Chris Driedger makes 37 saves in NHL return as Kraken hold off Flames 2-1

Making his first NHL start in nearly 20 months, Chris Driedger made 37 saves to backstop the Seattle Kraken to a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Kailer Yamamoto and Alex Wennberg scored for Seattle. The Kraken extended their points streak to seven games (5-0-2) and moved ahead of Calgary in the Pacific Division standings. Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary and Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves.

Kevin Fiala, Kings bounce back from slow start, deal Sharks their 6th straight loss

Adrian Kempe had two goals, Kevin Fiala scored after being benched in the first period and the Los Angeles Kings overcame a poor start and beat the San Jose Sharks 5-1. Trevor Lewis and Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for the Kings, who have won four of their last five games. David Rittich made 24 saves. Fabian Zetterlund scored and Kaapo Kahkonen allowed five goals on 43 shots as the Sharks lost their sixth straight game.

Owens, Presley help No. 22 Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 31-23 in Texas Bowl

Rashod Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Brennan Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in No. 22 Oklahoma State's 31-23 victory over Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night. Ollie Gordon II, the Doak Walker Award winner, added 118 yards rushing to finish the season with 2,062 yards of offense for Oklahoma State (10-4). Alan Bowman had 402 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Cowboys missed a 47-yard field goal with 17 seconds to go and the Aggies  (7-6) had another chance to score. But Marcel Reed's pass was intercepted near the end zone by Kendal Daniels on the last play of the game.

Daniels and Washington each score 17, California Baptist knocks off Chicago State 74-62

Led by Dominique Daniels Jr.'s 17 points, the California Baptist Lancers defeated the Chicago State Cougars 74-62 on Wednesday. The Lancers improved to 8-4 with the victory and the Cougars fell to 7-11.

Leason gets his first 2-goal game in NHL, Drysdale ends goal drought in Ducks' 5-2 win over Knights

Brett Leason scored twice for the first time in his NHL career, Jamie Drysdale put in his first goal in nearly 21 months and the Anaheim Ducks used a four-goal first period to propel them to a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Frank Vatrano and Troy Terry also had goals for Anaheim, which found the back of the net four times in the opening 12 minutes.  Mason McTavish had three assists, Cam Fowler had two and John Gibson stopped 30 shots. Alec Martinez and Mark Stone scored for the Golden Knights, who have dropped four straight. Logan Thompson made 21 saves.

Jack McBain scores in OT, Coyotes overcome 4-goal deficit to stun Avalanche 5-4

Jack McBain scored with 20 seconds left in overtime and the Arizona Coyotes overcame a four-goal deficit to beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 on Wednesday night. McBain scored on a scramble in front of the net to give Arizona its fifth victory in six games. With goalie Karel Vejmelka off for an extra attacker, Sean Durzi tied it at 4 with a wrist shot from between the circles with 2:07 remaining in regulation. Durzi also had three assists. Lawson Crouse, Michael Kesselring and Jason Zucker also scored for Arizona, and Vejmelka made 20 saves. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist for Colorado to extend his points streak to 19 games, one short of the franchise record set by Paul Stastny in 2006-07.

Connor Bedard scores 1st overtime goal, powers Blackhawks past Jets 2-1

Connor Bedard scored his second goal of the game at 2:15 of a frantic overtime, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Bedard, who leads NHL rookies in scoring, sent a wrist shot under the glove of Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck for the first OT goal of his career and his 15th of the season as Chicago earned just its second win in eight games. Morgan Barron scored in regulation for Winnipeg, which lost for the second time in 11 contests (8-1-2). Petr Mrazek made 37 saves for Chicago. Hellebuyck finished with 23 shots.

USC's Moss throws Holiday Bowl-record 6 TD passes in 42-28 victory over No. 16 Louisville

With Caleb Williams watching from the sideline, Miller Moss threw a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdown passes in his first college start and Southern California ended a frustrating season by beating No. 16 Louisville 42-28. Moss took full advantage of the opportunity he was given when Williams opted out. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive first overall pick in the NFL draft, watched from the sideline wearing a white T-shirt with his No. 13 jersey hanging around his neck. Moss was 23 of 33 for 372 yards, with one interception.

Wednesday's Scores

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=

LeVert scores 29 points, hits go-ahead 3 as Cavs rally in 4th to beat Mavs 113-110

Caris LeVert scored 29 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from 20 points down in the first half for a 113-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks went five minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter as a nine-point lead turned into a 111-105 deficit with 1:13 remaining. Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 23 rebounds as the Cavs improved to 3-1 in the four consecutive game Donovan Mitchell has missed with an illness. Luka Doncic scored 39 points to get to at least 30 for the 14th time in 15 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams lead Thunder past Knicks 129-120

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams each scored 36 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder held on to beat the New York Knicks 129-120. Chet Holmgren added 22 points for Oklahoma City, which beat Western Conference-leading Minnesota on Tuesday night and was playing its third back-to-back this season. Williams did most of his damage in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Julius Randle led New York with 25 points, including 10 free throws, and Jalen Brunson added 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting.

