U.S./World Sports category, Page 127
Kevin Durant says Suns have ‘all the pieces’Video
PHOENIX — Kevin Durant watched the Phoenix Suns from afar over the past few years, admiring the budding nucleus of Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Now he’s thrilled to be a part of it. “We’ve got all the pieces to be successful,” Durant said. The 13-time All-Star was...
Reports: Kevin Love discussing possible buyout from CavsVideo
CLEVELAND — Kevin Love’s long, winding run with the Cleveland Cavaliers could be ending after nearly nine years. The five-time All-Star forward has discussed the possibility of a contract buyout with the Cavs after being dropped from their rotation, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press on...
All-Star weekend arrives, as NBA heads to Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY — If so inclined, and if fellow captain LeBron James was to cooperate with his own selections, Giannis Antetokounmpo could pick Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Lauri Markkanen to play on his team Sunday night. Imagine that: an All-International All-Star starting lineup. It’s one of...
Bowman, Larson give Hendrick sweep of front row at DaytonaVideo
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Alex Bowman won his third career Daytona 500 pole and will be joined by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson on the front row for NASCAR’s season opener. The Hendrick dominance is no surprise. Bowman, who missed five races late last season because of a concussion, is...
NASCAR 75: Car evolution includes stock, wings, safety. Could EV be next?Video
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR’s next 75 years almost certainly will include at least a partially electric vehicle turning laps at Daytona International Speedway. It’s unfathomable to some, unconscionable to others. It’s unlikely the sanctioning body would make the transition without at least trying to keep the heart-pounding sound of...
Tiger Woods had a tough time at Riviera even when healthyVideo
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods made it through 16 holes of his pro-am Wednesday at the Genesis Invitational on a bitterly cold morning with occasional 25 mph gusts that made the temperature feel like the upper 30s. What mattered, at least for now, was how he finished. He didn’t play...
Sweden emerges as sudden front-runner to host 2030 Olympics
GENEVA — Sweden emerging as the front-runner in a troubled search for a 2030 Olympics host is as much a surprise in Stockholm as elsewhere. The year started with Sweden not on the radar of a Winter Games race where longtime favorite Sapporo faded during a criminal investigation of alleged...
New Mexico State fires coach in wake of hazing allegationsVideo
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico State fired basketball coach Greg Heiar on Tuesday in the wake of hazing allegations within the team that shut down the program for the rest of the season. Chancellor Dan Arvizu announced the firing of the first-year coach and said “hazing has no place...
NBA announces All-Star Saturday night participantsVideo
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is teaming up with his brothers again on All-Star Saturday. Portland’s Damian Lillard is taking a third shot at the 3-point title, Indiana’s Buddy Hield will aim to win that one again and Philadelphia’s Mac McClung now can be a slam-dunk champion at the NBA and high...
NASCAR preview: 75th season one of celebration & transition
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kevin Harvick is looking for the exit ramp as he enters his final season as a NASCAR driver, and seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is sliding back into stock cars. Harvick’s farewell tour will come nine years after his only Cup Series title and ahead of a...
Tiger Woods returns to golf with the same belief he can winVideo
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods feels good enough to play at Riviera, his first tournament with a cut and without a cart since the British Open last July. He already is looking ahead to the Masters. And, yes, he thinks he can win. “I would not have put myself out...
Tony Stewart to run full season in NHRA top alcohol dragster
NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart will return to full-time competition this season — as an NHRA drag racer. Stewart, a three-time NASCAR champion, will run a top alcohol dragster for McPhillips Racing for the full 2023 NHRA season. Stewart, who turns 52 in May, will be sponsored by longtime...
Alabama hoops No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 1st time in 20 years
Alabama is the new No. 1, rising to the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the first time in 20 years. Purdue’s loss to Northwestern last week caused a jumble at the top of the AP Top 25 and that helped the Crimson...
New Mexico State cancels season after sex, harassment allegationsVideo
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — New Mexico State called off the rest of its men’s basketball season Sunday after reviewing a police report that cited three players for false imprisonment, harassment and counts of criminal sexual contact against a teammate. In a statement, chancellor Dan Arvizu said “this action is clearly...
Scheffler repeats at Phoenix Open to regain No. 1 rankingVideo
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottie Scheffler successfully defended his WM Phoenix Open title Sunday at TPC Scottsdale to regain the No. 1 spot in the world. Scheffler closed with a 6-under-par 65 to beat Nick Taylor by two strokes in breezy conditions on the firm and fast Stadium Course. The 26-year-old...
Scottie Scheffler holds WM Phoenix Open lead in bid to repeat
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottie Scheffler held onto the lead Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open in a bid to defend his title and regain the No. 1 spot in the world. The second-ranked Scheffler shot a 3-under-par 68 in front of some 200,000 fans at TPC Scottsdale to get to...
Jill Biden not shy about her ‘Philly girl’ sports fandom
WASHINGTON — Jill Biden won’t let even a White House gala get between her and the Philadelphia Eagles. After a late night entertaining governors with President Joe Biden at a black-tie dinner on Saturday, the first lady was heading for the Super Bowl in Arizona on Sunday with hopes of...
Here’s how to legally bet on the Super Bowl
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Sports betting is now legal in two-thirds of the country, and more Americans than ever before have an opportunity to place a legal bet on Sunday’s Super Bowl. With sports betting ads blitzing the airwaves with come-ons and promotions, things might be a bit confusing, especially...
Siakam, Edwards, Fox added to NBA All-Star Game roster
NEW YORK — Toronto forward Pascal Siakam, Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards and Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox have been added to the player pool for the All-Star Game as injury replacements. Commissioner Adam Silver’s office announced the picks Friday, after they were first reported by ESPN. Siakam, Edwards and Fox replace...
GM: Hornets to rely on player development, not free agency
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets are projected to have approximately $40 million in salary cap space this coming offseason, but that doesn’t mean owner Michael Jordan’s club will be big players in free agency come July. Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said Charlotte’s focus moving forward will be on...
Taylor, Hadwin lead in Phoenix after frost delay, gusty windVideo
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Morning frost gave way to gusting wind Thursday in the WM Phoenix Open, leading to tricky scoring conditions at TPC Scottsdale. “I actually felt the best swing I made of the day was the par-3 seventh, and hit it 20 yards over the green,” top-ranked Rory McIlroy...
Move by Texas, Oklahoma from Big 12 to SEC bumped to 2024Video
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas and Oklahoma are heading to the SEC in 2024, a year earlier than originally planned, after Big 12 officials cleared the way Thursday for the storied programs to exit their league. Texas and Oklahoma will leave behind the $50 million each school would have received over...
NBA trade deadline sees Irving, Durant bolster West teamsVideo
First it was Kyrie Irving to Dallas. Then came Kevin Durant to Phoenix. The breakup in Brooklyn is rebuilding some contenders in the West. Trade deadline day in the NBA arrived Thursday with news of a blockbuster. The Nets had agreed overnight to deal Durant to the Suns for a...
AP source: Nets trading Kevin Durant to Suns; former OLSH, Pitt standout Cam Johnson heading to Brooklyn
NEW YORK — Kevin Durant’s time in Brooklyn ended early Thursday when the Nets agreed to trade him to the Phoenix Suns, a person with knowledge of the details said. The Suns will send OLSH grad Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and additional draft compensation to...
Analysis: LeBron James defies odds with no drop-off in sightVideo
LeBron James is 38 years old. He is in Season 20 of his NBA career. He is, by conventional basketball-playing standards, ancient. History says his decline should have started already. Except it hasn’t. Not even close. And count that as just another example of what sets James apart from so...
