Knicks Rally Past Sixers at MSG; T'Wolves Down Jokic-Less Nuggets

The New York Knicks put on a show on national television on Sunday night, rallying from 21 points down to beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 108-97, at home. Julius Randle led the comeback with 24 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Jalen Brunson added in 21 points of his own. Evan Fournier chipped in with 17 points off the bench, as the Knicks were coming off a rough overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 31 points and 14 rebounds, while shooting a solid 18-for-19 from the free throw line. The Sixers built that 21-point lead in the first quarter, but the Knicks used a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter to seal their 29th win. And the Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage of a shorthanded, top-seeded Denver Nuggets team, as they cruised at home for a 128-98 rout. D'Angelo Russell scored 14 of his 18 points in the first quarter, while adding in 10 assists in the rout. Andrew Edwards added in 20 points of his own, as the T'Wolves moved past the Golden State Warriors, two games over .500 at 29-27. The Nuggets were playing without star Nikola Jokic in this one, as they were on the back-end of a back-to-back following a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. The likes of Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also didn't travel with the team. Rudy Gobert took advantage of that with 16 points for a Timberwolves team that has won seven of their past 10 overall. Michael Porter Jr. led the shorthanded Nuggets with 22 points, while Christian Braun had 19 in their 17th loss. Other key scores saw Darius Garland score 24 points as the Cavaliers got past the Pacers, 122-103. Trey Murphy put up a season-high 30 points as the Pelicans blew past the Kings, 136-104. And Pascal Siakam's 19 points, including two late free throws, helped the Raptors take out the Grizzlies, 106-103.

Nets Trade Away Kyrie Irving to Mavericks

The Brooklyn Nets granted point guard Kyrie Irving his wish on the trade request, dealing him to the Dallas Mavericks, who also have playoff hopes, on Sunday afternoon. The deal sees the Nets get Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, an unprotected first-round pick, and two second round picks for 2027 and 2029. Along with Irving, the Mavs get Markieff Morris as well, as they beat out the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Phoenix Suns in these talks. The Nets reportedly plan on using the picks they got in this deal to improve their roster even more by Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline. This move comes two days after the 30-year-old Irving requested a trade after the Nets stated their want to wait until the end of the season to talk an extension. There's good reason for the Nets to question the loyalty of Irving, who has played in fewer than 150 games combined over the past four seasons. Despite that, he is still a mega star when he does play, averaging 27 points, five rebounds, and five assists this season.

Warriors' Steph Curry Expected to Be Out Through All-Star Break

The Golden State Warriors are once again going to be playing without star Steph Curry, who is expected to sit out through the All-Star break with a leg injury. The injury is to his left leg and was suffered with 2:01 left in the third quarter of Saturday night's win over the Dallas Mavericks. Curry was seen colliding with with Mavs guard McKinley Wright IV, with the impact directly to Curry's knee. The star immediately headed to the bench at the next timeout and did not return to the game. He was ruled out after scoring 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting and seven assists, this after banging the same knee in the game before against the Denver Nuggets. This is the second extended absence for Curry this season, this after he missed 11 games in December/January with a shoulder injury, in which the team went 6-5 in that span.

Islanders Agree to Eight-Year Extension With Bo Horvat

The New York Islanders wasted no time locking in their newest addition, giving center Bo Horvat an eight-year contract extension on Sunday. This news comes just six days after they acquired the Vancouver Canucks captain in a trade, which saw him reunite with his former teammate at Saturday's All-Star Game. Horvat was in the final season of a six-year contract that carried a $5.5 million annual salary cap hit, but his new deal will now pay him $8.5 million per season. The Islanders gave up forward Anthony Beauvillier, a 2023 first-round draft pick, and prospect Aatu Raty to complete the deal. The All-Star has yet o play a game for the Islanders, as his last regular season game was with the Canucks against the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 27th. The new Islanders star sits with 31 goals, which is tied for eighth in the league, and his 54 points are tied for 21st. He led all Canucks in 5-on-5 ice time and short-handed minutes, and was second in power play minutes. The Islanders entered the All-Star break just two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Wild Card spot, but the Penguins have played three fewer games.

Cousins, NFC Tops AFC in Pro Bowl Games

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins played leader of the Pro Bowl Games for the NFC, leading them past the AFC for a 35-33 Pro Bowl victory. Cousins connected with San Francisco 49ers tight end Greg Kittle and fullback Kyle Juzcyk for touchdowns in the final of three flag games. Derek Carr was slowed down in what was most likely his final game in Las Vegas for a while, as he finished with a touchdown and an interception in the loss. The NFC takes home $84,000 apiece for their win, while the AFC settles for $42,000. Cousins was one of a few key performances on the day, as he finished the entire event with 150 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Other big performances included Geno Smith's 239 yards and five touchdowns, Tyler Huntley threw for 192 yards and four scores, while CeeDee Lamb caught six passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

NCAAM (Top 25) Sunday Roundup

Jarace Walker put up 23 points and six rebounds as the third-ranked Houston Cougars improved to 22-2 on the season with an 81-65 road win over Temple.

Indiana Takes Out Purdue at Home; Texas Wins Top-10 Battle

The 21st-ranked Indiana Hoosiers were actually favored on their home floor against the top-ranked Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday and they showed why with a 79-74 victory. Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 25 points to lead the way, while Jalen Hood-Schifino had the sealing dunk with two seconds left. The Hoosiers move to 16-7 on the season and 7-5 in Big Ten play, and they have now won both of their home games against Purdue under head coach Mike Woodson. Zach Edey posted 33 points and 18 rebounds in just the second loss of the season for Purdue, both of which have come in conference play. Hood-Schifino chipped in 16 points for the Hoosiers, who have now won six of their past seven overall. Purdue trailed by as many as 16 points in the loss, as they had held 24 consecutive opponents to 70 or fewer points heading in to Saturday. And the 10th-ranked Texas Longhorns went on the road to earn a top-10 victory within conference play, taking out the seventh-ranked Kansas State Wildcats, 69-66. Christian Bishop finished with 14 points, including the go-ahead layup with 37 seconds left, as the Longhorns moved in to first place in the Big 12. Sir'Jabari Rice added in a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, as his free throws late sealed the victory. Tyrese Hunter and Marcus Carr chipped in 10 points apiece for a Texas team that moved to 19-4 overall and 8-2 in conference play. Keyontae Johnson dealt with foul trouble, but still led the Wildcats with 16 points, while Desi Sills had 11 points, and Markquis Nowell had 10, but also finished with six turnovers. The Wildcats had defeated the Longhorns in overtime earlier in January, but they dropped to 18-5 on Saturday. Other key scores saw Sean Pedulla score 22 points as Virginia Tech took down sixth-ranked Virginia, 74-68. Jaren Holmes scored all 15 of his points in the second half as 13th-ranked Iowa State took out eighth-ranked Kansas, 68-53. Aidan Mahaney came up clutch with his 18 points as 18th-ranked Saint Mary's moved to 10-0 in conference play with a 78-70 overtime win over 12th-ranked Gonzaga. Josiah-Jordan James had a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds as second-ranked Tennessee held off 25th-ranked Auburn, 46-43. Noah Clowney and Rylan Griffin had 14 points apiece as fourth-ranked Alabama got their 20th win, 79-69, over LSU. Kalib Boone posted a career-high 25 points as Oklahoma State overcame blowing a 19-point lead to upset 15th-ranked TCU, 79-73. And Nijel Pack lead the way with 20 points as 23rd-ranked Miami topped 20th-ranked Clemson, 78-74.

