Lakers’ trade for Hornets center Mark Williams rescinded after failed physical, AP source says
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers rescinded their trade to acquire Mark Williams from Charlotte after the center failed his physical, a person with knowledge of the circumstances tells The Associated Press. The deal was scrapped “due to failure to satisfy a condition of the trade,” the Lakers announced in a brief statement. The Lakers agreed to trade rookie Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish along with draft considerations on Wednesday night to get Williams, a third-year center. Los Angeles needed a big man to replace Anthony Davis, who was traded to Dallas along with Max Christie for Luka Doncic.
No. 6 Florida beats top-ranked Auburn 90-81 and ends the Tigers’ 14-game winning streak
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 19 points and Alex Condon added 17 as No. 6 Florida rallied from an early deficit and beat No. 1 Auburn 90-81 Saturday, ending the Tigers’ 14-game winning streak. Florida (20-3, 7-3 Southeastern Conference), down by 10 points early, built a 10-point advantage by the end of the first half and held off Auburn in the second half for its second victory over a top-ranked team this season. Florida beat then-No. 1 Tennessee 73-43 on Jan. 7. Tigers leading scorer Johni Broome had 18 points and 11 rebounds as Auburn (21-2, 9-1) had its nine-game conference winning streak halted.
Curry scores 34 points, Butler adds 25 in Golden State debut as Warriors rally to beat Bulls 132-111
CHICAGO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 34 points and tied a season high with eight 3-pointers, Jimmy Butler added 25 points in his Golden State debut and the Warriors rallied to beat the Chicago Bulls 132-111. Curry scored 24 and made five 3s in the third quarter as the Warriors went from trailing by 24 to leading by three. Butler, who played his first six seasons in Chicago, made a big impact in his first game since a trade-deadline deal from Miami following a messy split with the Heat. The six-time All-Star made 11 of 13 free throws and had four assists. Coby White led Chicago with 27 points and made six 3s.
Lakhin scores 22, Clemson defeats No. 2 Duke 77-71 to snap Blue Devils’ 16-game winning streak
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Viktor Lakhin scored 22 points, Clemson held player of the year candidate Cooper Flagg in check for most of the game and the Tigers defeated No. 2 Duke 77-71 to snap the Blue Devils’ 16-game winning streak. Chase Hunter scored 14 points and Ian Schieffelin added 12 points and 10 rebounds for Clemson. The Tigers ended the Blue Devils’ chances of an unbeaten regular season in the Atlantic Coast Conference and denied the Blue Devils an opportunity to take over the top ranking in the country for the first time in the coach Jon Scheyer era.
Anthony Davis leaves his Dallas debut with an injury after seismic Luka Doncic trade
DALLAS (AP) — Anthony Davis left in the third quarter with a lower-body injury and didn’t return in his debut with the Dallas Mavericks after the seismic trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis went down without contact and was grabbing his groin area in Dallas’ 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets. The 31-year-old says he felt tightness in his groin and quadriceps area. Part of the reasoning for not returning was the abdominal strain that kept him out recently. One of the many criticisms of the trade was Dallas giving up a 25-year-old superstar in his prime for Davis with his extensive injury history. Davis says the injury isn’t a long-term concern.
LeBron James will sit out the Lakers’ game against Indiana to rest his sore left ankle
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James is sitting out the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against Indiana on Saturday to rest his sore left ankle. The 40-year-old James has been outstanding in recent weeks for the Lakers, who have won four straight and 10 of 12 despite trading center Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic last weekend. Despite dealing with regular ankle pain, James hadn’t missed a game since Dec. 28 against Sacramento, and he has missed only four games this season. Doncic is also missing the game against Indiana while he finishes his recovery from a strained left calf.
Lindsey Vonn places 15th in downhill at ski worlds. She called it a ‘practice run for the Olympics’
SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Lindsey Vonn finished 15th in the downhill at the Alpine skiing world championships. She came 1.96 seconds behind U.S. teammate Breezy Johnson who took the gold medal. The 40-year-old Vonn recently returned to competition with a new titanium knee after nearly six years of retirement. It was an improvement for Vonn after she hooked a gate with her right arm early in her super-G run on Thursday and didn’t finish. Vonn also plans to enter the new team combined event on Tuesday. Her long-term goal remains being competitive at next year’s Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Thomas Detry shoots 65 to take 5-shot lead into the final round of the Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Thomas Detry shot a 6-under 65 on Saturday to take a five-shot lead into the final round of the Phoenix Open as he chases his first PGA Tour victory. Detry had a two-shot lead to start the round after a 64 on Friday and kept rolling with four birdies over his first five holes Saturday in ideal conditions at TPC Scottsdale. The two-time Belgian Olympian made a 19-foot par putt on the par-4 18th to finish at 18-under 195. Jordan Spieth — hunting his first tour win since 2022 — was among four players tied for second. He had a bogey-free 67, scrambling for par on 18. Rasmus Hojgaard, Daniel Berger and Michael Kim also were 13 under.