provides welcomed normalcy.

“The best thing that’s happened to me is getting back on the ice and playing,” Hughes shared. “Just so I have like four or five hours of no distractions.”

The Utah Jazz will be without star forward Lauri Markkanen when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night, as the team announced he’s dealing with both a right hip impingement and a right ankle sprain.

The Finnish forward sustained both injuries during Wednesday’s practice session and was initially considered questionable for the contest before team officials made the decision to hold him out.

Markkanen put up 29 points in Utah’s most recent outing, a 125-105 defeat at the hands of the Houston Rockets on Monday. This season, he’s been a consistent offensive force, posting averages of 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 42 appearances, starting every game for the Jazz.

The 27-year-old secured a lucrative four-year deal worth $195.9 million and made significant waves during his debut campaign with Utah in 2022-23, capturing the NBA’s Most Improved Player award while also earning his maiden All-Star nod.

Selected seventh overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2017 NBA Draft, Markkanen has compiled career statistics of 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over 492 total appearances (466 as a starter) during stints with Chicago (2017-21), the Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-22), and currently with Utah.

Florida guard Liv McGill delivered a dominant performance Thursday night, dropping 28 points to power the Gators past 19th-ranked Ole Miss 74-67 in Southeastern Conference action at Gainesville, Florida. McGill was particularly effective early, netting 19 of her points before halftime while also contributing eight assists and six rebounds.

The Gators (17-13, 5-10 SEC) received additional scoring from Laila Reynolds, who chipped in 14 points in the victory. Florida connected on an impressive 59.1 percent of their field goal attempts and built leads as large as 14 points throughout the contest. The triumph marked the Gators’ first success against a ranked opponent after eight previous failed attempts this season, and their fourth victory in their last six outings.

Ole Miss got a career-high 25 points from Tianna Thompson, who also set a personal record by drilling seven three-pointers. The Rebels (21-9, 8-7) also received 15 points from Cotie McMahon and 10 from Christeen Iwuala, but couldn’t overcome their recent struggles. The loss extended Ole Miss’s losing streak to three games and marked their fifth defeat in seven contests.

The Rebels made a push in the final period, cutting Florida’s advantage to just five points. However, the Gators responded with authority as Reynolds converted two field goals and McGill connected on a three-pointer during a decisive 9-0 surge that stretched the lead to 65-51 with 6:08 left on the clock. Although Ole Miss managed to trim the deficit to five on three separate occasions down the stretch, they couldn’t mount a complete comeback.

In other Top 25 action, sixth-ranked LSU dominated Tennessee 89-73 behind Mikaylah Williams’ double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, plus five assists. MiLaysia Fulwiley contributed 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks off the bench as the Tigers (25-4, 11-4 SEC) captured their third consecutive victory.

ZaKiyah Johnson recorded 14 points and eight rebounds for LSU, while Grace Knox posted 13 points and nine boards. Flau’jae Johnson rounded out the scoring with 10 points for the Tigers.

Tennessee (16-11, 8-7) got 17 points from reserve Jaida Civil, but couldn’t avoid their fifth straight defeat and eighth loss in their past 10 games. Nya Robertson scored 14 points and Talaysia Cooper added 13 for the struggling Volunteers.

Meanwhile, 10th-ranked Louisville cruised past Georgia Tech 69-50 in Atlantic Coast Conference play in Atlanta. Elif Istanbulluoglu paced the Cardinals with 18 points, while Imari Berry provided 13 points off the bench.

Tajianna Roberts contributed 12 points and reserve Reyna Scott added 10 for Louisville (25-5, 15-2 ACC), which secured its fourth victory in five games. The Cardinals established control early, taking a 36-24 halftime advantage and extending their largest margin to 20 points.

Georgia Tech (12-17, 7-10) was led by Talayah Walker’s 20 points but suffered their second consecutive loss. The Yellow Jackets struggled offensively, shooting just 38.3 percent from the floor while turning the ball over 21 times.

The Chicago Bears moved closer to securing a new stadium deal Thursday as lawmakers in both Indiana and Illinois took significant steps forward on competing proposals to lure the NFL franchise.

In Indiana, state senators approved financing for a stadium and entertainment complex in Hammond, located in the state’s northwest region within the Chicago metro area. Governor Mike Braun quickly signed the legislation, which creates a stadium authority to oversee the project.

“We made it clear from the beginning that Indiana is open for business,” Braun posted on social media. “I’m thrilled to sign Senate Bill 27 to create the framework to build a new world-class stadium in Northwest Indiana. Now let’s get this across the goal line.”

Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers made their own move when a House committee approved legislation designed to reduce property tax burdens for a potential stadium development in Arlington Heights. This represents a significant change in Illinois’ approach, as previous attempts at similar “megaprojects” legislation had stalled in committee proceedings.

The Bears currently own property in the Arlington Heights area, where high property taxes have been the primary barrier to constructing a new facility.