Alabama Gives Coach Nate Oats Six-Year Contract Extension

The Alabama Crimson Tide have locked in head basketball coach Nate Oats, giving him a new six-year contract extension on Saturday. The deal is worth $30 million and he will average over $5 million in incentives for the deal that keeps him with the team through the 2028-2029 season. This makes him the fourth-highest paid basketball coach in the SEC and in the top 10 nationally. Oats is in his fourth season with the Tide, and will make $4.5 million in the first year, with $200,000 annual raises. He has led the Crimson Tide to a 198-3 start to their season, including 9-0 in conference play, good for the No. 4 ranking, their highest this deep in to the season since 1976-1977. Over his four seasons with the Tide, he has gone 80-39, while winning the 2021 SEC regular season and tournament titles.

Giannis Posts Triple-Double in Bucks' Win; Clippers Win OT Thriller at MSG

Giannis Antetokounmpo once again pulled off a masterful effort on Saturday night, powering the Milwaukee Bucks past the Miami Heat at home, 123-115. Antetokounmpo led the home team with a triple-double of 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, as the Bucks took advantage of a shorthanded Heat team. The win for the Bucks was their seventh in a row, as they moved to 36-17 on the season, just a game and a half behind the Boston Celtics atop the East. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 32 points, while Tyler Herro had 24, as they played with nine players unavailable, including Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladipo. The Greek Freak recorded his third triple-double of the season and 32nd of his career, as the 11 assists tied a season high for him. Khris Middleton chipped in with 24 points, Grayson Allen had 19, Jrue Holiday finished with 15, and Pat Connaughton posted 14 in a complete performance from the Bucks. The Los Angeles Clippers silenced a Madison Square Garden crowd following a big rally, and then went on pull off a 134-128 overtime win over the New York Knicks. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 35 points, while Paul George added in 30 in their 30th win of the season. Nicolas Batum was the hero, hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game in to overtime. The Clippers blew a 17-point lead in the fourth, but scored the first four points of overtime and never looked back in the extra period. Normal Powell added in 24 points, while Marcus Morris Sr. had 17 for a Clippers team that has won seven of their past nine overall. Jalen Brunson returned from missing a game with an illness and led the Knicks with 41 points in their 26th defeat. Other key scores saw Brandon Ingram finish with 35 points as the Pelicans held off the Lakers, 126-121. The Nets rallied from 23 points down to beat the Wizards, 125-123, without Kyrie Irving. Jamal Murray went off for 41 points as the Nuggets pulled away for a 128-108 win over the Hawks. The Warriors lost Steph Curry to a knee injury, but they held off the Luka Doncic-less Mavericks, 119-113. And Zach LaVine's 36 points powered the Bulls past the Trail Blazers, 129-121.

Magic's Mo Bamba, Timberwolves' Austin Rivers Suspended

The NBA handed out suspensions following the Orlando Magic-Minnesota Timberwolves brawl on Friday night, headlined by Mo Bamba and Austin Rivers getting banned. Bamba was suspended four games by the league, while Rivers got three games for their roles. Jalen Suggs of the Magic was also suspended just one game, as he was ejected along with four others. With the suspensions, Bamba will forfeit $284,138, Rivers will lose $60,121, and Suggs loses out on $47,740. On top of that, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels was fined $20,000, but Taurean Prince did not get any punishment despite getting ejected as well.

Tkachuk, Larkin Power Atlantic Division in NHL ASG

The Atlantic Division came out on top in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, headlined by a 7-5 win over the Central Division in the final. Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin netted a hat trick, while Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitchell Marner posted three assists in the final win. The All-Star Game MVP award went to the hometown hero, Matthew Tkachuk, of the Florida Panthers. He played alongside his brother, Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, and compiled seven points on the day. That included a five-point performance in their semifinal win over the Metropolitan Division. Larkin posted five goals and one assist over the two games, in what could've been a showing for his potential free agency coming up. The Central Division got goals from Clayton Keller, Jason Robertson, and Colorado Avalanche stars Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen in the final loss. It marked the first time the Atlantic Division had won the All-Star Game during the six tries in the divisional format, as the 11 players will split $1 million for the win.

Capitals Give Sonny Milano Three-Year Extension

The Washington Capitals stayed busy during the All-Star break on Saturday, giving winger Sonny Milano a three-year contract extension. The deal is worth $5.7 million, and comes one day after the team locked in Dylan Strome with a five-year deal. Milano will now count for $1.9 million against the salary cap through the 2025-2026 season. The 26-year-old joined the Caps on a one-year contract right after the beginning of this season. Since then, he has posted eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points over 40 games since getting called up from the AHL. The former 16th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets went unsigned before joining the Anaheim Ducks.

Dodgers Give Miguel Rojas One-Year Extension

The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their newest addition on Saturday, giving infielder Miguel Rojas a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season. The deal is worth $6 million and includes a salary of $5 million for 2024 and a team option for the 2025 season. The 33-year-old was acquired from the Miami Marlins last month, returning to the Dodgers for his second stint. He made 85 appearances for the Dodgers in 2014 as a rookie. Rojas most recently hit .236 with six home runs and 36 RBIs over 140 games last season, and has played five different positions during his nine-year MLB career.

Bridges, Suns Hold Off Celtics in Boston

The Phoenix Suns pulled off an upset on the road Friday night despite behind shorthanded, as they got the best of the NBA-leading Boston Celtics for a 106-94 win. Mikal Bridges led the way with 25 points, while Dario Saric posted a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Chris Paul chipped in 15 points, eight assists, and six rebounds for the Suns, who led by as many as 20 points in the second quarter. They used an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter and pull away, as they moved two games over .500 at 28-26. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 27 points, while Jayson Tatum added in 20 points for a Celtics team coming off a 49-point blowout of the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics still hold a two-game lead atop the East over the Milwaukee Bucks, as they fell to 37-16 on the year. Other key scores saw Joel Embiid post 33 points and 10 rebounds as the Sixers got past the Spurs, 137-125.  Buddy Hield scored 21 points against his former team as the Pacers took out the Kings, 107-104. The Trail Blazers rallied from 20 points down to snap the Wizards' six-game winning streak with a 124-116 road win. And Trae Young finished with 27 points as the Hawks held off the Jazz, 115-108.

Kyrie Irving Requests Trade From Nets

The Kyrie Irving drama is still not done, even with the Brooklyn Nets sitting in fourth place in the East, as he officially requested to be traded by next Thursday's trade deadline. This comes after the two sides failed to negotiate terms on a long-term contract extension, as he is set to become a free agent this summer. The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns have already expressed interest in discussing a deal, while the Dallas Mavericks are also expected to do so. Irving did not create a list of teams he'd be interested in joining, but it is said that he is interested in the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. The Nets stayed reluctant to commit to Irving long term, with questions of how reliable he actually is still clouding their brains. The interested part of it all is what other teams will have to give up for Irving, especially if they are win-now teams, as are the Nets, who are 31-20 this season.

Grizzlies' Brooks Suspended, Cavs' Mitchell Fined For Fight

Punishments came down following Thursday night's altercation during the Memphis Grizzlies-Cleveland Cavaliers game, with Dillon Brooks getting suspended and Donovan Mitchell fined. Brooks is banned for one game, while Mitchell got a $20,000 fine for the fight. The incident occurred in the third quarter of the Cavs' win over the Grizzlies, as Brooks took a low blow on Mitchell, who threw the ball at Brooks. Brooks was given a flagrant foul 2, Mitchell was given a technical, and both players were ejected. The Grizzlies will be without Brooks for their game against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

Capitals Give Dylan Strome Five-Year Extension

The Washington Capitals' front office is staying busy during the All-Star break, as they agreed to give forward Dylan Strome a five-year contract extension on Friday. The deal is worth $25 million for the former third overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Strome will count for $5 million against the salary cap through the 2027-2028 season, this after he was set to be a free agent this summer. This is quite a raise from the $3.5 million deal he signed after the Chicago Blackhawks opted not to tender him a qualifying offer. The forward has posted 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points over 36 games this season, and he ranks third on the Caps with 14 power play points. Over 325 regular season NHL games, he has posted 206 points with the Capitals, Blackhawks, and Arizona Coyotes.