Aho has a goal, 3 assists to lead Hurricanes over Predators 5-2

Sebastian Aho scored a goal and assisted on three others to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. Andrei Svechnikov, Brent Burns and Seth Jarvis each had a goal and an assist and Jack Drury also scored for Carolina, which had lost two in a row. Pyotr Kochetkov made a season-high 35 saves. Ryan O'Reilly had a goal and an assist and Gustav Nyquist also scored a goal. Juuse Saros made 14 saves for Nashville, which has dropped three of four.

Joel Hofer makes 39 saves in Blues' 2-1 win over Stars

Jake Neighbours and Marco Scandella each scored and goalie Joel Hofer recorded 39 saves to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night following a three-day break in the NHL calendar. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Dallas. Hofer registered 37 saves in his previous start, a 4-1 win over the Panthers last Thursday. He improved to 7-5-0 this season. Dallas goalie Scott Wedgewood (9-2-2) took the loss after he had recorded a point in each of his previous 10 decisions with an 8-0-2 record. He made 28 saves. Scoring for the Stars was Jason Robertson.

Kirill Kaprizov scores in 4th straight game as Wild beat the Red Wings 6-3

Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno scored 52 seconds apart in the third period to break a tie and Minnesota Wild defeated the Detroit Red Wings 6-3. Kirill Kaprizov extended his goal-scoring streak to four games, Marcus Johansson scored twice and Matt Boldy added a goal for Minnesota, which has won four in a row and seven of eight. Filip Gustavsson made 25 saves. Patrick Kane scored for the fourth straight game and Alex DeBrincat and Daniel Sprong added goals as the Red Wings lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Kevin Durant has 18th career triple-double, Suns beat Rockets 129-113 to end losing streak

Kevin Durant had 27 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists for his 18th career triple-double, helping the Phoenix Suns beat the Houston Rockets 129-113 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak. Durant was 9 of 16 from the field and also had two steals and a block in Phoenix's first road victory since Nov. 26. The Suns improved to 15-15. Eric Gordon matched Durant with 27 points in his first game back in Houston since being traded in February. He scored 17 points in the Suns' 43-point second quarter en route to a 73-55 halftime lead. Devin Booker added 20 points, and Grayson Allen had 16. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 24 points. The Rockets are 15-14.

Wednesday's Scores

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=

Wednesday's Scores

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=

Shaylee Gonzales makes six 3s, leads No. 5 Texas past Jackson State 97-52

Shaylee Gonzales matched a career high with six 3-pointers while scoring a season-best 21 points, and No. 5 Texas beat Jackson State 97-52. The Longhorns played without star point guard Rori Harmon and leading scorer Taylor Jones. Harmon missed the game with an unspecified injury. She sat on the Longhorns' bench and walked with a limp. Freshman forward Madison Booker took over point guard duties, a role she usually performs as a backup. She finished with 16 points, a season-best nine assists and just one turnover in 32 minutes. Texas improved to 13-0.

Charlie Coyle scores twice as Bruins beat Sabres 4-1 to end 4-game skid

Charlie Coyle scored twice and Brad Marchand had two assists to lead the Boston Bruins to a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Mason Lohrei and Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins, who ended a four-game losing streak. Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves. Erik Johnson scored for the Sabres. Devon Levi made 21 saves. Special teams played a big role in the outcome as the Bruins scored on their first three power-play chances. Meanwhile, the Sabres went 0 for 6 with the man advantage.

Kris Letang becomes 1st NHL defenseman with 5 points in a period, Penguins bury Islanders 7-0

Kris Letang became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a period with five assists in the second for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 7-0 win over the New York Islanders. Letang had a total of six assists in the game while Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin each scored two goals. Tristan Jarry finished with 21 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. Rickard Rakell, Radim Zohorna and Valtteri Puustinen also scored for Pittsburgh and Marcus Pettersson picked up four assists in the first game back following a three-day NHL holiday break.

Drake Batherson scores twice, Senators rally to beat Maple Leafs 4-2

Drake Batherson scored twice and the Ottawa Senators overcame an early two-goal deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Wednesday night for their second straight victory. Parker Kelly and Brady Tkachuk also scored and Joonas Korpisalo made 34 saves to help Ottawa improve to 13-17-0. The Senators are 2-1-0 against the Maple Leafs this season. Matthew Knies and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for Toronto and Martin Jones stopped 26 shots. The Maple Leafs fell to 17-9-6.

Antetokounmpo, Middleton help Bucks pull away from short-handed Nets for 144-122 win

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Khris Middleton added 27 points and 10 assists, and the Milwaukee Bucks pulled away for a 144-122 victory over a Brooklyn Nets team that treated it like a preseason game. The Nets rested three starters and barely played two others on the night after a victory in Detroit that extended the Pistons' losing streak to 27, an NBA single-season record. Their rotation featuring a number of rookies and players on two-way contracts put up a good fight for three quarters before the Bucks put them away.

Timo Meier scores in OT, Devils beat Blue Jackets 4-3

Timo Meier scored on a breakaway at 2:12 of overtime to give the New Jersey Devils their second straight comeback victory, 4-3 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night. Luke Hughes tied it for New Jersey with 25 seconds left in regulation. With goalie Vitek Vanecek off for an extra attacker, Hughes beat goalie Elvis Merzlikins with a wrist shot. Yegor Chinakhov gave Columbus a 3-2 lead with 2:26 left, scoring after he poke-checked the puck away from Jonas Siegenthaler. Columbus has blown an NHL-worst 17 leads. Ondrej Palat and Dawson Mercer also scored for New Jersey, with Mercer tying it at 2 with 4:09 left in regulation. Vanecek made 26 saves. Justin Danforth and Jake Bean added goals for Columbus.