However, uncertainty remains for the Illinois proposal, as it’s unclear whether the measure has sufficient support to pass when the full House reconvenes March 18.

Indiana’s plan also faces potential obstacles, with environmental assessments of the Hammond location near Wolf Lake still pending completion.

Despite these challenges, the Bears expressed satisfaction with the developments in both states.

“Indiana has taken important steps over the last few months, and we are grateful for the leadership reflected by Gov. Braun signing SB27, establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana,” the team stated. “We continue to work on the necessary due diligence and appreciate the ongoing engagement with Indiana state and local leaders.”

The proposed Hammond site sits approximately 26 miles southeast of the Bears’ current home at Soldier Field, while Arlington Heights is roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.

This situation mirrors recent developments with the Kansas City Chiefs, who decided earlier this year to abandon their Missouri stadium plans in favor of a new facility in Kansas, citing better revenue opportunities and shared funding arrangements that Missouri declined to offer.

The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, with the exception of the 2002 season when they temporarily relocated to Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois in Champaign during Soldier Field’s major renovation.

INDIANAPOLIS — Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel etched his name in NBA history Thursday evening, setting a new record for most three-pointers by a first-year player during the team’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers.

The former Duke standout, selected fourth overall in the draft, sank his record-breaking 207th three-pointer of the season, surpassing the previous mark held by Keegan Murray. What makes Knueppel’s achievement even more impressive is the speed at which he accomplished it — needing only 59 games compared to Murray’s 80 games during the 2022-23 campaign.

Knueppel found his rhythm early against Indiana, draining five three-pointers in the opening half before making history in the third quarter. The milestone shot came courtesy of an assist from teammate Sion James, who also played alongside Knueppel at Duke.

Coming into Thursday’s contest, the Milwaukee native was shooting an outstanding 43.6% from long range while pacing the entire league in made three-pointers. For perspective, Stephen Curry of Golden State holds the overall NBA single-season record with 402 three-pointers.

The rookie sensation has emerged as a strong candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year honors, competing against his former Duke teammate and roommate Cooper Flagg, who was selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Knueppel’s stellar play has also helped lift the struggling Hornets into playoff discussions with 22 games remaining in the regular season.

Charlotte hasn’t reached the postseason since the 2015-16 campaign, making their current success even more meaningful for the franchise.

“It’s what elevates our whole culture when you have a guy that’s that good, but that humble, no ego — it becomes contagious throughout your whole organization,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee shared with CGTN Sports Scene following Knueppel’s 200th three-pointer earlier this week.

The young sharpshooter has meshed seamlessly with second-year coach Lee’s offensive system, working effectively alongside star point guard LaMelo Ball. Knueppel credits his basketball intelligence and ability to find open areas on the court to his early experience playing in his father’s men’s league in Milwaukee, where he competed against older, taller players starting in eighth grade.

Statistics show that Knueppel excels as a catch-and-shoot specialist, with 93% of his three-point attempts this season coming off passes from teammates, according to Cleaning the Glass data entering Thursday’s game.

His remarkable shooting accuracy has garnered attention from veterans across the league, including Curry himself, who owns the NBA’s career three-point record. During his rookie season with Golden State in 2009-10, Curry connected on 166 three-pointers in 380 attempts over 80 games. By comparison, Knueppel had attempted 461 three-pointers entering Thursday’s contest.

“He can obviously shoot the ball at a high level,” Curry commented after a recent matchup against Charlotte. “You can’t really leave him open at all as he has such a quick release and shoots with confidence. And his playmaking is very underrated. His game just suits the NBA style, whether it’s fast-paced or a slowed-down possession game.”

Earlier this season, on February 20, Knueppel moved past Donovan Mitchell into third place on the rookie three-pointer list during a loss to Cleveland. Mitchell learned about being surpassed from Cavaliers teammate Tyrese Proctor, another former Duke player who shared the court with Knueppel in college.

“He’s talented,” Mitchell said regarding Knueppel. “For him to be a rookie and be able to go out there and make it look effortless. … We know he can shoot the ball, right? But I think him getting to the mid-range and play develop in the small pick-and-roll that is something I think is really unique about his game is being able to do that and create advantages for himself.”

Mitchell concluded, “It’s going to be interesting with him and Coop for rookie of the year.”

According to SNY TV, the New York Giants are actively entertaining trade proposals for linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, with the report surfacing Thursday from Indianapolis.

“The belief from teams here at the combine is that he will eventually get dealt,” the report stated.

The 25-year-old defender has accumulated 23.5 sacks across 53 career games after New York selected him fifth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.

This past season proved challenging for Thibodeaux, who managed just 2.5 sacks in only 10 appearances before a shoulder injury ended his campaign prematurely.

The linebacker is set to collect $14.75 million in 2026 under the fifth-year option from his original rookie deal.

Thibodeaux’s most productive campaign occurred in 2023, when he tallied 11.5 sacks, 50 tackles, and three forced fumbles while starting all 17 games.