Menacing Charges Against Bengals' Joe Mixon Dropped

The misdemeanor menacing charge against Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon was officially dropped on Friday. The case has been dismissed as of Friday afternoon, as the prosecutor said the victim understood the need to dismiss the case and would be in favor of moving forward with the charge if it needs to be refiled. This comes one day after a warrant for Mixon's arrest came out for the charge. The complaint was filed on Thursday in Ohio's Hamilton County, and the Bengals say they are aware of the situation. According to the warrant, Mixon allegedly pointed a gun at an individual on January 21st and said the person should be "popped in the face." The incident reportedly occurred in downtown Cincinnati, one day before the Bengals beat the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. Mixon, a four second-round draft pick in 2017, was charged with misdemeanor assault for punching a woman in 2014 while at the University of Oklahoma.

NCAAM (Top 25) Friday Roundup

Nathan Mensah posted 17 points and six rebounds as 22nd-ranked San Diego State blew past Boise State, 72-52, at home.

Giannis Powers Bucks Past Clippers; Cavs-Grizzlies Brawl in Cleveland

Giannis Antetokounmpo was once again on one Thursday night, powering a Milwaukee Bucks rally at home for a 106-105 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Antetokounmpo put up 54 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter, to help the Bucks rally from a 21-point deficit. It was the third time in the past 11 games that he has scored at least 50 points, including a career-high 55 points on January 3rd. He added in a 50-point effort over 30 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Giannis has reached 50 points six times in his regular season career, and once against the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals. The Greek Freak and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only Bucks in franchise history with at least three 50-point games, and Giannis is now averaging 40.2 points and 14.5 rebounds over his past six games. The Bucks scored the final seven points of the game to seal the win, moving in to second place in the East at 35-17. And things got heated in Cleveland, as the Cleveland Cavaliers continued to dominate on their home floor with a 128-113 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Donovan Mitchell and Dillon Brooks sparked a brawl in the third quarter after Mitchell took a shot below the belt and then threw the ball at Brooks. An assistant coach from the Cavs tackled Brooks to break up the fight, both players were ejected, and Mitchell threw shots at Brooks after the game by saying "that's just who he is." Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 32 points in the game, as the Grizzlies lost for the seventh time in their past eight games. Brooks refused to comment on the altercation after the game, and Ja Morant stated that the Grizzlies did not want to talk about it at all. Other key scores saw Anthony Davis put up 31 points and the go-ahead basket as the Lakers got by the Pacers, 112-111. R.J Barrett's 30 points helped the Knicks get past the Heat, 106-104. Luka Doncic put up 31 points before leaving with a heel injury in the Mavericks' 111-106 home win over the Pelicans. And Nikola Jokic posted his 17th triple-double of the season in the Nuggets' 134-117 victory against the Warriors.

NBA All-Star Reserves Announced

East Joel Embiid (76ers) Jaylen Brown (Celtics) Bam Adebayo (Heat) Jrue Holiday (Bucks) DeMar DeRozan (Bulls) Julius Randle (Knicks) Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers) West Ja Morant (Grizzlies) Domantas Sabonis (Kings) Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) Paul George (Clippers) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) Lauri Markkanen (Jazz) Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)

North Carolina Gives Mack Brown One-Year Extension

The North Carolina Tar Heels football program committed even more to head coach Mack Brown on Thursday, giving him a one-year contract extension. The new deal keeps him with the team through the 2027 season, but the financial terms remain the same. This is the second straight year that he has received an extension, and he will continue to make $5 million per season. Brown led the Tar Heels to an ACC Title Game appearance in 2022 and has gone 30-22 over four seasons in his second stint with them. He has also coached the team to bowl games in all four seasons, and he is heading in to another season with high expectations thanks to quarterback Drake Maye returning for the 2023 season.

Bengals' Joe Mixon Has Arrest Warrant Issued

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon has a warrant issued for his arrest on a complain of misdemeanor aggravated menacing. The complaint was filed on Thursday in Ohio's Hamilton County, and the Bengals say they are aware of the situation. According to the warrant, Mixon allegedly pointed a gun at an individual on January 21st and said the person should be "popped in the face." The incident reportedly occurred in downtown Cincinnati, one day before the Bengals beat the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. Mixon, a four second-round draft pick in 2017, was charged with misdemeanor assault for punching a woman in 2014 while at the University of Oklahoma.

NCAAM (Top 25) Thursday Roundup

Azuolas Tubelis posted 40 points in fifth-ranked Arizona's 91-76 rout of Oregon. Jarace Walker had 15 points and a late three-pointer to lift third-ranked Houston past Wichita State, 70-61. Jamie Jaquez Jr. finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds as ninth-ranked UCLA beat Washington, 70-61. Drew Timme reached 2,000 career points in 12th-ranked Gonzaga's 88-70 blowout of Santa Clara. Randy Bennett earned his 500th career win as 18th-ranked Saint Mary's got past San Francisco, 68-59. UAC put an end to 19th-ranked Florida Atlantic's 20-game winning streak with an 86-77 home victory.

Tatum, Brown Power Celtics' Rout of Nets; T'Wolves Beat Warriors in OT

The Boston Celtics wasted no time jumping all over and pulling away from the Brooklyn Nets at home on Wednesday night, as they cruised to a 139-96 blowout win. Jayson Tatum had 31 points and nine rebounds, as the Celtics took advantage of a shorthanded Nets team to improve to 37-15 on the year. Tatum had 18 points during the first quarter, where the Celtics hit eight three-pointers and jumped out to a 30-point lead. Jaylen Brown added in 26 points, as he and Tatum had seven three-point makes apiece. The Celtics never trailed in this one and led by as many as 49 points, shooting 60% from the floor in the first three quarters for their largest margin of victory this season. It was the eighth time this season that Tatum and Brown both scored at least 25 points in the same game, and they have now won all three meetings against the Nets this season. The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied on their home floor for a big conference win Wednesday night, getting past the Golden State Warriors in overtime, 119-114. D'Angelo Russell finished with 29 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter alone, while Anthony Edwards got hot in overtime. Edwards scored four points in the extra five minutes, finishing with 27 points, as the T'Wolves rallied from an 11-point deficit for the win. Steph Curry led the Warriors with 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Poole added in 18 points in the loss. The Warriors had won three straight games, as they are just a game over .500, a half game behind the Timberwolves, who are two games over .500 on the season. Other key scores saw Damian Lillard put up 42 points and 10 assists as the Trail Blazers took out the Grizzlies, 122-112. Domantas Sabonis put up a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds as the Kings topped the Spurs, 119-109. Lauri Markkanen had 28 points to help the Jazz hold off the Raptors, 131-128. Dejounte Murray had 21 points as the Hawks blew past the Suns, 132-100. And Joel Embiid and James Harden both had double-doubles in the Sixers' 105-94 home win over the Magic.