Reinhart has 2 goals, Bobrovsky makes 27 saves, Panthers beat Lightning 3-2

Sam Reinhart had two goals, Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves, and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Aaron Ekblad also scored for the Panthers, and Aleksander Barkov had three assists. Nikita Kucherov scored his 300th goal and Michael Eyssimont had the other Lightning goal. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots. Panthers coach Paul Maurice joined Scotty Bowman (2,141) and Barry Trotz (1,812) as the only NHL coaches to have coached 1,800 games. He is sixth in wins with 837.

Maxey, Harris, Melton help 76ers beat Magic 112-92 without Embiid

Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points and Tobias Harris and De'Anthony Melton added 22 each for the Philadelphia 76ers, who beat the Orlando Magic 112-92 while playing without reigning MVP Joel Embiid. Paul Reed had 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for the Sixers while starting at center for Embiid, the league's leading scorer who missed a second straight game with a sprained right ankle. Philadelphia has won nine of its past 11 games. Franz Wagner scored 24 points for the Magic, who were held to a season low in scoring and have lost five of seven.

Harbaugh, Michigan savor trip to Disneyland after wild journey to CFP Rose Bowl semifinal

Top-ranked Michigan has shown during its journey to the College Football Playoffs that whatever obstacles are put in its way, it ends up galvanizing the team. That included two suspensions to coach Jim Harbaugh that ended up being a total of six games. The unbeaten Wolverines face Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Monday. Even though Harbaugh's suspensions have ended, questions about his future at his alma mater remain. When asked if he would entertain offers from the NFL during the offseason, including one from the Los Angeles Chargers after they fired Brandon Staley on Dec. 14, Harbaugh deflected both questions and said his singular focus is on the upcoming game.

K'Andre Miller's 3 points lead Rangers to 5-1 rout of Capitals

added two assists. Anthony Mantha scored the Capitals' lone goal, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 shots.

Wednesday's Scores

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=

Lakers guard Gabe Vincent has arthroscopic knee surgery, will be out for at least 2 months

Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent will be out for at least two more months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Lakers announced that Vincent had the surgery Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated by team doctors in eight weeks. Vincent has appeared in only five games since signing with the Lakers in the offseason to be their backup point guard. He played in the Lakers' first four games, but then missed 23 straight with knee pain. He returned to play 14 minutes against Chicago on Dec. 20, but was quickly shut down again.

OG Anonuby, Pascal Siakam help Raptors snap road slide with 132-102 rout of Wizards

the second-worst 30-game start in franchise history.

Garrett Greene helps West Virginia beat North Carolina 30-10 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl

Garrett Greene threw for 204 yards and a touchdown, Beanie Bishop Jr. returned a punt 78 yards for a score and West Virginia closed a season in which it exceeded expectations with a 30-10 victory over North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Traylon Ray had a 75-yard touchdown reception on the first play from scrimmage for the Mountaineers, who won their final three games to finish 9-4 after being picked to finish last in the Big 12. Selected the game MVP, Greene completed 11 of 22 passes. Jahiem White ran for 50 yards and a touchdown for West Virginia. North Carolina played quarterback Drake Maye andreceiver Tez Walker, who opted out of the game to begin preparing for the NFL draft.

Beekman scores 17 and Virginia eases past shorthanded Morgan State 79-44

Reece Beekman had 17 points and seven assists as Virginia beat shorthanded Morgan State 79-44. Beekman had 11 points and five assists in the first half to help build a 43-16 lead. The Cavaliers opened on a 14-5 run as Morgan State went 2 of 9 from the field in the first seven minutes. The Bears finished the half making just 6 of 23 (26%) with nine turnovers. Virginia made 18 field goals, five coming from distance. Virginia led by at least 19 points the entire second half. Jacob Groves, Andrew Rohde and Leon Bond III each scored 10 points for Virginia (10-2). Ryan Dunn had 10 rebounds to go with eight points.

Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates headline 15 player finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

First-time candidates Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates joined nine returning finalists who advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2024. Peppers and Gates will be joined on the 15-player ballot by five-time finalist receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne. Seven other players returned as finalists with Patrick Willis, Andre Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson and Devin Hester all getting back to this step. Defensive backs Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison, running back Fred Taylor and offensive lineman Jahri Evans made it to this stage for the first time after previously being semifinalists.

Running back Zamir White makes strong impact for Raiders with Josh Jacobs out

Zamir White rushed for 145 yards for the Las Vegas Raiders in their 20-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. This kind of impact didn't seem possible as recently as two weeks ago, when White mostly watched from the sidelines as Josh Jacobs carried the load. But then Jacobs suffered a quadriceps injury Dec. 10 against the Minnesota Vikings. White went from a seldom-used running back whose future in Las Vegas was questionable to someone the Raiders might want to keep in the lineup even if and when Jacobs returns.

Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke limited with sore ankle following 29-10 win over Colts

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke was a surprise addition to the injury report following a 29-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Heinicke practiced but was listed as limited with an ankle injury that is not expected to threaten his status for Sunday's game at the Chicago Bears. Heinicke delivered an effective block on Colts cornerback JuJu Brents before being run over by running back Bijan Robinson. On another play, the quarterback crashed into the kicking net on the Atlanta sideline following a run.

Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert was once overlooked. Now, he's a huge part of Miami's offense

Raheem Mostert played for six teams over his first two seasons before landing with San Francisco in 2016 and sticking there. After six seasons with the 49ers, Mostert followed coach Mike McDaniel to the Miami Dolphins, where he has had the two most productive seasons of his career. He currently leads the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns, and his 1,012 rushing yards are the fourth-most in the league. The 31-year-old Mostert is doing it all at an age when most running backs' production has declined.

Rangers sign veteran reliever Castillo and 6 others to minor deals with spring invites

Veteran reliever Diego Castillo is among seven free agents who have signed minor league contracts with the Texas Rangers that include invitations to spring training with the World Series champions. The Rangers announced the signings Wednesday. They also signed two other right-handed pitchers, Gerardo Carrillo and Jesus Tinoco, along with catcher Andrew Knapp and outfielders Sandro Fabian, Elier Hernandez and Derek Hill. Castillo has a 24-18 record with 35 saves and 3.22 ERA over six big league seasons with Tampa Bay and Seattle. The right-hander, who turns 30 on Jan. 18, made only eight relief appearances for the Mariners last season.

The Bills' more balanced offense hasn't made Josh Allen any less dangerous

The added dimension of a running attack in Buffalo means the Bills don't have to lean on quarterback Josh Allen quite as much. But they can still count on Allen to deliver in the clutch, as he did when he rallied the Bills to a win over the Chargers last weekend. Allen's improved play has helped the Bills get back into playoff position. Buffalo still has a chance to win its fourth straight AFC East title.

Kareem Jackson returns 'home' to Houston, looking to put suspensions behind him

Kareem Jackson is back with the Houston Texans, a place the veteran safety calls home. Jackson was claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, reuniting him with the team where he spent his first nine seasons. Jackson has played just eight games this year in a season where he has been fined five times, ejected twice and suspended twice for a total of six games over a series of illegal hits. If he plays Sunday against the Titans it will be his first game since Nov. 19.

Man City inspired by world champion badge to rally for 3-1 win at Everton. Rare home win for Chelsea

Manchester City rallied from a first-half deficit to beat Everton 3-1 in the Premier League and climb back into the top four. Phil Foden started the comeback by equalizing in the 53rd minute, before Julian Alvarez's penalty and a late goal by Bernardo Silva secured the victory. Chelsea's last home game of the year ended in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace after substitute Noni Madueke converted a late penalty for the hosts. Brentford fell to a sixth loss in seven games after making a couple of defensive howlers in a 4-1 home defeat against Wolverhampton.

Herb Kohl, former US senator and owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, has died. He was 88

Herb Kohl, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, has died. He was 88. His death Wednesday was announced by Herb Kohl Philanthropies. The foundation did not give a cause but said he died after a brief illness. Kohl was a popular figure in Wisconsin. He purchased the Bucks to keep them from leaving town and spent generously from his fortune on civic and educational causes throughout the state. He also used his money to fund his Senate races, allowing to him to portray himself as "nobody's senator but yours."

Jorge Fossati hired as Peru's coach amid poor start to World Cup qualifying

Jorge Fossati has been hired as Peru's national soccer team coach. He replaces Juan Reynoso, who was fired two weeks ago amid a poor campaign in World Cup qualifying. Fossati, a 71-year-old Uruguayan, takes over Peru after a successful stint at Lima-based club Universitario, which won the Peruvian league title this season after a 9-year drought. Peru sits at the bottom of the 10-team round-robin competition for spots at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada with only two points after six matches.

Rookie QB Will Levis itching to play, help Titans finish season with wins

Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel knows rookie Will Levis will benefit from playing in the Titans' final two games this season if the quarterback's sprained left ankle allows. Watching one game after starting eight games was tough enough. Levis made clear Wednesday he's anxious to play and win some games so he can finish this season on a good note. The Titans visit the Houston Texans on Sunday. That's the same team that sacked Levis seven times in an overtime loss Dec. 17. The last sack bent Levis' left leg, aggravating the ankle injury the rookie has been playing through since mid-November.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson makes a pitch for Kirk Cousins' future in Minnesota

Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson says the world "definitely realizes" how valuable Kirk Cousins is to the team since Cousins' season-ending Achilles tendon injury. The Vikings have used three quarterbacks since Cousins got hurt, and their offense has been inconsistent. Cousins will be a free agent after the season. Jefferson says he appreciates everything Cousins has done for the team. He added that he doesn't feel like he needs to advocate for the organization to bring Cousins back, but that he will always put in a good word for Cousins. He says they "have a great connection."

Man City rallies for 3-1 win at Everton to get Premier League campaign back on track

Manchester City had to come from behind to beat Everton 3-1 and climb back into the Premier League's top four. Just back from winning its first Club World Cup title in Saudi Arabia, City went behind to former winger Jack Harrison's first-half goal but recovered after the break thanks to a well-taken strike by Phil Foden and a penalty by Julian Alvarez. Bernardo Silva added the third when he pounced on a poor clearance by Jordan Pickford to curl home into an empty net in the 86th. City was without Erling Haaland again because of a foot injury.

