Celtics end Pistons’ winning streak at a franchise record-tying 13 with 117-114 victory
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and the Boston Celtics ended Detroit’s winning streak at a franchise record-tying 13, outlasting Cade Cunningham and the Pistons 117-114 on Wednesday night. The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons squandered a chance to break the record they share with the 1989-90 and 2003-04 championship teams. They are 15-3. Brown had 33 points and 10 rebounds, and White scored 11 of his 27 points in the final 4 1/2 minutes to help the Celtics overcome Cunningham’s 42-point night. With Detroit down 3, Cunningham was fouled near mid-court just as he was about to go up for a 3-pointer. Cunningham hit the first two, but missed the third. Payton Pritchard grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds left.
Blue Jays and free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease agree to $210 million, 7-year deal, AP source says
Free-agent pitcher Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $210 million, seven-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and had not been announced. Cease would join a terrific rotation with the reigning American League champions that also includes Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and José Berríos. The right-hander, who turns 30 next month, went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 32 starts last season for the San Diego Padres. He struck out 215 batters and walked 71 in 168 innings.
No. 1 Ohio State and Ryan Day desperately seeking victory against 15th-ranked Michigan in The Game
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Ryan Day needs to win The Game, perhaps more than anyone on the Big House turf. Defending champion and top-ranked Ohio State would not get knocked out of the College Football Playoff if they lose a fifth straight game to rival and 15th-ranked Michigan on Saturday. But another loss would would haunt Day for at least another year. Day is 1-4 against the Wolverines and his mark in one of the greatest rivalries in sports has been a blemish on what has been a remarkable career that includes winning about 90% of games over the last seven-plus seasons.
More flag-planting celebrations could be in store for college football’s rivalry week
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State could have a giant Seminoles flag on standby in the Swamp on Saturday. The Seminoles surely remember how last year’s game against Florida ended in Tallahassee: with the Gators planting their flag on the FSU logo at midfield. Payback could be on tap when the in-state rivals meet with little at stake for the second consecutive year. Defensive tackle Caleb Banks says “we can’t let nobody come in our house and do that, honestly.” Teams across the country surely feel the same after flag plantings wreaked havoc during rivalry week in 2024. Michigan and Ohio State players scuffled, and similar scenes played out in Arizona, Florida and North Carolina.
The era of supersized conferences can lead to supersized chaos. Just ask the wide-open ACC
Three months after it kicked off, college football’s regular season is heading to a frantic finish with little decided. Things are particularly messy in the Atlantic Coast Conference, where six teams remain in the mix to reach the league’s title game. Virginia and SMU have the inside track, but Miami, Pitt, Duke and Georgia Tech also have paths to the championship game. The ACC is hoping to have two schools earn bids to the 12-team College Football Playoff, though that may be difficult because of the league’s parity.
Erik Spoelstra had no idea why he was getting drenched in the locker room. His 800th win was why
MIAMI (AP) — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra celebrated his 800th career win after the team beat the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Cup game. The milestone caught him off guard as water bottles were dumped on him in the locker room. Spoelstra is the 17th coach in NBA history to reach 800 wins and only the third to do so with one team. This achievement comes weeks after he lost his home to a fire. Despite the setback, Spoelstra hasn’t missed work, and the Heat are performing well this season. Heat guard Tyler Herro praised Spoelstra’s accomplishment.
Under a cloud, the Olympic flame begins its journey to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — The Olympic flame began its journey Wednesday for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games after bad weather forced officials to move the traditional lighting from ancient Olympia to a nearby museum. With skies overcast, organizers relied on a backup flame sparked during a sunny rehearsal. Greek rower Petros Gaidatzis opened the torch relay, which will travel through Greece before a Dec. 4 handover to Italy. The flame will then start a 63-day, 12,000-kilometer route across all 110 Italian provinces ahead of the Feb. 6–22 Games, set to feature 116 medal events, ski mountaineering’s debut and the return of NHL players.
Colorado State hires Jim Mora away from UConn as it prepares for transition to Pac-12
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Jim Mora built UConn into a winning program. Now he will try to do the same at Colorado State. Colorado State announced Wednesday that it had hired Mora, who has led UConn to nine wins each of the last two seasons. Now the former Seattle Seahawks and UCLA coach is heading west again to help Colorado State adjust to its move to the Pac-12 next year. The 64-year-old Mora owns a 27-23 record in four seasons at UConn. The Huskies are 9-3 this season. Each of their three losses went to overtime.
Mbappé scores 4, PSG hits 5, Arsenal topples Bayern and teenage scorers shine in Champions League
It was a wild Champions League night with stellar teenage scorers. Kylian Mbappé also struck four including the second-fastest Champions League hat trick in Real Madrid’s 4-3 win at Olympiakos ever to show the old guys have still got it. Arsenal took Bayern Munich’s top spot in the standings with a 3-1 win. Title holder Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 5-3 win over Tottenham with Vitinha scoring a hat trick. Liverpool slumped again to a 4-1 loss against PSV Eindhoven. Two 17-year-old scored, Lennart Karl for Bayern and Copenhagen’s Viktor Dadason. So did 18-year-old Geovany Quenda for Sporting Lisbon.