AP source: Machado, Padres agree to new $350M, 11-year deal
A person with knowledge of the deal says All-Star slugger Manny Machado has agreed to a new $350 million, 11-year contract that will keep him with the San Diego Padres through 2033. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Machado must pass a physical before the deal is finalized. The deal was first reported by ESPN. Machado had said that after this season, he planned to opt out of the $300 million, 10-year deal he signed in 2019. With the $120 million he already has received, the new deal increases the free-spending Padres’ commitment to Machado to $470 million over 15 years.
Conley’s pitch clock violation leaves Braves-Red Sox tied
Baseball’s new rules designed to improve pace of play are coming fast at everyone, particularly the players. The most dramatic moment of the new pitch clock era arrived on the first full day of spring games. Cal Conley of the Atlanta Braves thought he had won the game with a two-out, bases-loaded walk-off walk. He took a few steps toward first base with bat in hand when umpire John Libka indicated strike three. Conley wasn’t set in the box as the clock wound under eight seconds. The penalty is an automatic strike. Conley apparently thought he had been awarded ball four.
Beyond Kane, much uncertainty ahead of NHL trade deadline
A handful of big moves already have been made well ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Plenty more are expected before Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern. Patrick Kane going from Chicago to the New York Rangers is the most predictable deal on the docket. Aside from that, there’s plenty of uncertainty and additional big-name players who could change places. St. Louis wasn’t done wheeling and dealing after sending Vladimir Tarasenko to the Rangers and Ryan O’Reilly to Toronto. And San Jose’s Timo Meier and Arizona’s Jakob Chychrun are likely to be traded, with bidders lining up.
Tatum’s late 3 lifts Celtics past Embiid, 76ers 110-107
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jayson Tatum made the winning 3-pointer for Boston with 1.3 seconds left to lead the Boston Celtics to a 110-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid buried his desperation heave but it was just after time expired and did not count. Tatum finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points and Derrick White had 18 for the Celtics. Embiid finished with 41 points and 12 rebounds. James Harden scored 21 points and Tobias Harris had 16.
Antetokounmpo won’t play against Suns due to bruised quad
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t play in the Milwaukee Bucks’ game against the Phoenix Suns because of what the team is describing as a bruised right quadriceps. That means neither team will have its MVP available for the matchup. Kevin Durant remains out for Phoenix because of a sprained right medial collateral ligament and hasn’t played since Jan. 8, when he was still with the Brooklyn Nets. Antetokounmpo left the Bucks’ 128-99 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday in the first quarter after team officials said he knocked knees with an opposing player.
Miller leads No. 2 Alabama following pregame pat-down intro
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 24 points and Mark Sears made 7 of 8 free throws over the final 1:04 to help No. 2 Alabama secure an 86-83 victory over Arkansas. Miller delivered his second straight huge game for the Crimson Tide since police alleged in testimony that Miller brought a gun to former teammate Darius Miles, who is charged with capital murder in a fatal shooting. Arkansas freshman Nick Smith Jr. led the Razorbacks with 24 points.
Georgia loses game, and wins a FIBA World Cup berth anyway
Georgia lost, and then celebrated. Iceland won, and was devastated. One of the last Basketball World Cup spots went to Georgia on Sunday — even though it lost to Iceland 80-77 in the final Europe Region qualifying game for both teams. Iceland needed to win by four points or more to win a tiebreaker over Georgia for the World Cup berth. It came up one point short.
Arizona State stuns No. 7 Arizona 89-88 on Cambridge’s heave
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Desmond Cambridge Jr. hit a 60-foot shot at the buzzer and Arizona State rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat No. 7 Arizona 89-88. The Sun Devils went up 86-85 on Warren Washington’s layup with just a minute left, but Pelle Larsson put Arizona back up on a layup with 29 seconds left. Arizona State’s DJ Horne missed a jumper with 4 seconds left and the Sun Devils had a final shot after Oumar Ballo hit 1 of 2 free throws. Cambridge left the fans at McKale Center stunned, launching a shot from beyond half court that sent his teammates charging onto the floor in celebration.
No. 1 Houston tops East Carolina to claim outright AAC title
GREENVILLE. N.C. (AP) — Marcus Sasser scored 22 points to help top-ranked Houston beat East Carolina 76-57 and clinching outright possession of the American Athletic Conference regular-season title. Tramon Mark added 20 points for the Cougars. J’Wan Roberts had 17 points and 12 rebounds to help Houston win its ninth straight game. Sasser left the game briefly in the first half after rolling his right ankle. Ezra Ausar had 15 points to lead East Carolina. The Pirates made just 3 of 25 shots before halftime in their first visit from a No. 1-ranked team.
Westbrook goes from Lakers’ bench to being Clippers’ starter
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Russell Westbrook not only switched locker rooms at Crypto.com Arena. He went from being on the bench to a return to the starting lineup. Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue didn’t waste much time seeing how well Westbrook would mesh with his new team. The eight-time All-Star signed after he cleared waivers on Wednesday and was the starting point guard for Friday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Westbrook’s Clippers debut was overshadowed in what ended up being the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history. He had 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes during the Clippers’ 176-175 loss in double overtime.
