Irving to miss Nets’ game Saturday, day after trade request
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving will not play for the Brooklyn Nets against Washington. It comes a day after he told the team he would like to be traded. The Nets say Irving’s absence is due to right calf soreness and he has been added to the injury report for Saturday’s game. Irving asked the Nets for a trade on Friday, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press. The All-Star has been frustrated that the Nets have thus far refused to give him an extension on his contact that expires after this season.
Panthers offer Sarah Nurse deal to lead girls hockey program
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers are offering Canadian forward Sarah Nurse a job to run their new program designed to get more girls playing hockey. Nurse scored a highlight-reel goal against New York Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin during the NHL’s All-Star Skills Competition on Friday night. Panthers president Matthew Caldwell made the offer during an event on Saturday morning. Nurse played for Canada’s world-champion teams in 2021 and 2022 and with Canada’s Olympic gold winners at the Beijing Games last year.
Super Bowl-bound Eagles are built around QB Jalen Hurts
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles are trying to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history. They went 14-3 this season largely on the play of quarterback Jalen Hurts. He is a finalist for AP NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and tied a franchise record with 33 total touchdowns. Hurts is only 24 and could be rewarded with a new contract in the offseason. His only focus now is beating the Kansas City Chiefs next week in the Super Bowl.
Fight between Magic, Timberwolves leads to 5 players ejected
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A fight broke out and punches were thrown during the game between the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Five players were ejected following the brawl, which started in front of the Orlando bench late in the third quarter. Minnesota guard Austin Rivers and Magic center Mo Bamba were the initial players involved, and it spilled over to include several others on the court. Rivers, Jaden McDaniels and Taurean Prince were ejected from the Timberwolves. Jalen Suggs was tossed along with Bamba for Orlando.
US sweeps Uzbekistan, advances to group stage in Davis Cup
The United States swept its way into the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals, getting the winning point in a 4-0 victory over Uzbekistan from the doubles team of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek. They beat Sergey Fomin and Sanjar Fayziev 6-2, 6-4, after Tommy Paul and Mackenzie McDonald had won singles matches Friday in Tashkent. Serbia, France and Sweden were among the other winners in the 12 qualifiers being held this weekend. The winners advance to the group stage that will be held in September.
Sean Payton is officially named Broncos head coach
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos made it official in announcing Sean Payton as their new head coach. He will be formally introduced at team headquarters Monday. The Broncos and New Orleans Saints agreed on a compensation package for Payton this week and he has already been busy interviewing candidates for his coaching staff. Payton won a Super Bowl and posted a .631 winning percentage during his 15 seasons as head coach of the Saints. He replaces Nathaniel Hackett, who flopped so badly that he became just the fifth head coach in NFL history not to make it through his first season.
Kitayama leads Pebble Beach as the worst of the wind looms
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Kurt Kitayama has a one-shot lead at Pebble Beach and now comes the hard part. It’s not that Kitayama is going after his first win on the PGA Tour. The conditions figure to be the toughest over the weekend. The starting times for Saturday already have been moved up one hour because of high wind in the forecast. Kitayama has come close to winning. He battled Rory McIlroy in South Carolina and Jon Rahm in Mexico. Only four players from the top 10 at Pebble have won. But with the ever-changing weather, the next 36 holes could be wide open.
Route to Super Bowl dangerous for Mexico’s avocado haulers
SANTA ANA ZIROSTO, Mexico (AP) — It is a long and sometimes dangerous journey for truckers transporting the avocados destined for guacamole on tables and tailgates in the United States during the Super Bowl. It starts in villages like Santa Ana Zirosto, high in the misty, pine-clad mountains of the western Mexico state of Michoacan. The roads are plagued by drug cartels, common criminals, and extortion and kidnap gangs so state police provide escorts for the trucks brave enough to face the 40-mile (60-kilometer) trip to packing and shipping plants in the city of Uruapan. Drivers are often robbed of their avocados and their trucks.
Pedulla’s 22 points lift Virginia Tech past No. 6 Virginia
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Sean Pedulla scored 22 points to lead Virginia Tech to a 74-68 victory over No. 6 Virginia on Saturday. Pedulla hit 6 of 13 shots from the floor and made 8 of 9 from the free-throw line for the Hokies (14-10, 4-8 Atlantic Coast Conference). Virginia Tech never trailed in registering its biggest win of the season. Justin Mutts added 17 points. Jayden Gardner’s 20 points led Virginia (17-4, 9-3), which saw its seven-game winning streak snapped.
Al Ahly’s late goal ends Seattle debut 1-0 in Club World Cup
TANGIER, Morocco (AP) — Mohamed Afsha has scored on a deflected shot in the 88th minute and sent Al Ahly into the Club World Cup semifinals after beating the Seattle Sounders 1-0. Afsha scored after coming on as a substitute in the 63rd. He sent Al Ahly into the semifinals for the third straight year and brought an abrupt end to the first appearance by a team from the United States in the competition. Afsha’s rebound attempt deflected off defender Alex Roldan and bounded past goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Al Ahly will face Real Madrid in the semis. Seattle was the first team from Major League Soccer to appear in the tournament.