Brentford concedes farcical goal in 4-1 defeat to Wolves. Hwang Hee-chan scores twice

South Korea forward Hwang Hee-chan scored twice as Wolverhampton took full advantage of Brentford's defensive mistakes to secure a 4-1 win in the Premier League. Wolves followed up its win on Sunday over Chelsea by collecting another festive three points. After going 1-0 down, the second goal was farcical for the hosts as they played the ball back from their own kickoff toward Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Nathan Collins' back pass to the Dutchman was woefully under hit and, barely 10 seconds after the restart, Hwang had rounded him and tapped into an empty net.

Novak Djokovic hoping to play into his 40s like good friend Tom Brady

Novak Djokovic has already learned a lot from NFL great Tom Brady. And having seen Brady play well into his 40s, the 36-year-old Djokovic now hopes he can do the same. Djokovic holds the men's record of 24 Grand Slam titles but isn't showing any signs of slowing down, as he prepares to compete for a record 11th Australian Open title next month. And while Roger Federer has retired and Rafael Nadal missed nearly all of 2023 with injuries, Djokovic is hoping he has several more years left at the top. The Serbian star says he has "learned a lot" from Brady and that "hopefully I can have a career that goes up to 40 or maybe even beyond -- let's see."

Tennessee QB Joe Milton opts out of Citrus Bowl for NFL draft, leaving Nico Iamaleava to start

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton has opted out to prepare for the 2024 NFL draft and freshman Nico Iamaleava will make his first career start for the 25th-ranked Volunteers in Monday's Citrus Bowl against Iowa. Milton announced his decision Wednesday on social media. He started his career with three seasons at Michigan before transferring to Tennessee in the spring of 2021. Milton led the Vols to a win in the Orange Bowl a year ago and went 8-4 as a starter this season. He has been with Tennessee through its bowl preparation and will stick around. Coach Josh Heupel said the Vols are excited to play with Iamaleava.

Drones handles the rain, leads Virginia Tech to 41-20 win over No. 23 Tulane in the Military Bowl

Kyron Drones ran for 176 yards and a touchdown and also threw for two TDs as Virginia Tech withstood a second-half downpour to beat No. 23 Tulane 41-20 in the Military Bowl. Drones fumbled three times in the slippery conditions, but the Hokies only lost one of them. The sophomore quarterback passed for only 91 yards, but he and Bhayshul Tuten were tough to stop on the ground. Tulane was without star quarterback Michael Pratt. Both Kai Horton and Justin Ibieta played in his place, but Ibieta was carted off in the second quarter with an apparent leg injury.

Harrison with Buckeyes at Cotton, still no indication All-American WR will play against Missouri

Two-time AP All-America receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is with Ohio State as the seventh-ranked Buckeyes prepare for the Cotton Bowl. There still are no indications that he will play Friday night against Missouri. Harrison again Wednesday wasn't a full participant and didn't have his helmet with him during the portion of practice that was open to reporters. He also didn't take part in interview sessions afterward with other top offensive players. A day earlier, Harrison rode a stationary bicycle on the sideline while the rest of the team stretched and began practice. Buckeyes leading rusher TreVeyon Henderson said Wednesday that he will play in the game.

Jets sign kicker Seibert to the practice squad with Zuerlein questionable. OT Brown placed on IR

The New York Jets signed kicker Austin Seibert to the practice squad as insurance for Greg Zuerlein, who's questionable to play at Cleveland on Thursday night because of an injured right quadriceps. Zuerlein kicked a 54-yard field goal with 5 seconds left Sunday to lift the Jets over the Washington Commanders 30-28. Zuerlein was limited Wednesday in practice. This is Seibert's second stint with the Jets this season after he filled in for an injured Zuerlein in New York's game at Dallas in Week 2. Offensive tackle Duane Brown was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a back issue.

Grand Canyon downs Bethesda 124-74 in front of a military-only audience at Luke Air Force Base

Led by Jovan Blacksher Jr.'s 20 points, the Grand Canyon Antelopes defeated the Bethesda (Calif.) Flames 124-74 on Wednesday. The Antelopes are now 11-1 on the season.

Veit Oswald's two goals help Germany surprise Finland 4-3 at world juniors; Canada, Czechia roll

Veit Oswald scored twice, including the eventual winner, as Germany held off Finland for a 4-3 upset at the world junior hockey championship. The German forward snapped the puck past goalie Niklas Kokko with 5:22 left in the second period and then he and his teammates hung on. In other games, Canada routed Latvia 10-0, Slovakia shut out the Swiss 3-0 and Czechia beat Norway 8-1.

Madueke's late penalty hands Chelsea 2-1 win over Crystal Palace for a rare home victory

Noni Madueke bailed out a misfiring Chelsea side with a late penalty to secure a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League for a rare home victory in 2023. Just as it looked like Chelsea's inefficiency up front would cost it again, Madueke was tripped by Eberechi Eze inside the area and stepped up to the spot himself to send goalkeeper Dean Henderson the wrong way in the 89th minute. Chelsea is provisionally in 10th place after 19 rounds, with Palace now just three points outside the relegation zone in 15th.

Barcelona says Alexia Putellas had 'successful' arthroscopic surgery on left knee

Barcelona says two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas has undergone arthroscopic surgery "to examine her left knee." Her club described the procedure at Hospital de Barcelona on Wednesday as "successful" while adding that Putellas is "unavailable for selection and her recovery will determine her return." Putellas was part of Spain's World Cup-winning squad earlier this year.

