Month: March 2022

By BRIAN DULIK Associated Press CLEVELAND (AP) — Joel Embiid had 35 points and 17 rebounds, James Harden scored 21 points and added 11 assists and the Philadelphia 76ers edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-114. Embiid was a game-time decision with a sore back but showed no signs of the injury on his 28th birthday. The

By NORM FRAUENHEIM Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — David Price’s long career has prepared him for just about anything. From starter to reliever, he’s done it all and knows the roles. He understands the possibilities, too. There are plenty of those for Price as the Los Angeles Dodgers begin an abbreviated spring training schedule

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer The Los Angeles Rams have released punter Johnny Hekker after 10 seasons. The Super Bowl champion Rams dropped their longest-tenured player Wednesday night in a move that creates just over $2 million in salary cap room. Hekker has spent his entire career with the Rams since signing as an

By IAN NICHOLAS QUILLEN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 13 rebounds in an efficient 26-minute performance to help the Denver Nuggets cruise to a 127-109 victory over the struggling Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Jokic reached 10,001 career NBA points — all with Denver — and added eight assists

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Brooklynn Fort-Davis had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Krislyn Marsh added 14 points and 17 rebounds and Howard beat fellow No. 16 seed Incarnate Word 55-51 in the first women’s First Four game. Howard (21-9), in its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001, advances to play overall No. 1 seed South

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Dallas Walton had 17 points as Wake Forest topped Towson 74-64 in the first round of the NIT. Charles Thompson led the Tigers on Wednesday night with 15 points and eight rebounds.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Jayden Gardner had 16 points, Reece Beekman added 14 and Virginia beat Mississippi State 60-57 in the first round of the NIT  in the first round of the NIT. Tolu Smith led the Bulldogs with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

SYDNEY (AP) — Uruguay-born striker Bruno Fornaroli is one of five uncapped players included in Australia’s squad for its must-win World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia over the next two weeks. Both teams are above Australia in the group standings in Asian qualifying and only the top two teams from each group earn

CONWAY, S.C. — Rudi Williams had 18 points as Coastal Carolina routed Maryland Eastern Shore 66-42 in the first round of The Basketball Classic. Kevon Voyles led the Hawks on Wednesday night with 12 points.

By JACK THOMPSON Associated Press GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — After winning the 2020 American League MVP award, Jose Abreu endured a difficult 2021 season full of strange plays and injuries, still managing to reach his usual output of 30 homers and 100 RBIs. In the final year of a three-year deal, the 35-year-old first baseman

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Tavian Dunn-Martin had 33 points as Florida Gulf Coast defeated Detroit 95-79 in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Antoine Davis led the Titans on Wednesday night with 24 points.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Raheem Mostert agreed to a one-year deal Wednesday with the Miami Dolphins, who continued to add depth to their running back corps. Mostert had just two carries with San Francisco this past season, leaving the 49ers’ opener with chipped cartilage in a knee and missing the remainder of the season.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Three-time All-Star reliever Greg Holland and right-hander Dan Winkler have signed minor league contracts with the Texas Rangers. The deals announced Wednesday include invitations to major league spring training. Holland had eight saves and a 4.85 ERA in 57 appearances last season for Kansas City. The 36-year-old Holland has averaged 11.1

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Khalil Mack was watching the television show “Bel-Air” with his fiancéé and son last Thursday when he got a call from his agent that the Chicago Bears were trading him. In a strange coincidence Mack’s new team is close to the real Bel Air.

TOLEDO, Ohio — DaRon Holmes II had 20 points as Dayton beat Toledo 74-55 in the first round of the NIT. Setric Millner Jr. led the Rockets on Wednesday night with 18 points and seven rebounds.

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers landed one of the most coveted players on the trade market Wednesday night, acquiring defenseman Ben Chiarot from the Montreal Canadiens for Tyler Smilanic and two draft picks. It was the second deal of the day for the Panthers, who cleared out

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken started their pre-trade deadline fire sale Wednesday by sending forward Calle Jarnkrok to the Calgary Flames for three draft picks. Seattle received a second-round pick in 2022, a third in 2023 and a seventh in 2024. The second-round pick this summer is the one the Flames previously acquired from

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Russell Wilson flashed that mile-wide smile and embraced the prospect of playing in the loaded AFC and in the shadows of John Elway and Peyton Manning. “I want to win three to four more Super Bowls. That’s the plan, that’s the goal, that’s the

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings began to pick away at their offseason to-do list as free agency formally opened. They re-signed punter Jordan Berry. They also agreed to contract terms with defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, tight end Johnny Mundt and interior offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann. Berry’s gross average of 46.5 yards per punt

By JAMIE STENGLE, SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and CEDAR ATTANASIO Associated Press HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — Family and friends say they are heartbroken and devastated after six students and a coach from a small New Mexico university were killed in a fiery crash while returning home from a golf tournament in Texas. The victims included Tyler

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — East Carolina hired Tennessee assistant Michael Schwartz as head basketball coach Wednesday. Athletic director Jon Gilbert announced the hiring. Schwartz spent seven seasons at Tennessee, four as associate head coach. Schwartz has been Tennessee’s defensive coordinator the past five seasons, and the Volunteeers are 118-45 in that span. Tennessee had the

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots took a step in rebuilding their secondary following the departure of cornerback J.C. Jackson on Wednesday, signing former Texans defensive back Terrance Mitchell. Mitchell is the first free agent New England has added this offseason that wasn’t on the roster in 2021. He

