Sports Headlines
Jabari Smith Jr. stars as the Rockets beat the Magic 97-84 for 3rd straight win
HOUSTON (AP) — Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 points and tied a career high with five 3-pointers, helping the Houston Rockets beat the Orlando Magic 97-84 on Monday night for their third consecutive victory. Alperen Sengun had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Houston, and Steven Adams finished with 11 points and 17 boards. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 25 points. Franz Wagner had 15 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed 12 rebounds. The Magic closed to 65-58 on Wagner's layup with 5:04 left in the third quarter. But Jeff Green and Dillon Brooks made consecutive 3-pointers to make it 71-58 with 2:47 to go. Banchero made two free throws, but the Rockets scored the next four points. Aaron Holiday's ... Read MoreWith only 8 healthy players, Mavericks rally to defeat Spurs 133-129 to snap 5-game skid
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Spencer Dinwiddie scored 28 points, and the depleted Dallas Mavericks stopped a five-game slide by edging the San Antonio Spurs 133-129 on Monday night. Klay Thompson had 26 points for Dallas in its first win since Feb. 27. Naji Marshall scored 24 points, and Kessler Edwards finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. San Antonio dropped its third consecutive game. Harrison Barnes scored 29 points for the Spurs, and Keldon Johnson had 28. Devin Vassell finished with 24 points. There were 12 players out with injury, including All-Stars Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio and Dallas' Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. The injury bug even hit the officiating crew, with Sean Wright departing in the first quarter ... Read MoreGilgeous-Alexander, Jokic play to a draw in back-to-back games between top MVP candidates
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, two of the favorites for the NBA's MVP award, showed why in a pair of exciting games on back-to-back days in Oklahoma City. Neither emerged as a clear favorite to claim the hardware. Jokic, a three-time winner, stuffed the stat sheet as usual. In a 127-103 loss to the Thunder on Sunday, he had 24 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. On Monday, he appeared more determined and assertive, finishing with 35 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists in a 140-127 win that moved Denver into second place in the conference. “Some people use the line, ‘Some people are playing checkers and some are playing chess,’" Denver coach Michael Malone said. ... Read MoreTexans agree on deals with rusher Darrell Taylor and receiver Braxton Berrios
Edge rusher Darrell Taylor and wide receiver Braxton Berrios have agreed to one-year contracts with the Houston Texans, two people with knowledge of the deals told The Associated Press on Monday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the deals. Taylor is getting $5.25 million and Berrios will receive $2 million. Taylor had 24 1/2 sacks in four seasons with Seattle and Chicago. He had a career-best 9 1/2 sacks for the Seahawks in 2022. The Texans added wideout Christian Kirk in a trade with Jacksonville last week. The deal won’t be official until the new league year begins Wednesday. Berrios, a return specialist, was limited to six games last year because ... Read MoreGiants keeping WR Darius Slayton and agree to terms with CB Paulson Adebo, AP sources say
The New York Giants are re-signing veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton to a three-year contract worth $36 million, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The move Monday came as the Giants also help shored up their defense by agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with cornerback Paulson Adebo, according to another person, and signing defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn't announce terms for Slayton or the agreement with Adebo. The 28-year-old Slayton has been a consistent contributor on offense for the Giants since being a fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2019. Slayton has 259 catches for 3,897 yards and 21 touchdowns in ... Read MoreCommanders agree to sign DT Javon Kinlaw, acquire LT Laremy Tunsil from the Texans, AP source says
The Washington Commanders made two big splashes Monday in the opening hours of NFL free agency, agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and acquiring standout offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in a trade with the Houston Texans, a person with knowledge of the moves told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal with Kinlaw cannot become official until the start of the new league year on Wednesday and the trade for Tunsil had not been announced. The Commanders are sending 2025 third- and seventh- round picks and 2026 second- and fourth-round picks to Houston for the five-time Pro Bowl selection and a fourth-rounder this year, the person said. A second ... Read MoreSaints retain Chase Young and add Davon Godchaux in moves aimed at shoring up their defensive line