Houston's Stroud returns to practice with Texans but remains in concussion protocol

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, but the star rookie remains in the concussion protocol and his status for Sunday's game against Tennessee is uncertain. "He's in stage four of the concussion protocol, still has one more phase," coach DeMeco Ryans said. Stroud has missed the past two games after sustaining a concussion in a Dec. 10 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf after taking a hit with about 6½ minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Brock Glenn's path to starting for FSU in the Orange Bowl is most unconventional

opted out and is seeking a transfer.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto joins the Los Angeles Dodgers, vows to compete for championships alongside Ohtani

The Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their 12-year deal with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They've teamed the prized free-agent right-hander with Shohei Ohtani in their prolific winter spending spree. The 25-year-old Yamamoto was coveted by teams across the majors after he elected to leave the Orix Buffaloes this offseason. The big-budget Dodgers landed him with a mammoth deal after already acquiring Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow this month. Yamamoto has posted spectacular numbers in Japan's top league in recent years, winning three straight Most Valuable Player awards in the Nippon Pacific League.

Fantasy plays: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 17

It's championship week. If you're still playing, congrats, but this is no time to take your foot off the gas. Nailing your start/sit calls this week can be the difference between owning your group text for the next eight months or taking home a second-place finish.

Minnesota Twins agree to terms with right-handed reliever Josh Staumont on a 1-year deal

The Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Josh Staumont on a one-year contract, the team's first major league free agency move of the offseason. The 30-year-old Staumont pitched five seasons for the Kansas City Royals, saving eight games with a 4.01 ERA. The hard-throwing righty has 191 strikeouts in 168 1/3 innings. He had a 5.40 ERA in 21 games for Kansas City last season before landing on the injured list on June 7 and missing the rest of the season. He later underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.

Pro Picks: Browns will beat the Jets to clinch a playoff berth

The Cleveland Browns saw the best of Joe Flacco up close last season with the New York Jets. Now, the veteran quarterback can show the Jets what they've been missing since losing Aaron Rodgers. Flacco and the Browns can secure a playoff berth Thursday night with a victory over New York. The Super Bowl 47 MVP is 3-1 in four starts with 10 touchdown passes since the Browns signed him last month and made him their fourth starting QB of the season. The Jets have also used four QBs this season and will give Trevor Siemian his second straight start. It'll be a matchup of two of the NFL's best defenses. The Browns rank first in yards allowed and the Jets are third.

Jags QB Trevor Lawrence misses practice and insists he'll 'do anything' to play against Carolina

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was a spectator at practice because of a sprained right shoulder. He insists he will "do anything I can to be out there and play." But Lawrence acknowledged that this injury feels different from the others he's dealt with this season "'cause it's the throwing shoulder." He adds that it's "kind of hard to work around that." Lawrence sprained his AC joint while diving for a first down in the third quarter of Sunday's 30-12 loss at Tampa Bay. The Jaguars host Carolina on Sunday.

Man United set to enter a new Ratcliffe era with spotlight on January transfers and Ten Hag's future

Fans of Manchester United know 2024 will be anything but dull as the club tries once again to end a period of on-field decline that has lasted more than 10 years for the record 20-time English league champions. In a deal announced on Christmas Eve, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to buy a minority stake in United. The deal is worth around $1.6 billion. The Associated Press takes a look at the people involved and issues likely to be raised by the deal, including the future of United manager Erik ten Hag and January transfers.

49ers' Christian McCaffrey, Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb among best bets to score in Week 17 of NFL season

There are few surprises in the final installment of Best Bets, as most of the players herein have been fixtures throughout the season. It's time to stick with the players who have been there all season, as we near the end of the fantasy football year. These are my best bets to score in Week 17.

Ex-NHL defenseman Klee takes over as pro women's coach in Minnesota after Burggraf steps down

The newly established Professional Women's Hockey League has its first coaching change even before its first game. Former NHL defenseman Ken Klee is taking over in Minnesota after Charlie Burggraf stepped down. Burggraf didn't go into detail on his departure, saying only that he consulted with his family while reaching the decision to step away from coaching. The 52-year-old Klee played nine of his 14 NHL seasons with Washington and has plenty of coaching experience since finishing his pro career with Phoenix in 2009. He coached the U.S. women's national team to world championship titles in 2015 and '16, Minnesota opens its season on Jan. 3 at Boston.

Chiefs' Andy Reid and Travis Kelce hash things out after sideline outburst vs Raiders

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid says he has talked with Travis Kelce after the star tight end's sideline outburst in which he chucked his helmet toward the benches during a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas. Reid didn't elaborate on what was said during the conversation. Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast earlier Wednesday that he "reacted in a bad way" to the way the Kansas City offense continued to underperform. The Chiefs have lost three of their past four games to fall to 9-6, leaving them still in need of a win to clinch the AFC West. They play the Bengals on Sunday.

Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander suspended 1 game for actions during coin toss at Carolina

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been suspended by the team for Sunday night's must-win showdown against Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings. The decision stems from Alexander appointing himself a captain for the Packers' 33-30 Christmas Eve win at Carolina. But it wasn't limited to that incident. The Packers announced that Alexander was suspended one game for "conduct detrimental to the team."