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Simmons had an epidural this week that the Brooklyn Nets hope will help improve his back pain so he can play sometime this season. Coach Steve Nash said Wednesday that Simmons had the injection while the Nets were in Orlando, where they beat the Magic on Tuesday night. He said

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts opened free agency by making the one move everyone expected. They traded Carson Wentz to Washington. Then they picked up the proven pass rusher they’ve been chasing — Yannick Ngakoue. Then they did what general manager Chris Ballard usually does — re-signing his

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Nursing a nagging foot injury, Rafael Nadal improved to 18-0 this season, edging Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open. Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals against wild-card Nick Kyrgios. The Australian advanced after 10th-seeded

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — It’s Von Miller time in Buffalo. The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and coming off his second Super Bowl title agreed to a six-year contract with the Bills on the opening day of free agency. Miller is an 11-year NFL veteran who

By FRANK GRIFFITHS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Liverpool has reignited the Premier League title race and is now within a point of the top spot after a 2-0 win over Arsenal after scoring two second-half goals to extend their winning streak to nine games. Diogo Jota and substitute Roberto Firmino found the net within

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — A person familiar with the agreement says veteran slugger Kris Bryant has agreed to a $182 million, seven-year deal to join the Colorado Rockies. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because its completion is pending a successful physical.

By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The San Jose Sharks have agreed on an eight-year contract extension with Tomas Hertl, locking up their star center for the long term instead of dealing him away at the trade deadline. The Sharks had been committed to trying to keep Hertl but wanted

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — Coach Jay Wright has Villanova again in the national championship hunt. The Wildcats have won two national titles under their Hall of Fame coach. The second-seeded Wildcats headed to Pittsburgh for the NCAA Tournament opener Friday against No. 15 Delaware. The Wildcats have won a

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says he recently spoke with Colin Kaepernick, who expressed an interest in another chance to be a quarterback in the NFL. Carroll cautioned that if Kaepernick gets that opportunity it may not be in Seattle. But Carroll says he thinks Kaepernick deserves a shot

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Saints say former New York Jets safety Marcus Maye has agreed on a three-year, free-agent contract with New Orleans. The move was announced by the club shortly after the NFL’s 2022 free agency period began on Wednesday and addresses a void created when five-year

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Richmond Spiders’ six graduate seniors get an opportunity for a second chance two years after NCAA Tournament hopes were canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. The frustration from 2 years ago, coupled with the disappointment of a 14-9 finish last year motivated the players to

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer Taylor Hagler last season became only the second woman in IMSA sports car history to win the championship, and the first woman to win the Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR championship. The 26-year-old Texan did it in her first season with Bryan Herta Autosport and now has sights on

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Kim Barnes Arico left her close-knit family in New York and New Jersey a decade ago to turn Michigan’s women’s basketball program into a consistent winner for the first time. The former St. John’s coach has pulled off the feat. She is leading Michigan

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Liverpool hasn’t been this close to Manchester City in three months. The gap is down to one point in a Premier League title race that looks set to go to the wire after Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Arsenal. That’s nine straight wins for Liverpool, which has a momentum that

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Europa League champion Villarreal scored three second-half goals in a 3-0 win at Juventus to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals. Substitute Gerard Moreno converted a penalty, then Pau Torres was left unmarked to redirect in a corner before Arnaut Danjuma added another penalty. Villarreal advanced 4-1 on aggregate as two-time

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer Russell Wilson to Denver, Carson Wentz to Washington, Amari Cooper to Cleveland. Chandler Jones to Las Vegas, Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson to the LA Chargers, Brandon Scherff to Jacksonville. So what if it’s old news? And here’s some brand new news: Super Bowl champion linebacker Von Miller

LILLE, France (AP) — U.S. international Christian Pulisic converted one of Chelsea’s rare chances and Cesar Azpilicueta added another goal to help the defending champion progress to the Champions League quarterfinals with a 2-1 win at Lille. Chelsea did not create much but converted both opportunities against the French league champion. Pulisic canceled out a

MUNICH, Germany (AP) — Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been formally banned from the multi-sport European Championships in August. Organizers in Munich say they support decisions taken by officials in the nine individual sports to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials. Munich organizing committee chairman Libor Varhaník says “we are united in our

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have signed veteran outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and catcher Chance Sisco to minor-league deals with invitations to major league spring training. Souza has played for five teams in his major league career. He spent the 2021 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers but appeared in just 17 games,

By DICK SCANLON Associated Press LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Eduardo Rodríguez is the highest-paid and most experienced pitcher on the Detroit Tigers after signing a $77 million, five-year contract. Yet, manager A.J. Hinch doesn’t believe in labeling someone a No. 1 starter. Rodríguez, a 29-year-old left-hander, will start Friday’s exhibition opener and perhaps the Tigers’

BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Tottenham striker Harry Kane scored for the fourth straight Premier League game in a 2-0 win at Brighton that kept his team in the hunt for Champions League qualification. The England captain ran onto Rodrigo Bentancur’s through-ball and delivered a low finish inside the near post for Tottenham’s second goal in

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Paul Pogba says his house was burglarized while he played for Manchester United against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. In a post on Twitter, the France midfielder says his “babies were sleeping in their bedroom” when the burglary took place on Tuesday. He has offered a reward for anyone with