Florida Takes Out No. 2 Tennessee; Xavier Gets Wild OT Win

The Florida Gators earned themselves a statement win on Wednesday night, taking out the second-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, 67-54, on their home floor. Colin Castleton was the leader on this night, posting 20 points, including 16 in the second half. Kyle Lofton added in 14 points, giving the Gators their 13th win of the season and second Quad 1 win in the past two weeks. This was coach Todd Golden's signature win of his first season with the program, as they handed the Vols their first loss in five games. The Vols have their highest ranking in five years and had won nine of their past 10 games overall. Although, this was the 10th time this season a top two team has lost a game, which is the most in a season in the AP Poll's history. Zakai Ziegler led the Vols with 15 points on 6-for-19 shooting, but they dropped to 18-4 on the season and 7-2 in SEC play. And the 16th-ranked Xavier Musketeers hung on at home for a wild 85-83 overtime win over their Big East rivals and 17th-ranked Providence Friars. Jack Nunge had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the charge, as Xavier moved in to first place in the Big East. Colby Jones and Souley Boum added in 20 points apiece, as the Musketeers got this win despite playing without forward Zach Freemantle. They overcame a tough 84-67 loss to Creighton last Saturday for their 18th win, improving to 10-2 in conference play. Noah Locke had 22 points, while Ed Croswell added in 21 points in the Friars' sixth loss overall, three of which have come in Big East play. Providence had defeated Xavier three straight times heading in to this matchup, but Jared Bynum's three-pointer at the buzzer somehow stayed out in this loss. Other key scores saw Mason Gillis hit a Mackey Arena record nine three-pointers as top-ranked Purdue took care of Penn State, 80-60. Tyerl Kolek finished with 20 points as 14th-ranked Marquette got past Villanova, 73-64. And Johni Broome had 19 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to power 25th-ranked Auburn past Georgia, 94-73.

Zacha, Bruins Pull Away From Maple Leafs

The Boston Bruins were able to add to their NHL and Atlantic Division lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs one last time before the All-Star break, pulling away north of the border for a 5-2 road win Wednesday night. Pavel Zacha scored twice to lead the way, as the Bruins scored twice in the third to put away their division rivals. Derek Forbort and Brandon Carlo both scored in the second period, as the Bruins snapped a three-game winless skid. A.J. Greer also added a goal, while Linus Ullmark made 33 saves in net. Mitchell Marner scored his 19th goal of the season in a loss, and Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves in what was his eighth straight start in net. Samsonov had gone 5-1-1 over his past seven starts, posting a .925 save percentage and a 2.24 goals-against-average. The only other game on the NHL schedule Wednesday saw Stefan Noesen post a goal and an assist as the Hurricanes got past the Sabres, 5-1, on the road.

Golden Knights' Mark Stone Out Indefinitely

The Las Vegas Golden Knights confirmed on Wednesday that captain Mark Stone is out indefinitely after undergoing back surgery. The left winger is expected to make a full recovery from an injury he suffered on January 12th. He played less than four minutes in that game against the Florida Panthers, which was a 4-2 Vegas win. Stone began his rehab afterward, but a setback resulted in surgery being the best option. It's now the second time in the past 12 months that he has needed back surgery, as he dealt with a similar issue in the 2021-2022 season. Despite that, he has come back strong this season, posting 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points, which are both tied for second on the team.

Blue Jackets' Gustav Nyquist Ruled Out For Season

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Wednesday that forward Gustav Nyquist will miss the remainder of the regular season due to a shoulder injury. Although, Nyquist claims that he will work to be healthy for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, keeping his trade value alive for the team. The injury occurred on January 25th against the Edmonton Oilers, but it will not require surgery. Over 48 games this season, he has posted 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. The 33-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent and could very well be dealt by the March 5th NHL Trade Deadline.

Brady Announces Retirement From NFL "For Good"

Quarterback Tom Brady has announced his retirement for a second straight off-season, doing so with a video on social media Wednesday morning. Brady claims this is "for good," as he ends it as a seven-time Super Bowl Champion over 23 NFL seasons. The 45-year-old announced his retirement on February 1st, 2022, before changing his mind 40 days later and returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He reportedly informed the Buccaneers of this decision at 6am EST. on Wednesday morning, and the Bucs tweeted out the news themselves as well. Brady won six of his Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Bucs, while also being named Super Bowl MVP five times. He is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls, and also is the NFL leader with 89,214 passing yards, 649 touchdowns passes. His final NFL season saw him throw for 4,694 yards, good for third-most in the NFL, to go with 25 touchdowns. The three-time MVP did make headlines this past year as well when he and his supermodel wife, Gisele Bundchen, finalized their divorce, and now he is finalizing his career.

Eagles' Josh Sills Facing Charges of Rape, Kidnapping

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills was indicted by grand jury on Wednesday and charged with one count of rape and one count of kidnapping. Both charges are first-degree felonies, which was revealed by the Ohio attorney general's website. These charges come from an incident where Sills engaged in non-consensual sex and held a victim against her will in December 2019. The alleged crime was immediately reported, and it is now being prosecuted by the special prosecutions section of the attorney general's office. The 25-year-old Sills will now appear in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court on February 16th. The incident specifically took place on December 5th, 2019, when the man, identified as Sills, forced a woman back in to a truck by her ponytail, started kissing her, attempted to take her pants off, and forced her to have oral sex. The league has placed Sills on the commissioner's exempt list and is not permitted to participate in practices or games or travel, including the Super Bowl on February 12th.

Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree on Three-Year Extension

The Seattle Mariners reached a three-year contract extension with utility man Dylan Moore on Wednesday, which is set to pay him $8.875 million. The 30-year-old has previously spent time with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and Milwaukee Brewers before finding a home with the M's. He joined the Mariners in 2018 as a minor league free agent, debuting a year later in 2019. Over the past four season, he has ended up playing every position but catcher and has hit .208 in that span. Over 381 career games, Moore has hit 35 home runs with 112 RBIs, 140 runs scored, and 65 stole bases. This deal comes on the same day that the team won their arbitration hearing against reliever Diego Castillo, with only Teoscar Hernandez;'s case remaining unsettled.

Kansas Avenges Loss to Kansas State

The eighth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks got back at their in-state rivals on Tuesday night, overcoming a loss earlier in the season with a 90-78 home win over the seventh-ranked Kansas State Wildcats. Jalen Wilson led the Jayhawks with 20 points on the night, while Kevin McCullar Jr. had a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds. Dajuan Harris Jr. added in 18 points for a Jayhawks team that built a 12-point lead by halftime and improved to 18-4 on the season and 6-3 in conference play. The win was their 17th straight on their home floor against Kansas State, as they have won two straight since dropping three in a row. Markquis Nowell once again led Kansas State with 23 points, while Keyontae Johnson had 22 points and 12 rebounds in their fourth defect. The Wildcats fell short of completing their first regular season series sweep of the Jayhawks in four decades. The other key scores saw Brandon Miller score 22 points as fourth-ranked Alabama rout Vanderbilt, 101-44. Damion Baugh had 16 points and 10 assists as 15th-ranked TCU got past West Virginia, 76-72. Makai Ashton-Langford posted 15 points as Boston College beat 20th-ranked Clemson, 62-54. And Jahmir Young's 20 points helped Maryland snap 21st-ranked Indiana's five-game winning streak with a 66-55 home upset.

Jokic Posts Triple-Double in Nuggets' Win; Butler, Heat  Hold Off Cavs

The Denver Nuggets added to the struggles of the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night, pulling away for a 122-113 home win. Jamal Murray led the way with 32 points, while Nikola Jokic posted his 16th triple-double of the season. Jokic posted 26 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists, recording his 52nd career triple-double, good for sixth all time in NBA history. The Nuggets improved to 16-0 when Jokic has a triple-double this season, and Murray made seven shots from three-point range. CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones led the Pelicans with 21 points apiece in the loss. The Pelicans dropped back to .500 at 26-26 with their ninth consecutive loss, as they finish the month of January at 3-13. The Miami Heat hung on for a road win on Tuesday night, getting past the Cleveland Cavaliers in a potential playoff preview for a 100-97 victory. Jimmy Butler had 23 points to lead the way, while Bam Adebayo added in 18 points and 11 rebounds. Caleb Martin chipped in with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, while Tyler Herro added 18 of his own. With the win, the Heat pulled to within a game and a half of the Cavaliers for fifth place in the East. Donovan Mitchell had the opportunity to tie the game, but his three-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark. Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 19 points, while Mitchell finished with 16, as they fell to 21-6 on their home floor. Other key scores saw LeBron James post a triple-double as the Lakers beat the Knicks in overtime, 129-123. Khris Middleton scored 18 points as the Bucks won their fifth straight, 124-115, over the Hornets. And Kawhi Leonard's 33 points powered the Clippers past the Bulls, 108-103, on the road.