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints and defensive end Chase Young have agreed to a three-year extension worth up to $57 million, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity on Monday night because the extension has not been announced. Young, who'll be 26 next season, is a former Ohio State star drafted second overall in 2020 by Washington. He appeared in all 17 games last season, his first with New Orleans, and had 5 1/2 sacks, eight tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Now he'll be part of a new defense under first-year coach Kellen Moore and recently hired defensive coordinator ... Read MoreCowboys focus on run game to start free agency with running back Williams, lineman Jones
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys focused on their running game at the start of free agency, agreeing to one-year contracts with former Denver running back Javonte Williams and former Miami offensive lineman Rob Jones on Monday. Dallas added Williams after reaching deals to bring back its own free agents in defensive back Markquese Bell and long snapper Trent Sieg. The contract for Jones worth up to $4.5 million was confirmed by his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The addition of Williams, a 2021 second-round pick who had 2,394 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing in four seasons with the Broncos, raises doubts about the return of Rico Dowdle. The fifth-year player was the first undrafted Dallas back to rush for 1,000 ... Read MoreCollege baseball notebook: Oregon, UCLA and Washington win inaugural Big Ten series on the road
Three of the four West Coast schools came out of their inaugural Big Ten series happy. Southern California, not so much. Oregon ran its win streak to 11 games with a road sweep of USC, which has lost five straight since it knocked off nationally ranked Vanderbilt. UCLA made the 2,300-mile trip to Maryland and won two of three. Washington went to Nebraska and also won two of three. Oregon's Mason Neville hit his eighth homer of the season on the second pitch of Friday's 7-2 victory over the Trojans and went deep again in Sunday's 5-3 win. UCLA, after losing 13-3 on the run rule Saturday, scored all of its runs in the second inning in an 11-5 win ... Read MoreSeveral once-highly ranked teams enter conference tournament week in need of wins to make NCAA field
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — This was a time early in the season when Kansas seemed to be an insurmountable juggernaut, full of high-profile transfers such as Zeke Mayo and AJ Storr, All-American candidates such as Hunter Dickinson and veterans accustomed to winning. They were the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25. And for several weeks, the Jayhawks played like it. But things hardly went according to script the rest of the season. They lost to longtime rival Missouri in a non-conference game, and dropped rare home games to West Virginia, Houston and Texas Tech. They plummeted out of the Top 25 altogether, ending a run of 80 consecutive weeks in the poll, and tumbled down the Big 12 ... Read MoreTeams vying for No. 1 NCAA seeds stated their cases and now its up to selection committee to decide
UCLA, South Carolina, Texas and Southern California have all stated their cases for No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament with their stellar play this season. It would be surprising if they don't all end up on the 1-line Sunday night when the March Madness bracket is revealed by the selection committee. Where they are placed and who's the overall No. 1 seed is still up for debate. Unlike previous seasons, there's no dominant team that is the consensus choice. This NCAA Tournament is only the second one in the past 19 years to have no teams entering March Madness with zero or one loss. The other time was in 2022. More of the top teams went out and played ... Read MoreMavs’ injuries have reached the absurd with stars Irving and Davis already sidelined
DALLAS (AP) — Dwight Powell walked to the bench with blood streaming down his forehead while teammate Kessler Edwards lay flat on his back holding his head. The Dallas Mavericks have lost Kyrie Irving to a season-ending knee injury, and there's no timetable for Anthony Davis' return after the star forward injured a groin in his Dallas debut following the stunning trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The latest might be the lowest for the Mavs. They finished a 125-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday with just seven healthy players, and that was with Edwards getting back on the floor with a bandage over his left eye. Dallas began the game with nine active ... Read MoreTimberwolves top Spurs 141-124 for 5th straight win on 25-point night for Anthony Edwards
