Tatum scores All-Star record 55, Team Giannis wins 184-175
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jayson Tatum put on a record-setting show, and made Giannis Antetokounmpo look like a genius. Tatum scored an All-Star Game-record 55 points, and Team Giannis ended LeBron James’ hold on All-Star captain supremacy by beating Team LeBron 184-175 in the NBA’s annual showcase exhibition game Game on Sunday night. Tatum had 27 of his points in the third quarter, another All-Star Game record for any period. He was the first pick by Antetokounmpo in the starters’ portion of the All-Star draft, and in the end, that pick proved to absolutely be the right one.
Celtics stars Tatum and Brown put on quite an All-Star show
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Best record in the NBA. A team that won the Eastern Conference and went to the NBA Finals last season. A pair of All-Stars, including the MVP. And a coach who isn’t an interim coach anymore. The Boston Celtics have much to like about where they are right now. Jayson Tatum’s All-Star scoring records — 55 points in the game, 27 points in the third quarter, both numbers that have never been touched by any of the other 449 All-Stars in league history — were the big story coming out of Team Giannis’ 184-175 win over Team LeBron on Sunday night. So was Jaylen Brown with 35 points, and now, coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t Boston’s interim anymore.
AP source: Antetokounmpo going to New York for wrist exam
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo was scheduled to be in New York on Monday to undergo testing and get further evaluation on his injured right wrist, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday night because neither the Bucks nor Antetokounmpo released the plans publicly. Antetokounmpo injured his wrist Thursday in Chicago after attempting to block a shot. Antetokounmpo exited after only nine minutes and did not return. He had X-rays and Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said at the time they came back clean.
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.
Nations: No clarity on neutrality, no Olympics for Russia
The governments of more than 30 nations signed a letter calling on the IOC to clarify the definition of “neutrality” as it seeks a way to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes back into international sports and next year’s Paris Olympics. The letter said the countries do not agree Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed back into competition as long as the lack of clarity and concrete details on a workable neutrality model aren’t addressed. The United States, Britain, France, Canada and Germany were among those signing. Those five countries brought nearly one-fifth of all the athletes to the Tokyo Games in 2021. The letter was the product of a Feb. 10 summit in London.
Body of Ghana soccer player Atsu repatriated from Turkey
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — The body of Ghana soccer player Christian Atsu has been repatriated after he was found dead in his collapsed apartment building in the Turkey earthquake. Atsu’s remains arrived in the Ghanaian capital of Accra late Sunday and Ghana Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia led a government delegation to receive them. Bawumia says “this loss is a very painful one and this is a sad day for Ghana.” Atsu played for Premier League teams Chelsea and Newcastle before joining Turkish club Hatayspor last year. He also played more than 60 times for his country after making his debut in 2012.
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.
Yankees INF LeMahieu feels great after injury-marred season
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is feeling great as the former batting champion looks to put an injured-marred 2022 behind him. LeMahieu was limited to 125 regular-season games and sat out the postseason because of a right toe injury. He has been working out at the Yankees’ minor league complex since December. LeMahieu said missing the playoffs, where the Yankees were swept in a four-game AL Championship Series by the eventual World Series champion Houston Astros, was the worst feeling. The Yankees hold their first full-squad workout on Monday.
Blackhawks C Toews dealing with long COVID-19 symptoms
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews says he is dealing with symptoms of long COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. Toews hasn’t played since Jan. 28. The Blackhawks placed the 34-year-old center on injured reserve on Wednesday with what they said was a non-COVID-19-related illness. Toews missed the 2020-21 season with what he described as chronic immune response syndrome. He has spent his entire career with Chicago, winning three Stanley Cup titles. But he is eligible for free agency after this season.