Aho, Hurricanes Rally Past Kings in OT

The Carolina Hurricanes collected one more comeback win heading in to the All-Star break, as they rallied past the Los Angeles Kings in overtime for a 5-4 win on Tuesday night. Sebastian Aho scored on the power play with 53.8 seconds left in overtime, helping the 'Canes complete a comeback from a three-goal deficit. It is the seventh time this season that the Hurricanes have won after facing a three-goal deficit. Brent Burns, Paul Stastny, Jordan Staal, and Teuvo Teravainen all scored for the home team. The Kings led 4-1 entering the third period, but the Hurricanes got their fifth win in the past 25 seasons when trailing by three or more in the third period. Adrian Kempe scored twice, while Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar both scored in the loss for the Kings, who did move in to second place in the Pacific Division with a point. Other key scores from the NHL on Tuesday saw Evgeny Kuznetsov score in overtime to lift the Capitals past the Blue Jackets, 4-3. And Brady Tkachuk's late goal sent the Senators past the Canadiens, 5-4.

Texans Hire Niners DC DeMeco Ryans as Head Coach

The Houston Texans found their new head coach, turning to San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to take the position. The two sides agreed on a six-year contract to make him the franchise's sixth full time coach in team history. The Texans are now the first team in NFL history to hire three straight Black coaches.  Ryans first interviewed with the Texans on January 20th and met again with them on Tuesday. He also got interest from the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts. The former Niners DC replaces Lovie Smith, who was fired on January 8th. As a defensive coordinator with the Niners, he helped them allow the third-fewest yards per game in his first season, and then this past season they allowed the fewest points and yards per game. The 38-year-old spent the past six years under head coach Kyle Shanahan with the Niners, getting elevated to defensive coordinator in 2021, and now finally a head coach.

Broncos Reach Deal With Saints, Clearing Way For Payton

The New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos have reached a deal for the Broncos to receive head coach Sean Payton as their next head coach. The Saints are getting the Broncos' 2023 first-round pick and their 2024 second-round selection, while sending a 2024 third-round pick the other way. This clears the way for Payton to sign a new deal with the Broncos to become their next head coach. Once he agrees to a deal, Payton will be replacing Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired during his first season with the Broncos. Denver also had interest in Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans.

Rays, Yandy Diaz Avoid Arbitration With Three-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays were able to avoid arbitration with infielder Yandy Diaz on Tuesday, agreeing to a three-year contract with him. The deal will pay him $24 million and could get up to $36 million over four seasons, as the team has a $12 million team option for the 2026 season. He has been with the Rays since the 2019 season after starting his major league career with the Cleveland Indians. Since joining the majors, he is a career .279 hitter with 39 home runs and 198 RBIs. The Rays acquired him in a three-team trade on December 13th, 2018, and he most recently hit .296 with nine home runs and 57 RBIs while setting career highs with 71 runs scored, 140 hits, 33 doubles, and 78 walks.

Blue Jays Add Chad Green on Two-Year Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays added to their bullpen on Tuesday evening, giving relief pitcher Chad Green a two-year contract. The deal is worth $8.5 million and includes options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, which could make the deal worth $29.25 million over four seasons. Green is expected to miss an early portion of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He injured his pitching elbow last May while pitching for the New York Yankees and missed the rest of the season. The right-hander started off the 2022 season by posting a 3.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 15 innings pitched. The 31-year-old holds a career record of 33-22 with a 3.17 ERA over seven major league seasons, all with the Yankees.

Dodgers, Tony Gonsolin Reach Deal to Avoid Arbitration

The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to avoid arbitration with starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin on Tuesday, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $6.65 million. Gonsolin will make $3.25 million for the 2023 season and then $3.4 million for the 2024 campaign. The pitcher was seeking a raise from $720,000 last season to $3.4 million this year, but the Dodgers offered $3 million on January 13th. The 28-year-old went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA with 119 strikeouts over 24 starts last season, earning his first All-Star bid. At the time of the All-Star Game, he was 11-0 with a 2.02 ERA, and finished with the highest winning percentage in franchise history at .941. The hurler has spent four seasons with the Dodgers since being drafted in the ninth round out of Saint Mary's in 2016, and sits with a 26-6 record and a 2.51 ERA over 59 career games.

Outfielder Dexter Fowler Retires From MLB

Former All-Star center fielder Dexter Fowler has decided to retire from Major League Baseball after 14 seasons in the league. The 36-year-old ended up playing for five different teams, with his best years coming with the Chicago Cubs in 2015 and 2016. He was their starting leadoff man, helping them to the NLCS one year and then their first World Series Title in 108 years. Fowler posted a career-high .393 on-base percentage in 2016, which led to him getting a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.  The outfielder finishes with a career .358 on-base percentage and a .775 OPS, and from the leadoff role, he hit 13 or more home runs in four of five years. That included a 19-home run season in 2019, but he dealt with injuries after that and hasn't played in the majors since 2021. The Colorado Rockies drafted him in the 14th round of the 2004 MLB Draft, and he last appeared in seven games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021.

Rice Leads Texas Over Baylor in Big 12 Showdown

The 10th-ranked Texas Longhorns earned themselves a big top-15 Big 12 victory on their home floor Monday night, getting past the 11th-ranked Baylor Bears, 76-71. Sir'Jabari Rice put up 21 points, while Timmy Allen added in 19 points in the victory. The loss for the Bears snapped their six-game winning streak, as the Longhorns stayed in a share of first place in the Big 12 standings. Rice made four shots from three-point range in the second half alone, and then two free throws with 16 seconds left to keep his team ahead for good. Allen added in a solid 7-for-10 mark from the floor, while also making clutch free throws in the final minutes. Texas got this win despite star Marcus Carr struggling on the night, making just two baskets on the night. LJ Cryer led the Bears with 19 points, as they had four players finish in double figures in their sixth loss Other key scores saw Texas Tech rally from a 23-point deficit to get past 13th-ranked Iowa State, 80-77, in overtime for the largest second-half comeback in Big 12 history. And Jayden Gardner put up 17 points to help sixth-ranked Virginia get past Syracuse, 67-62.

Luka Returns With 53 Points For Mavs; Fox, Kings Outlast T'Wolves in OT

Luka Doncic was back on the floor Monday night and he was back in a huge way, powering the Dallas Mavericks to a 111-105 win over the Detroit Pistons. Doncic put up 53 points in his return, while Spencer Dinwiddie scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter. It was Doncic's fifth career 50-point game, four of which have come this season. That includes a career-best 60 points against the New York Knicks on December 27th. On Monday night, he put up 24 points in the first quarter alone, as he ranked third in the league at 33 points per game entering the night. The Pistons led by as many as 11 points, but have now dropped six of their past seven despite Bojan Bogdanovic scoring 29 points. The Sacramento Kings leaned on their star De'Aaron Fox and a veteran in Trey Lyles to propel them to a 118-111 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night. Fox scored 32 points, while Lyles scored eight of his 11 points in overtime for the win. Domantas Sabonis chipped in 17 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out, while Keegan Murray had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Those performances helped them overcome Anthony Edwards' 33 points and eight rebounds, as he has reached 30 points in five of his past six games. Rudy Gobert finished with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds, but was not clutch enough down the stretch on their home floor. Other key scores saw Kyrie Irving score 26 as the Nets topped the shorthanded Lakers, 121-104. Steph Curry put up 38 points and 12 assists as the Warriors topped the Thunder, 128-120. Mikal Bridges' 26 points helped the Suns past the Raptors, 114-106. The Wizards snapped a 22-game losing streak against the Spurs with a 127-106 rout. And Paolo Banchero's 29 points and 10 rebounds gave the Magic a 119-109 upset of the Sixers.