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the San Antonio Spurs 141-124 on Sunday night for their fifth consecutive victory and highest score this season. Naz Reid had 20 points and seven rebounds and Julius Randle added 14 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Timberwolves, who never trailed on their way to a season-best eight games above the .500 mark (37-29). Jaden McDaniels added 16 points, one of eight players for Minnesota scoring in double digits including Rudy Gobert (16 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes) in his return from injury. The Timberwolves matched their season high with 38 assists and went 21 for 42 from 3-point ... Read MoreRudy Gobert returns to Timberwolves’ lineup after 10-game absence with lower back trouble
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert returned to action Sunday against San Antonio after a 10-game absence due to a lower back injury — and joined in the team's highest-scoring game of the season. Gobert was reinserted in Minnesota's most common starting lineup this season, with Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards at guard and Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle at forward. Naz Reid returned to a reserve role, after averaging 18.1 points and 9.7 rebounds as a starter while Gobert was out. In 20 minutes, Gobert had 16 points and eight rebounds as the Timberwolves beat the Spurs 141-124 for their fifth straight victory. “Do you believe in coincidences?” Gobert said jokingly afterward. “No, it was great. It ... Read MoreJa Morant goes sky-high for a big dunk only to clank the ball off the back rim
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Two-time All-Star Ja Morant took to the air and pulled the ball back in his right hand ready to throw down a massive dunk during the third quarter. The ball clanked off the back of the rim Sunday night. Morant fell to the floor. So much for not dunking to avoid injuries. Morant also knows exactly what went wrong against the New Orleans Pelicans with Trey Murphy III getting in his way with 6:12 left in the third. “The way we're going towards the rim, a spot where I can take off and dunk from pretty easily,” Morant said in the locker room. “But had somebody in between me and the rim. Still got to finish ... Read MoreMyles Garrett becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at $40 million per year
Myles Garrett is staying in Cleveland after the Browns gave him a record four-year contract extension that makes the four-time All-Pro edge rusher the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. A person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press that Garrett’s deal includes $122.8 million guaranteed, an average annual salary of $40 million with a total value of $204.8 million. The person spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because terms weren’t announced. Garrett, the 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year, had asked for a trade last month but the Browns were adamant about keeping the 29-year-old star in Cleveland. Garrett's contract raises the bar for other non-QBs, including Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and Cowboys edge rusher ... Read MoreSuper Bowl stars Josh Sweat and Milton Williams headline a list of NFL free agents
NFL teams can start reshaping their rosters by signing free agents this week. There’s plenty of attention on the quarterbacks, including Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Aaron Rodgers technically isn’t a free agent, but the New York Jets already said they plan to release him, so he’s free to find a new team. Agents can start negotiating with teams at 12 p.m. EDT Monday when the legal tampering period opens. Players can’t officially sign new deals until the start of the league’s new year at 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Here’s a look at 25 non-quarterbacks who will be available: 1. Josh Sweat, edge rusher, Philadelphia Eagles Sweat is set to cash in after an impressive performance in Philadelphia’s ... Read MoreBills reward Allen with new contract after NFL MVP season. Deal is worth $330M
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — NFL MVP Josh Allen was rewarded Sunday with a contract extension worth $330 million, including an NFL record $250 million of it guaranteed, which makes him among the league’s highest-paid players. The Buffalo Bills announced the agreement, while two people with knowledge of the deal revealed the contract's value to The Associated Press. The people spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not release that figure, which was first reported by ESPN.com. The new deal adds two years to Allen’s contract and locks the 28-year-old in through the 2030 season. Cleveland quarterback DeShaun Watson's five-year contract signed in 2022 set the previous record in featuring $230 million in guarantees, ... Read MoreVan Lith leads No. 8 TCU to first Big 12 Tournament title
