Bam! Heat's Adebayo scores 83 points, 2nd only to Wilt Chamberlain in NBA history
MIAMI (AP) — It’s Wilt, then Bam. Bam Adebayo had a night for all time on Tuesday, with a point total second to only Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books. Adebayo scored 83 points, setting league marks for free throws made and attempted in a game for the Miami Heat in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. Adebayo started with a 31-point first quarter — and never stopped rolling. He was up to 43 at halftime, 62 by the end of the third quarter. And then came the fourth, when the milestones kept falling despite facing double-, triple- and what once appeared to be a quadruple-team from a Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line.
Ravens nix trade for Raiders' Maxx Crosby after star pass rusher fails his physical, AP source says
The blockbuster trade sending star pash rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens is off. And the fallout from that reversal could have a ripple effect throughout the NFL on the eve of the new league year. The Las Vegas Raiders said Tuesday night that Baltimore backed out of the trade that was supposed to send Crosby to the Ravens for two first-round draft picks. The deal was agreed to last Friday but couldn’t be finalized until Wednesday. A person with knowledge of Baltimore’s decision told The Associated Press that Crosby failed his physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those results are private.
Geno Smith returns to Jets as career comes full circle in trade with Las Vegas, AP source says
A person with knowledge of the deal says quarterback Geno Smith is returning to where his career started after the New York Jets acquired him in a trade with Las Vegas. The Raiders could have been in position to release Smith. They are expected to take Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the draft next month. Detroit reached an agreement on the second day of free agency to add running back Isiah Pacheco as a replacement for David Montgomery after the Lions traded Jahmyr Gibbs’ backup last week.
Lakers' Luka Doncic says he's separated from fiancée, in custody dispute over their 2 daughters
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lakers superstar Luka Doncic says he has separated from the mother of his two young daughters and is in a custody dispute. TMZ reported that Anamaria Goltes filed a petition for child support and attorneys’ fees in California. Doncic then released a statement saying he had recently ended his engagement to Goltes because he was unable to have his daughters with him in the U.S. during the season. The 27-year-old Doncic and Goltes had been dating for a decade after meeting as teenagers in Slovenia. They became engaged in July 2023, and their daughters were born in November 2023 and December 2025.
Cal Raleigh says there's no beef with Seattle teammate Randy Arozarena after WBC handshake snub
HOUSTON (AP) — Cal Raleigh insists he has no beef with Randy Arozarena even though his Seattle teammate lashed out with a vulgar rant after Raleigh left him hanging for a handshake at the World Baseball Classic. The kerfuffle went viral when Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder, cursed out Raleigh to a reporter after the Team USA catcher did not accept a handshake before an at-bat in the United States’ 5-3 win over Mexico. Speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, Arozarena said Raleigh “has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated.” Raleigh says he loves Arozarena, calling him his “brother.”
76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey sidelined at least 3 weeks with finger tendon injury
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey will by sidelined for at least three weeks because of a tendon injury on the small finger of his right hand. The team announced the injury Tuesday. Maxey injured his finger in Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks in a collision with teammate Adem Bona with 16 seconds remaining in the 76ers’ 126-116 loss. He is averaging 29.0 points and 6.7 assists for Philadelphia (34-30), which entered its game Tuesday against Memphis in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with four losses in the last five games. The 76ers said Maxey consulted with multiple hand specialists. He will be evaluated again in three weeks.
Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid win big in Champions League, Liverpool loses, Barcelona held
Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid took giant strides toward the Champions League quarterfinals with big wins in the first leg. Liverpool and Barcelona still have work to do. Bayern thrashed Atalanta 6-1 without top scorer Harry Kane in the starting lineup. And Atletico made under-pressure Tottenham coach Igor Tudor pay for his bold call to drop first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario by racing to a 3-0 lead inside 15 minutes. The Spanish giant eventually won 5-2. Liverpool needs to overturn a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in next week’s second leg at Anfield and Barcelona needed Lamine Yamal penalty with the last kick of the game to rescue a 1-1 draw at Newcastle.
WNBA and players' union meet as CBA deadline nears to get season started on time
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players’ union are meeting at a hotel to continue discussions on reaching a new collective bargaining agreement as a deadline to get the season started on time is at hand. The meeting Tuesday comes on the date the league has said at least a handshake agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement would need to be done to start the season as scheduled. The union leadership walked into the hotel shortly before 5 p.m. EDT. The group included executive council members Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner.
Olympians Liu and Gu travel very different paths, and China-US relations hang over their stories
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu have turned the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics into a debate about identity and loyalty for Chinese Americans. Both athletes grew up in California with Chinese roots and single parents. Gu competes for China. Liu competes for the United States. In China, many fans celebrate Gu as a symbol of China’s rise and its pull on global talent. Others question Gu's citizenship. Liu draws praise in China as a “free spirit.” In the U.S., some politicians attack Gu’s choice. One U.S. lawmaker even proposes punishing athletes who represent China.
The Players Championship as a major is an old topic at a time when the PGA Tour is looking ahead
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The PGA Tour is moving ahead with big changes. So it was odd for promoters to go back in time to push for the tired topic of The Players Championship being a major. The notion seemingly was put to rest some 20 years ago with a series of comments explaining that The Players performs like a major without being one. Perhaps one reason for this topic to be renewed is the private equity involved that are looking for a return on their investment. The PGA Tour doesn't own any of the four biggest events in golf. Those are the majors.