Raptors Lose O.G. Anunoby For Four Games

The Toronto Raptors are set to be without guard O.G. Anunoby for at least the next four games due to a left wrist injury. The team announced this news on Monday, as he will miss road games against the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Memphis Grizzlies. He will be re-evaluated with hopes of returning for a home game against the Grizzlies on February 5th. The injury occurred in the second quarter of Friday's loss to the Golden State Warriors, as he left the game after shooting free throws. The 25-year-old has come up in trade rumors and is averaging nearly 17 points per game this season, while also leading the league in steals.

Islanders Acquire Bo Horvat From Canucks

The New York Islanders entered the All-Star break by adding some much-needed offense in a trade on Monday, as they acquired Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat. The deal saw the Islanders send forward Anthony Beauvillier, prospect forward Aatu Raty, and a conditional first round pic the other way in the deal. Horvat was set to become an unrestricted free agent, which made this less of a surprise, as the two sides could not come to an agreement on a new deal. The new Islanders star sits with 31 goals, which is tied for eighth in the league, and his 54 points are tied for 21st. He led all Canucks in 5-on-5 ice time and short-handed minutes, and was second in power play minutes. The Islanders enter the All-Star break just two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Wild Card spot, but the Penguins have played three fewer games.

NHL Monday Roundup

The lone game on Monday night saw Josh Morrissey score twice as the Winnipeg Jets doubled-up the St. Louis Blues, 4-2, handing the Blues their 10th consecutive loss.

49ers' Brock Purdy Suffered Torn UCL in Right Elbow

The San Francisco 49ers confirmed on Monday that quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow during their blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's NFC Championship Game. Purdy is seeking a second medical opinion on whether or not he needs surgery, but he is expected to be sidelined for at least six months. The Niners' third-string QB went down on the first series at Lincoln Financial Field, and the attempted to return when fourth-string QB Josh Johnson went down with a concussion. When he did return, he focused on mainly handing the ball off to running back Chrisitan McCaffrey, who is the fifth option under center. Purdy stepped in when both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down with season-ending injuries and powered the Niners to the conference title game on a 12-game winning streak. In that time, the Iowa State product threw for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions, proving that he could be their QB of the future moving forward.

Marlins Acquire Matt Barnes From Red Sox

The Miami Marlins agreed to acquire relief pitcher Matt Barnes from the Boston Red Sox on Monday, sending pitcher Richard Bleier the other way. The Red Sox agreed to pay the Marlins $5.625 million to cover over half of Barnes' $10.25 million salary. This move comes one week after he was designated for assignment following the Red Sox's signing of Adam Duvall. Barnes won the 2018 World Series with the Red Sox, going 6-4 with a 3.65 ERA with 96 strikeouts over 62 games and 61.2 innings pitched. He posted 24 saves in 2021, where he made the All-Star team, before losing the closer job while struggling in the second half. Barnes dropped to 0-4 with a 4.31 ERA and eight saves over 44 appearances last season. ​The 35-year-old Bleier went 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA in 2022, recording one save and even making one start.

Royals, Zack Greinke Agree on Deal For 2023

The Kansas City Royals and veteran pitcher Zack Greinke were able to come together on a deal, agreeing on a contract for the 2023 season. This will make it nine seasons over two stints with the Royals for the six-time All-Star. He made $13 million last season, returning after he spent his first seven major league seasons with the Royals. In his return year, he went 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA and struck out 73 batters over 137 innings. He did spend two stints on the injured list, but allowed two runs or fewer in 17 of his 26 starts. The 39-year-old is a former first-round pick of the Royals, won the 2009 Cy Young with them and is first among active pitchers with 514 career starts and 3,247 innings pitched over 20 MLB seasons.

Pitcher Darren O'Day Retires From MLB

Longtime relief pitcher Darren O'Day called it a career on Monday, announcing his retirement after 15 major league seasons. O'Day most recently posted a 4.15 ERA over 28 games with the Atlanta Braves in the 2022 season. He played for six different teams, but made this announcement to step away with a statement on Twitter. The 40-year-old appeared in 644 career games, going 42-21 with a 2.59 ERA. He made his major league debut in 2008 with the Los Angeles Angels, and pitched seven Seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. His career high of six saves came with the Orioles in 2015, where he went 6-1 with a 1.52 ERA and made the All-Star team. O'Day also finishes with a 4.43 ERA over 30 Postseason games, including a World Series ring with the Texas Rangers in 2010.

Butker Kicks Chiefs to Super Bowl; Eagles Rout Hobbled 49ers

The Kansas City Chiefs are returning to the promise land, as they finally got past Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game for a 23-20 win. Harrison Butker had the go-ahead 45-yard field goal with three seconds left in the game. Patrick Mahomes led the drive with 30 seconds to go despite an ankle sprain, and took a late hit for a 15-yard penalty to set up the game-winner. Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the Chiefs with 116 yards receiving and a touchdown, while Travis Kelce did play and had 78 yards receiving and a score. The Chiefs got the best of Burrow for the first time in four tries, sacking him five times. Burrow finished with 270 yards passing, a touchdown, and two interceptions, with his one touchdown going to Tee Higgins. The officiating was questioned in a major way during this game, with the Bengals getting the bad end of most of the calls in the second half. The Philadelphia Eagles looked dominant and jumped all over an injured San Francisco 49ers team as they cruised to the Super Bowl with a 31-7 rout in the NFC Championship Game. The Niners were down to their fourth-string QB when Brock Purdy went down, and then nearly their fifth when Josh Johnson was tested for a concussion in the loss. The thought of turning to Christian McCaffrey was there, but Purdy returned for short passes and to hand the ball off. Purdy took a hard hit in the first series for an injury to his throwing arm, and was seen on the sidelines, admitting to not being able to throw the ball. The Eagles were coming off a 38-7 rout of the New York Giants, and are now on their way to their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history, and first since 2017. They found the end zone four times on the ground, with Miles Sanders scoring twice, Boston Scott once, and Jalen Hurts once. McCaffrey had the lone touchdown of the game for the Niners, breaking tackles to score from 23 yards out in the second quarter.

Chargers' Justin Herbert Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder during his off-season. The 24-year-old is expected to be fully cleared for participation in offseason activities this spring. It is not known when he suffered the injury, but the Chargers were eliminated by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round three weeks ago. He did play multiple weeks this season with fractured rib cartilage that he suffered in Week 2. Herbert finished the season throwing for 4,739 yards and 25 touchdowns to help the Chargers clinch their first playoff berth since 2018.

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett Arrested Sunday Morning

Everything has been going swimmingly for Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennet, but that was until Sunday morning, when he was arrested on a public intoxication charge. It is a misdemeanor chare from the Dallas Police Department, who made this arrest at 7:10am EST Sunday morning. They were responding to a report of a man banging on doors in the 1600 block of Tribeca Way. Bennett left the detention center later on Sunday and could not be reached for comment. He is coming off a season that saw him win the Heisman Trophy and lead the Bulldogs to their second straight National Title. The Bulldogs finished a perfect 15-0 this past season, as he threw for 4,127 yards, 27 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns, and seven interception.

