Injured Embiid sits out 38th game for 76ers. What does the future hold for the 2-time scoring champ?
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was ruled out of Monday's game against Chicago with an injured left knee. Embiid underwent testing on Monday and more exams were scheduled for this week. The oft-injured Embiid missed his 38th game of the season for the sagging Sixers, and all options from rest to surgery to playing through pain remain on the table, depending on the results of the testing and imaging. Coach Nick Nurse declined to say that Embiid has played his last game of the season.
Luka Doncic's new Lakers teammates say he's ready to face the Mavericks 3 weeks after the trade
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Just over three weeks after the trade that stunned the sports world, Luka Doncic and his Los Angeles Lakers will host the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. Doncic’s new teammates and coaches all believe he’ll be ready and eager for this quick showdown with the team that abruptly shipped him out of the city where he earned five All-NBA selections, where he led last season’s team to the NBA finals, and where he expected to spend the rest of his career. Doncic declined to speak to reporters Monday after the Lakers’ practice.
Cleveland Guardians owner Lawrence J. Dolan dies at 94
CLEVELAND (AP) — Lawrence J. Dolan, owner of Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team since 2000, has died at age 94. The Cleveland Guardians said in a statement Monday that Dolan died Sunday night of natural causes. Dolan, a Cleveland native, bought the team from Richard Jacobs in 2000 for $320 million. The Dolan family is the longest-tenured ownership group in Cleveland franchise history. The franchise was known as the Cleveland Indians before changing its name to the Guardians after the 2021 season. Over the past 24 seasons, Cleveland has won seven American League Central Division titles, made nine postseason appearances and advanced to the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs.
An unidentified team has proposed banning the tush push used so successfully by the Eagles
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — One NFL team is proposing an end to the tush push play the Philadelphia Eagles have used so successfully at the goal line and in short-yardage situations, including during their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. According to NFL Network and the Washington Post, league executive Troy Vincent said Monday that a team submitted a proposal to ban the play. Vincent didn't identify the team. The tush push is a modified quarterback sneak where two teammates behind Jalen Hurts push him forward to help him try to gain the yardage necessary for a first down or touchdown.
NFL scouting combine features plenty of debate over top players at multiple positions
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The hopes of many NFL teams will start taking shape this week as the league’s annual scouting combine begins in Indianapolis. As usual, there's plenty to debate. There doesn’t appear to be a clear-cut No. 1 overall pick or a top quarterback yet. Scouts are still trying to determine whether Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter would be more productive as a shutdown cornerback, a playmaking receiver or both. And with 329 players arriving starting Tuesday, teams will be looking to get answers to some of their biggest questions.
Broncos assistant coach Michael Wilhoite arrested after being accused of punching a police officer
DENVER (AP) — An assistant coach for the Denver Broncos is facing a felony assault charge after being accused of punching a police officer in the face at Denver International Airport. Outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault on a police officer and booked into the Denver jail on Sunday, according to jail records. A judge set a $5,000 bond on Monday.
Manaea is expected to miss start of Mets season with oblique strain. Madrigal has fractured shoulder
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets starter Sean Manaea is expected to begin the season on the injured list because of a right oblique strain. Manaea said Monday that he had been dealing with the issue since getting to spring training. He says it never got worse but never improved. The left-hander was the Mets’ top starter last season and then got a $75 million, three-year contract. He had an MRI over the weekend and won't throw for two to three weeks. Manager Carlos Mendoza also said infielder Nick Madrigal fractured his non-throwing shoulder in a spring training game Sunday.
Auburn atop AP Top 25 for 7th straight week; preseason No. 1 KU out, ending ranked run at 80 weeks
Auburn remained atop the AP Top 25 for the seventh straight week Monday while preseason No. 1 Kansas fell out of the men’s basketball poll for the first time since February 2021. That ended a streak of 80 consecutive ranked weeks for the Jayhawks. The Tigers were a unanimous No. 1 and were followed by Duke, Florida, Houston and Tennessee in the top five. Ole Miss fell out along with the Jayhawks. They were replaced by Saint Mary's at No. 23 and BYU at No. 25.
Texas is No. 1 in women's AP Top 25 for the first time in 21 years; NC State climbs into top 10
Texas moved up to No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball poll for the first time in 21 years after Notre Dame lost in overtime to N.C. State. The Longhorns are the third different school to hold the top spot in the past three weeks. UCLA, Notre Dame, USC and UConn round out the top five. Florida State and Louisville re-entered the Top 25 while Illinois and Georgia Tech fell out of the poll.
College sports put a twist on team spirit, with signature brews at games and grocers
MILWAUKEE (AP) — It wasn’t too long ago that many colleges weren’t even selling alcoholic beverages at sporting events on campus. Now, dozens upon dozens of them are partnering with local breweries to have their own officially licensed craft beers to sell at games and in local grocery stores, with schools or collectives getting part of the proceeds. Sponsorship and licensing company Learfield manages sports sponsorships for over 160 universities and licensing agreements for nearly 800 colleges. It says 93 of its schools had licensing deals for alcoholic beverages for the first six months of the current fiscal year.
