Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins longest Daytona 500 in history
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the Daytona 500 in double overtime and under caution Sunday night in the longest running of “The Great American Race.” The two overtimes pushed the 65th running of the race to a record 212 laps — 12 laps beyond the scheduled distance. Stenhouse’s win in a Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing was the third of his career. His only other victories came in 2017 — at Talladega and the summer race at Daytona. His race team is partially owned by former NBA player Brad Daugherty.
All-Star top picks: Lillard (reserves), Embiid (starters)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Damian Lillard was the first reserve taken by captain Giannis Antetokounmpo in Sunday’s All-Star Game draft, and Joel Embiid was the first starter taken by fellow captain LeBron James for the matchup. It was the sixth time captains chose their teams, but the first time that it was done just minutes before the All-Star Game. The draft took place just off the back of the court, with James and Antetokounmpo on one level of a stage and the other All-Stars who’ll be in the game seated behind them, waiting to hear when they’ll be picked.
Mac McClung, now the NBA dunk champ, wasn’t an unknown
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mac McClung was not exactly an unknown. Long before he won the dunk contest at NBA All-Star Saturday, he was a YouTube phenomenon. It’s impossible to add up all the views that videos of McClung had gotten, but it was in the hundreds of millions. Yet it all seems different now, after this 6-foot-2 boyish-looking guard from a small town in Virginia and with only two NBA games on his resume became the league’s dunk champion. McClung is on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and playing in the G League. He finally brought buzz back to an event that had been more criticized than celebrated over the last few years.
Rahm holds on to win at Riviera and return to No. 1 in world
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jon Rahm is back to No. 1 in the world and looking very much the part. He won the Genesis Invitational with a 69 in the final round at Riviera. That gives him a two-shot victory over Max Homa and a trophy presented by tournament host Tiger Woods. Woods played his first 72-hole tournament since the Masters last April. He shot 73 and tied for 45th. Rahm now has three wins in five starts this year on the PGA Tour. He has five wins in his last nine tournaments worldwide. He has made $9.4 million the last two months.
Love picks Miami; AP source says Heat also to sign Zeller
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kevin Love says has chosen to sign with the Miami Heat for the remainder of the season once he clears waivers. And a person with knowledge of the negotiations says the Heat also are finalizing plans to add another big man in free agent center Cody Zeller. That deal is expected to be completed before the team gathers in Miami to begin practice following the All-Star break. That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the Zeller contract has not been signed.
Tiger Woods gets some momentum with weekend 67 at Riviera
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The cheers sounded as though someone was making a charge at Riviera. It was just Tiger Woods. But he gave thousands something to yell about. Never mind that he lost ground to the lead and and was 12 behind Jon Rahm at the Genesis Invitational. Woods had a 67. That’s his lowest score on a Saturday since he won in Japan in the fall of 2019. The sample size is small because Woods played only three times last year while recovering form his car crash. But it was his fourth day walking, and his game only got better.
No. 1 South Carolina survives 64-57 in overtime at Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Zia Cooke scored five of her 24 points in overtime to help No. 1 South Carolina remain unbeaten with a 64-57 victory over Mississippi. The defending national champion Gamecocks got one of their biggest scares of the season before winning their 33rd straight game. The Rebels never trailed by more than six points in regulation and flirted with their first win over a No. 1 team in 46 years. Aliyah Boston added 13 points and 11 rebounds for South Carolina. Angel Baker led Ole Miss with 17 points.
AP source: Brittney Griner re-signs with Phoenix Mercury
Brittney Griner is headed back to the Phoenix Mercury. Griner, who was a free agent, re-signed with the Mercury on a one-year contract according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because no announcement has been made. The 32-year-old had said she would return to Phoenix in a social media post in December after she returned home from her 10-month ordeal in Russia. The 6-foot-9 center last played for the Mercury in 2021 and helped the team reach the WNBA Finals. She averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds that season.
The great Bill Russell remembered at NBA All-Star weekend
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — This was the first All-Star weekend since the death of 11-time champion, Hall of Fame player and Hall of Fame coach Bill Russell. He was not forgotten. The entire season has been a tribute to Russell, with all teams putting his No. 6 at midcourt and all players wearing it on their jerseys. And at Sunday’s Legends Brunch — one of the best events of All-Star weekend, not to mention one of the toughest tickets to secure — Russell was honored with remarks made from Boston All-Star Jaylen Brown, former on-court rivals Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hall of Famer Grant Hill.
Neymar leaves field injured in PSG’s match against Lille
PARIS (AP) — PSG forward Neymar was forced off the field on a stretcher after twisting his right ankle in a league match against Lille. Neymar picked up the injury at the start of the second half after the Brazil forward scored PSG’s second goal before the interval. PSG led 2-1 when Neymar got injured following contact with Lille’s Benjamin Andre. Neymar damaged the same ankle at the World Cup in Qatar. PSG coach Christophe Galtier said Neymar is undergoing tests “to know the extent” of the injury.