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tournament MVP Hailey Van Lith scored 20 points, including a key bucket with 48.8 seconds left, and top-seeded TCU beat No. 2 seed Baylor 64-59 on Sunday at the T-Mobile Center to win the program’s first Big 12 Championship. For Van Lith, it was the latest chapter in a year of success, including a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, a Big 12 regular season title and being named the conference's player of the year. She handled the accolades as calmly as she made 10-of-10 free throws on Sunday. “Anybody can go out and average 20 a game and play on a bad team and never get to the postseason,” Van Lith said. "To say ... Read MoreBowling Green hires former NFL star running back Eddie George as coach
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) — Bowling Green hired former NFL running back and Tennessee State coach Eddie George on Sunday as the Falcons' head coach. George was a four-time NFL Pro Bowl running back and an All-Pro, and was the 1996 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after winning the 1995 Heisman Trophy at Ohio State. George was the head coach the last four years at Tennessee State, where he was named the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year last season. George led the Tigers to a share of the league championship and a berth in the Football Championship Series playoffs. He also was a runner-up for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year award. He's ... Read MoreNo. 5 South Carolina routs No. 1 Texas 64-45 for 9th SEC Championship in the last 11 years
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley thought winning this year's SEC Championship would be much harder than any of the school's previous titles after the league added Texas and Oklahoma to the mix. But it didn't look all that hard at all for the fifth-ranked Gamecocks. Tournament MVP Chloe Kitts finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, Tessa Johnson added 14 points and South Carolina completed a dominant three-day run in Greenville by knocking off No. 1 and second-seeded Texas 64-45 on Sunday to win its third straight Southeastern Conference Tournament championship and ninth title in the last 11 years under Staley. “They are young people that come down here and perform to a high standard every ... Read MorePaige Meyer leads trio with 20 points, No. 25 South Dakota State women win Summit over Oral Roberts
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Paige Meyer scored 26 point, Haleigh Timmer added 21 and Madison Mathiowetz had 20 and No. 25 South Dakota State continued its dominance in the Summit League with an 84-68 win over Oral Roberts on Sunday, the Jackrabbits' third-straight title and 13th NCAA appearance. The Jackrabbits have won 19 games in a row, 59-straight against league opponents and are 41-5 all-time in the Summit League tourney they have won 12 times since becoming eligible in 2009. Top-seeded South Dakota State (29-3) won despite leading scorer Brooklyn Meyer (17.5 points a game) being held to 10 points, six in the fourth quarter. However, Meyer hauled down 15 rebounds and Mesa Byom had 13, both career highs. ... Read MoreHyman scores twice and Oilers hang on to edge Stars 5-4
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Zach Hyman had two goals and an assist and the Edmonton Oilers hung on to beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 on Saturday night. Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist and Viktor Arvidsson and Connor Brown also scored for the Oilers, who have won back-to-back games and three of their last four. Stuart Skinner made 22 saves, but Edmonton nearly blew a 5-1 lead after two periods. Trade deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist in his debut for Dallas, which had its four-game winning streak stopped. Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn and Matt Dumba also scored for the Stars. Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots. Stars forward Roope Hintz took a puck to ... Read MoreDe’Aaron Fox struggles in his 1st game in Sacramento since he was traded to the Spurs
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — De'Aaron Fox spent much of his time in Sacramento as the fan favorite and face of the Kings franchise who helped end a record-long playoff drought and brought much-needed joy to what had been a downtrodden team. Fox returned Friday night as part of the opposition to play his first game against his original team since being traded to San Antonio in a three-team deal last month. The Spurs lost 127-109 to the Kings as Fox scored 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting. “It was great being back for the first time,” Fox said after the game. “A lot of the things were weird. ... I’ve never been in this visiting locker room. I didn’t know what ... Read MoreBrooks has 27 points to lead Houston Rockets to 146-117 win over New Orleans Pelicans