Giannis Puts Up 50 Points in Bucks' Win; Cavaliers Rout Clippers

The Milwaukee Bucks dominated behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had himself a huge night in their 135-110 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Giannis put up 50 points for the second time this season, as they sent the Pelicans to their eighth straight loss. Antetokounmpo reached this feat despite playing just 30 minutes, as he shot 20-for-26 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from three-point range. He was also 7-for-12 at the free throw line, as he fell five points short of his career high, which was set on January 4th against the Washington Wizards. Jrue Holiday added in 17 points, while Brook Lopez had 15 points for a Bucks team that shot 55.2% from the floor. The Pelicans were without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum on the second night of a back-to-back. The Cleveland Cavaliers also had their way on their home floor, pulling away for a 122-99 blowout of the Los Angeles Clippers. Cedi Osman tied a career high with 29 points and tied a franchise record by going a perfect 7-for-7 from three-point range. The Cavaliers led by as many as 40 points on the night, as they got Donovan Mitchell back from a three-game absence due to a groin injury. Mitchell scored just 11 points, but the Cavs never trailed and built an 82-42 advantage at one point. The Clippers saw their five-game winning streak come to an end, but were without Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Reggie Jackson. Other two games on Sunday in the NBA saw Ja Morant post a triple-double of 27 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds as the Grizzlies rallied past the Pacers, 112-100. And Terry Rozier put up 31 points as the Hornets snapped the Heat's three-game win streak with a 122-117 home win.

Aho, Hurricanes Stay Hot Against Bruins

The Carolina Hurricanes won a battle of first place teams on Sunday afternoon, staying hot by taking out the NHL-leading Boston Bruins, 4-1, at home. Sebastian Aho stayed hot with a goal in his fourth straight game, as the' Canes won their fifth straight overall. Paul Stastny added a power play goal, Jordan Staal scored shorthanded, and and Seth Jarvis found the back of the net in the third period. The Hurricanes also have an eight-game point streak, as they have gone 7-0-1 in that span. Frederik Andersen was playing in his first game since leaving Wednesday's game with an upper-body injury and made 24 saves in the win. Pavel Zacha scored the lone goal for the Bruins, who have dropped three straight games, but enter the All-Star break with an NHL-leading 81 points. The only other game on the NHL Sunday schedule saw the Maple Leafs score four times in the second period to skate past the Capitals, 5-1.

NCAAM (Top 25) Sunday Roundup

Zach Edey posted a career-high 38 points as top-ranked Purdue pulled away from Michigan State, 77-61, at home. Jared Bynum scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half to lift 23rd-ranked Providence past Villanova, 70-65.

Josh Harrison, Phillies Agree on One-Year Deal

The Philadelphia Phillies brought on a veteran presence in to their infield on Sunday, giving Josh Harrison a one-year contract. The 35-year-old most recently hit .272 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs over 119 games for the Chicago White Sox last season. He mostly played second and third base for them, but did spend some time in the outfield and at shortstop. Harrison also found himself pitching three times throughout the year, allowing six earned runs over three innings. He is a two-time All-Star, doing so in 2014 and 2017 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he enters his sixth team in six seasons. The veteran is a career .272 hitter over his 12-year major league career.

Yankees, Gleyber Torres Avoid Arbitration With One-Year Deal

The New York Yankees were able to avoid arbitration on Sunday, agreeing to a deal with infielder Gleyber Torres. Torres got a one-year contract worth $9.95 million, as the team announced the deal. The 26-year-old most recently hit .257 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs over 140 games in 2022. He helped the Yankees earn an AL East crown, and then asked for a raise from $6.25 million to 10.2 million, but the Yankees offered $9.2 million. Torres is a two-time All-Star since making his major league debut, and has since hit .265 with 98 home runs and 310 RBIs over 576 career games.

Embiid, Sixers Top Jokic, Nuggets; Irving, Nets Keep Knicks' Number

The battle of MVP candidates went the way of the home team at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday afternoon, as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Denver Nuggets, 126-119. Joel Embiid proved his worthiness of being MVP, posting 47 points and 18 rebounds on the night. The Sixers won their seventh straight game, sitting in second place in the East, just 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics. James Harden added in 17 points and 13 assists, while Tobias Harris saw all 14 of his point come in the second half. Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets MVP favorite, had 24 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in the loss. Jamal Murray chipped in 22 points, Michael Porter had 20, but the Nuggets dropped their third over the past four games. Meanwhile, Embiid finished with 40 or more points for the ninth time this season and 35th for his career. The Brooklyn Nets continue to have the number of their in-state rival, as they got past the New York Knicks on Saturday, 122-115. Kyrie Irving put up 31 points, including 21 in the final 9:30 of the fourth quarter. It was Irving's sixth straight game with at least 30 points, which is a career high, as the Nets beat the Knicks for a ninth straight time. Joe Harris added in 16 points, while Nic Claxton had 13 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Royce O'Neale and Seth Curry had 14 points apiece, as the Nets shot 22-for-40 from three-point range. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points and RJ Barrett had 24, but their mild two-game win streak came to an end. Other key scores saw Jaylen Brown force overtime and score 37 points as the Celtics topped the Lakers, 125-121. Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points as the Jazz beat the Doncic-less Mavericks, 108-100. Anthony Edwards scored 16 of his 34 points in the third as the Timberwolves downed the Kings, 117-110. Kawhi Leonard's 32 points led the Clippers to their fifth straight win, 120-113, over the Hawks. Chris Paul finished with 31 points as the Suns got past the Spurs in overtime, 128-118. And Daniel Gafford posted 21 points and 12 rebounds as the Wizards took down the Pelicans, 113-103, for their fifth straight win.

Pacers, Myles Turner Agree on Two-Year, $60 Million Extension

The Indiana Pacers continued to be committed to center Myles Turner, and showed that even more on Saturday by agreeing to a two-year contract extension with him. The deal is worth $60 million and includes an additional $17.1 million renegotiation on his 2022-2023 salary. That renegotiation bump is the largest in NBA history, and he will now make an additional $41 million over the next two seasons. He is now locked in with the Pacers through the 2024-2025 season, which ends the speculation of him getting traded at the deadline. Turner is averaging a career-high 17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game for the Pacers. The big man is also shooting a career high 54.4% from the floor and 39.1% from three-point range. He is one of just three players with 50 three-point makes and 75 blocks this season, along with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brook Lopez.

Sherfield, Oklahoma Rout No. 2 Alabama; Tennessee Tops Texas at Home

The Oklahoma Sooners cruised on their way to a major upset on their home floor Saturday afternoon, blowing past the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, 93-69. The Sooners are set to join the SEC in 2025, making this a statement game that they are coming. Grant Sherfield had a season-high 30 points to lead the way, handing the Tide their third loss of the season. Jalen Hill chipped in a career-high 26 points on 9-for-11 shooting and posted eight rebounds. Bama's star, Brandon Miller, had just 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting, despite coming in averaging 19.5 points per game this season. The win was the Sooners' first over a team ranked in the AP's top two since the 2002 Big 12 Tournament, and their largest victory margin over a top five team. And the fourth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers headlined the SEC/Big 12 Challenge with an 82-71 home win over the 10th-ranked Texas Longhorns. Olivier Nkamhoua led the way with 27 points, while Zakai Ziegler added 22 points and 10 assists. The win moves the Vols to 18-3 on the season, as they outrebounded the Longhorns, 38-24. Nkamhoua added in eight rebounds to help that, while Josiah-Jordan James chipped in 14 points. Santiago Vescovi finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for a Vols team that led by as many as 22 points. The Longhorns were led by Sir'Jabari Rice's 21 points, while Marcus Carr had just 11 points, who didn't get his first points until the second half. Other key scores saw Kobe Brown score 20 points as Missouri took out 12th-ranked Iowa State, 78-61. Creighton had all five starters finish in double figures in an 84-67 home win over 13th-ranked Xavier. Erik Stevenson's 31 points powered West Virginia past 15th-ranked Auburn, 80-77. Tolu Smith put up a season-high 27 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists as Mississippi State got past 11th-ranked TCU in overtime, 81-74. Hofstra put an end to 18th-ranked Charleston's 20-game win streak with an 85-81 road win. Jalen Wilson scored 22 points as ninth-ranked Kansas beat Kentucky on the road, 77-68. And Blake Hinson's late tip-in gave Pittsburgh the 71-68 upset of 20th-ranked Miami.