Nuggets' Gordon needs 21 stitches after cuts to face and hand from dog bite, AP source says

A person with knowledge of the situation says Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon needed 21 stitches after suffering lacerations to his face and right hand while being bitten by a family dog on Christmas. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details haven't been released. The Nuggets announced in a statement the 28-year-old forward "is in good condition" but will remain away from the team as he recovers. Gordon is averaging 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the defending NBA champions. He had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 120-114 win over Golden State on Christmas.

Denver Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham

The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson for their game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Wilson will serve as a backup to Jarrett Stidham. Coach Sean Payton said he made the move because the offense needs a spark. Payton has been vocal about his displeasure over the team's offensive struggles and two weeks ago had a sideline blowup directed at Wilson. The Broncos could move on from Wilson in the offseason, but it would be costly as they'd have $85 million in dead cap money over the next two years.

Tommy DeVito is out as the Giants starting quarterback; Tyrod Taylor will face Rams

Rookie Tommy DeVito is out as the New York Giants starting quarterback and is being replaced by veteran Tyrod Taylor. Coach Brian Daboll announced the change Wednesday, saying Taylor provided a spark Monday in a loss in Philadelphia. The 34-year-old will make his fourth start of the season Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. An undrafted rookie free agent who grew up in New Jersey, DeVito started the past six games for the Giants (5-10) and led them on a three-game winning streak, getting them within striking distance of a playoff berth this month.

Notre Dame announces Mike Denbrock as new offensive coordinator

Mike Denbrock is back for a third coaching stint at Notre Dame, this time as offensive coordinator. The school announced Denbrock's hiring Wednesday. He spent the past two seasons as LSU offensive coordinator under former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. The Tigers led the country in offensive yards and points scored behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. Denbrock worked with current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman at Cincinnati.

Mark Cuban says the changing NBA landscape led to his sale of the Mavs to casino families

Mark Cuban sees a future of NBA ownership where the advantages will be in real estate. The high-profile billionaire says that's why he sold his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to a pair of families with strong ties to the hotel and casino industry. The NBA on Wednesday approved Cuban's sale of a controlling interest in the Mavericks to the Adelson and Dumont families, who run Las Vegas Sands Corp. They will spend roughly $3.5 billion for their share of the team. Patrick Dumont will serve as Mavericks governor. Cuban will be alternate governor with a 27% share of the team and retain control of basketball operations.

Brissett to start for the Commanders against the 49ers after Howell was pulled from the last 2 games

Jacoby Brissett is set to start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders on Sunday when they host the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers. Ron Rivera announced before practice Wednesday that the 31-year-old journeyman would be the starter. Sam Howell started the first 15 games of the season. He was pulled from each of the previous two. Washington has lost six in a row to fall to 4-11. The 49ers are 13 1/2-point favorites coming off their home loss to Baltimore. Brissett last started an NFL game Nov. 27, 2022, for Cleveland.

Japan forward Kaoru Mitoma is a major doubt for next month's Asian Cup due to ankle injury

Japan forward Kaoru Mitoma is a major doubt for next month's Asian Cup after sustaining an ankle injury with his English Premier League club Brighton. "Tomorrow we have more or less 10 injured players, maybe eight, but the other two players can't start the game," Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi says on the eve of his team's home match with Tottenham. "Mitoma is one of them. We've lost Kaoru for around six weeks." The Asian Cup in Qatar begins on Jan. 12 and four-time winner Japan has been drawn in Group D with Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam.

Injury blow for Tottenham as defender Cristian Romero ruled out for four or five weeks

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says defender Cristian Romero will be out of action for four or five weeks with a hamstring injury. The Argentina international sustained his injury during Saturday's 2-1 Premier League victory over Everton. On the eve of fourth-place Tottenham's Premier League game at Brighton on Thursday, Postecoglou told reporters, "Not so great with Romero. He had a scan the other day and has got a hamstring strain. We are looking at probably four or five weeks for him. Disappointing to lose him, for sure."

Sports on TV for Thursday, December 28

(All times Eastern)

Sports on TV for January 1 - 7

Adv30

Former Turkish club president released on bail after punching referee at top league game

Turkey's state-run news agency says the former president of a top division soccer team who was jailed for punching a referee has been released on bail. Faruk Koca resigned as president of MKE Ankaragucu after punching referee Halil Umut Meler. Koca attacked Meler after the final whistle of a 1-1 draw between Ankaragucu and Caykur Rizespor on Dec. 11. He is scheduled to stand trial on Jan. 9. The Turkish Football Federation suspended all league games for a week in response to the incident and imposed a permanent ban on Koca.

In its 75th year, the AP Top 25 men's basketball poll is still driving discussion across the sport

When it was introduced 75 years ago, the purpose of the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll was to foster discussion and debate. That has not changed. Whether the controversy is over which team a national panel of 63 voters installs at No. 1 each Monday, or whether certain teams should be included at all, the poll continues to produce talking points that have spilled from water coolers of yesterday to the social media of the modern age.