HOUSTON (AP) — Dillon Brooks had 27 points, Alperen Sengun and Aaron Holiday added 20 each and the Houston Rockets sailed to a 146-117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. Houston never trailed in its second straight victory over the Pelicans after getting a 109-97 win in New Orleans on Thursday night. A 3-pointer by CJ McCollum got the Pelicans within 11 with 10 seconds left in the first half before Brooks made a 3-pointer and a Pelicans turnover gave Houston the ball back. Brooks made two free throws to end the second and the Rockets opened the third with an 8-4 run to extend the lead to 82-62 with 9 1/2 minutes left in the quarter. ... Read MoreSuper Bowl stars Josh Sweat and Milton Williams headline a list of NFL free agents
NFL teams can start reshaping their rosters by signing free agents this week. There’s plenty of attention on the quarterbacks, including Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Aaron Rodgers technically isn’t a free agent but the New York Jets already said they plan to release him so he’s free to find a new team. Agents can start negotiating with teams at 12 p.m. EDT Monday when the legal tampering period opens. Players can’t officially sign new deals until the start of the league’s new year at 4 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Here’s a look at 25 non-quarterbacks who will be available: 1. Josh Sweat, Edge Rusher, Philadelphia Eagles Sweat is set to cash in after an impressive performance in Philadelphia’s ... Read MoreDeGrom and Langford make their first spring training appearances with the Rangers
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Jacob deGrom and Wyatt Langford each made their first spring training appearance with the Texas Rangers on Saturday. DeGrom struck out three while pitching two perfect innings against Kansas City. The right-hander threw 31 pitches, 21 for strikes. Langford served as the designated hitter against a Royals split squad. He singled in the first and then walked and scored on Kevin Pillar's sacrifice fly in the fourth. He also grounded out in the fifth. The 36-year-old deGrom has started only nine games for the Rangers since signing a $185 million, five-year contract in free agency in December 2022. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner had a 1.69 ERA in ... Read MoreTaylor sets school scoring mark as No. 22 Texas A&M beats LSU 66-52
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Wade Taylor IV scored 17 points to become Texas A&M's all-time scoring leader as the 22nd-ranked Aggies beat LSU 66-52 on Saturday in the SEC regular-season finale for both teams. The Aggies (22-9, 11-7 Southeastern) were coming off Tuesday’s home upset of No. 1 Auburn. Taylor has amassed 1,999 points in his four seasons with the Aggies, surpassing Bernard King, who scored 1,990 from 1999-2003. Texas A&M, the nation’s leading offensive rebounding team, went to work in the second half when it converted 10 offensive rebounds into 10 points. The Aggies finished with 14 offensive rebounds and 17 second-chance points. Jordan Sears led LSU (14-17, 3-15) with 21 points. Takeaways Texas A&M: Aggies senior guard ... Read MoreVonleh pours in 37 points, No. 17 Baylor women dominate OT in 84-74 win over No. 21 Oklahoma State
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Aaronette Vonleh scored a career-high 37 points and No. 17 Baylor had three different players hit 3-pointers in overtime to lead the Bears into the Big 12 Conference Tournament championship game with an 84-74 win over No. 21 Oklahoma State on Saturday. In a semifinal in which neither team led by more than nine points in regulation, the Bears were 5-of-8 shooting in overtime and Jade Walker hit four free throws in the last 30 seconds. Baylor now faces No. 8 TCU in the championship game on Sunday. The two teams met on the last of the regular season with the Horned Frogs winning 51-48 for the league crown. Walker had 12 points and Sarah ... Read MoreBooker leads No. 1 Texas past No. 9 LSU 56-49, setting up rematch with South Carolina for SEC title
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Madison Booker scored 25 points, and No. 1 Texas held on to beat ninth-ranked LSU 56-49 on Saturday night to advance to the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game. The Longhorns will face fifth-ranked South Carolina, which beat No. 10 Oklahoma 93-75 earlier in the day. Texas (31-2) lost to South Carolina 67-50 on Jan. 12 in Columbia, but avenged that defeat last month with a 66-62 victory in Austin. Texas has not lost since, rattling off 15 consecutive wins. LSU (28-5), already playing without star Flau’Jae Johnson due to a shin injury, lost their other star player Aneesah Morrow to a left ankle injury in the third quarter. Morrow, who scored a school tournament-record 36 points ... Read MoreTop of page