Lightning Down Kings For 12th Straight Home Win

The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to dominate on their home ice at Amalie Arena, as they skated past the Los Angeles Kings, 5-2, on Saturday night. Brayden Point had a goal and an assist, as the Lightning extended their home win streak to a franchise-record 12 straight games. Victor Hedman, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Corey Perry, and Ross Colton also scored for Tampa Bay, who have won three straight overall. Nick Perbix contributed three assists, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves in net. The Lightning set a franchise record of 11 straight home wins that was set in the 2019-2020 season, and they have now defeated the Kings seven straight times. The third-place Lightning haven't lost a game at home since December 6th against the Detroit Red Wings. The Kings saw their three-game winning streak come to an end despite goals from Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Phillip Danault.  Other key scores saw Sam Reinhart score in overtime as the Panthers rallied past the Bruins, 4-3. The Avalanche jumped in front early and doubled-up the Blues, 4-2, at home. Carter Hart made 40 saves as the Flyers shut out the Jets, 4-0. Matthew Barzal scored in overtime to lift the Islanders past the Golden Knights, 2-1. Freddy Gaudreau had the game-winner in the shootout as the Wild edged the Sabres, 3-2. Alex Wennberg scored to help the Kraken top the Blue Jackets, 3-1. And Tyson Barrie scored twice as the Oilers took care of the Blackhawks, 7-3.

Canucks' Ilya Mikheyev to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

The Vancouver Canucks confirmed on Saturday that right winger Ilya Mikheyev is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee. The 28-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during their first preseason game on September 25th. He will undergo surgery next week and is expected to be ready for training camp in the fall. The winger was originally listed as week-to-week and has since played in 45 games this season. In that time, he recorded 13 goals and 15 assists, and even scored in his final appearance on Friday night during a 5-2 home win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Mikheyev signed a four-year, $19 million contract with the Canucks as a free agent last summer.

Rangers Knock Off Golden Knights; Hughes Lifts Devils Past Stars in OT

The New York Rangers were able to knock the Las Vegas Golden Knights out of first place in the Pacific Division with a 4-1 home win at Madison Square Garden. Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist, while Jaroslav Halak made 33 saves in the win. Chris Kreider, Filip Chytil, and Jimmy Vesey also scored for the Rangers. New York moved to 8-2-3 over their past 13 games as they head in to their bye week for the All Star break. Braden Schneider recorded two assists as well, while Halak earned his fifth straight win in net. Phil Kessel scored the lone goal for the Knights, who got 36 saves from Adin Hill, but they lost for the seventh time in the past nine games. And Jack Hughes played hero on the road for the New Jersey Devils as they got past the Dallas Stars in overtime, 3-2, on Friday night. Hughes beat Jake Oettinger to help complete the Devils' rally from a 2-0 deficit, as they improved to 19-3-2 on the road. The Devils' star scored twice on the night, with Dougie Hamilton assisting on both of them. He now has 33 goals on the season, including 26 over the past 30 games. Miles Wood also scored, while Vitek Vanecek made 33 saves, as the Devils moved to 8-1-1 over the past 10 games. Roope Hintz and Ty Dellandrea both scored for the Stars, who dropped their third straight 3-2 overtime game. Other key scores saw Adrian Kempe post a goal and an assist as the Kings won their third straight, 4-3, over the Panthers. Martin Necas got his third overtime goal of the season for a 5-4 Hurricanes' win over the Sharks. Elias Lindholm had a goal and two assists as the Flames skated past the Kraken, 5-2. And Brady Tkachuk scored twice as the Senators upset the Maple Leafs, 6-2.

Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Out Three Weeks

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a good-sized hit on Friday as star Auston Matthews has been ruled out for at least three weeks with a sprained knee. This comes two days after he went down in their overtime win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. This injury is expected to keep Matthews out for at least six games, but he could miss more. The injury also means that Matthews will miss the All-Star festivities on February 3rd-4th weekend, and Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers will take his place there. The reigning Hart Trophy winner has 53 points over 47 games, one season after scoring 60 goals.

Edwards, Timberwolves Top Shorthanded Grizzlies

The Minnesota Timberwolves moved themselves over .500 on their home floor Friday night, taking advantage of a shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies team for a 111-100 victory. Anthony Edwards finished with 25 points, with 13 of those coming in the third quarter. Both teams held a moment of silence for Tyre Nichols, who was a 29-year-old that was viciously beaten and killed by Memphis police officers. This game took place just a few minutes after footage of this beating was released on social media. Kyle Anderson added 23 points for the Timberwolves, who have now won four of their past five games overall. ​Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 27 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, while Dillon Brooks added 17 in their fifth straight loss. Other key scores saw Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 41 points as the Bucks got past the Pacers, 141-131. Steph Curry's 35 points led the Warriors past the Raptors, 129-117. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 35 points as the Thunder beat the Cavaliers, 112-100. And the Heat finished a 3-0 homestand by rallying past the Magic, 110-105.

Mets, Jeff McNeil Reach $50 Million Extension

The New York Mets knew they had to take care of the reigning National League batting champion, as they gave infielder Jeff McNeil a four-year contract extension on Friday. The deal is worth $50 million, as the 30-year-old was scheduled to go to an arbitration trail. He was originally requesting $7.75 million, but the Mets were offering $6.25 million. The deal is pending a physical and includes a fifth-year team option, which would make the total value $63.75 million. Since debuting in 2018, he has been a consistent contributor with the bat, striking out just 242 times over 2,039 appearances. He sits with a career .307 batting average, coming off a 2022 season that saw him hit .326 with 39 doubles, nine home runs, 62 RBIs, and just 61 strikeouts over 589 at-bats.

Braves Give Manager Brian Snitker Contract Extension

The Atlanta Braves are looking forward to success for years to come, and they want manager Brian Snitker involved with that, as they proved by giving him a contract extension on Friday. The deal keeps him with the Braves through the 2025 season. The 67-year-old has led the Braves to five straight NL East Titles and a World Series win in 2021. The Braves are coming off a 101-win season in 2022, as their manager enters his 47th season with the franchise. It is his seventh full season as the Braves manager, this after taking over as interim manager in May of 2016. After getting over 1,300 wins in the minor leagues, he has gone 542-451 with the Braves.

Rays, Pete Fairbanks Agree to Three-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays agreed to another contract extension with a key arm on their staff, giving relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks a three-year deal. The contract is worth $12 million and includes a team option for the fourth season. The 29-year-old ended the season with 22 scoreless innings with 36 strikeouts, nine hits, and three walks in the span. He missed the first three and a half months of the season with a torn lat muscle, so the finish was a nice bounce back. The Rays acquired Fairbanks from the Texas Rangers in 2019, but he does have an extension injury history that includes Tommy John Surgery. He has since become a clutch arm at the back end of their bullpen, recording eight saves in 24 appearances in 2022.

Rangers Agree to Deals With Five Players

The Texas Rangers agreed to minor league deals with five different players on Friday, which all included an invitation to major league spring training. The list includes pitcher Ian Kennedy, outfielder Clint Frazier, pitcher Danny Duffy, pitcher Reyes Moronta, and outfielder Travis Jankowski. The 38-year-old Kennedy went 4-7 with 10 saves and a 5.36 ERA over 57 appearances for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season. This would be his second stint with the Rangers, as he had 16 saves and a 2.51 ERA over 31 appearances in 2021. Frazier is a former first-round draft pick, but hit just .216 over 19 games for the Chicago Cubs. Duffy made 12 starts for the Kansas City Royals and was a teammate with Rangers general manager Chris Young with the Royals in 2015. And Jankowski hit .164 with two RBIs and three stolen bases over 44 games with the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners in 2022.

NCAAM (Top 25) Friday Roundup

Jamal Mashburn Jr. had 24 points as 25th-ranked New Mexico got past Air Force, 81-73, at home on Friday night.