T'Vondre Sweat a dominant force on the Texas defensive line heading into CFP semi vs. Washington

Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat has been dominant for the Longhorns as they head into the College Football playoff. At 6-foot-4, 362 pounds, he anchors a defensive line that has held six of the last seven opponents under 100 yards rushing. And he's light on his feet. Both Sweat and fellow defensive tackle Byron Murphy have touchdown catches this season in goal-line offense situations. Moving Sweat off the ball will be a huge challenge for Washington when the teams meet in the Sugar Bowl in a playoff semifinal on New Year's Day.

A Greek police officer shot with a flare during an attack by sports fans has died in a hospital

Health authorities say a Greek riot police officer who was shot with a flare during fan violence in Athens three weeks ago has died in the hospital of his injuries. During the Dec. 7 clash, 31-year-old Giorgos Lyggeridis was shot in the thigh, suffering severe arterial damage. The event prompted a government crackdown on sports violence. An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged with firing the flare when a group of fans left a volleyball match to attack riot police stationed outside the arena. Organized soccer fan groups are believed to have been involved.

Morant has quickly gotten the Memphis Grizzlies rolling, and oozing optimism

Ja Morant is quickly re-establishing himself as one of the NBA's best players upon his return from a 25-game suspension and the Memphis Grizzlies are reaping the benefits. Morant has averaged 28.8 points through his first four games since returning from a ban that stemmed from his antics with guns on social media. The Grizzlies had gone 6-19 without the All-Star guard and have gone 4-0 since his return. Morant also was named Western Conference Player of the Week in just his first week back. Jenkins says "it's awesome" that Morant "got recognized for his stellar play," and "for the team's stellar play over the past week." Memphis still has 53 games left to climb back into the playoff picture.

Dean Elgar's 140 not out puts South Africa in control of first test against India

Opener Dean Elgar's 140 not out put South Africa in control of the first test against India before bad light halted play on the second day. Elgar helped South Africa reach 256-5 in 66 overs at stumps Wednesday in reply to India's first innings of 245 all out. The hosts are ahead by 11 runs. Jasprit Bumrah took 2-48 for India, while fellow pacer Mohammed Siraj picked up 2-63. India had resumed on 208-8 and Lokesh Rahul scored his eighth test hundred in the morning session.

Amari Cooper's record-setting day highlights a milestone week for NFL wide receivers

Several wide receivers had milestone performances this past week, but no one could do what Amari Cooper did for the Cleveland Browns. Cooper caught 11 passes for a franchise-record 265 yards and two TDs in a 36-22 win over the Houston Texans to become the fourth player ever with at least three games with 200 yards receiving and two TDs. Cooper joined Don Hutson, who did it four times, as well as Charley Hennigan and Tyreek Hill, who each did it three times. Among the other receivers with milestone performances last week were Mike Evans, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Puka Nacua.

Eight seconds on a bucking beast: Here are some of the basics in the sport of bull riding

It's been called the most dangerous eight seconds in sports. Bull riding has a rich and often violent history that is reminiscent of a bygone era when cowboys sought to tame the Wild West. But it's not a uniquely American sport: Bull riding has its roots in Mexico and is popular in Brazil and Australia, too. The top league in the world is Professional Bull Riders, known as PBR. In competition, riders must stay on the bucking bulls for eight seconds to earn a score. A panel of judges scores both rider and bull. The Unleash the Beast tour is PBR's top level.

Teenager Najiah Knight wants to be the first woman at bull riding's top level. It's an uphill dream

Najiah Knight is a 17-year-old bull rider with a big dream. She wants to be the first woman to compete at the top level of the Professional Bull Riders tour. She's garnered attention in bull riding circles for years. She's eligible for the top tour at 18, but the competition is fierce and the sport dangerous. Najiah insists her dream is achievable. She was the only woman to qualify in her age group for the Junior World Finals this month. She fell off in her two attempts but chalks it up as the latest step in her journey. Fellow riders and league officials say she has the passion needed but an uphill climb ahead. Her family says she's fearless and has always wanted to be the first woman at the top.

Jonnie Jonckowski went from dashed Olympic hopes to a bull-riding pioneer

Jonnie Jonckowski is a Hall of Fame, two-time champion bull-riding pioneer. She began as a hurdler from a Division III school in Montana with a real shot at the big time. Jonckowski made the 1976 U.S. Olympic Trials and had high hopes of making the Olympic Games in Montreal. But Jonckowski clipped a hurdle in a qualifying heat and injured her back. Years of working to make the Olympics were gone just like that, and so was her track and field career. She transitioned to bull riding and left a legacy for women in that sport.

Teenager Najiah Knight wants to be the first woman at bull riding's top level. It's an uphill dream

Najiah Knight is a 17-year-old bull rider with a big dream. She wants to be the first woman to compete at the top level of the Professional Bull Riders tour. She's garnered attention in bull riding circles for years. She's eligible for the top tour at 18, but the competition is fierce and the sport dangerous. Najiah insists her dream is achievable. She was the only woman to qualify in her age group for the Junior World Finals this month. She fell off in her two attempts but chalks it up as the latest step in her journey. Fellow riders and league officials say she has the passion needed but an uphill climb ahead. Her family says she's fearless and has always wanted to be the first woman at the top.

New Orleans hosts Utah on 3-game home skid

New Orleans comes into a matchup with Utah after losing three straight home games. Thursday's game is the third meeting of the season between the two teams. The Jazz won the previous matchup 114-112. New Orleans is 11-12 against the Western Conference, and Utah is 9-14 against conference opponents.