Gilgeous-Alexander scores 30 points as the Thunder beat Doncic and the Lakers 121-92
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Los Angeles Lakers 121-92. Isaiah Joe added 21 points for the Thunder, who improved their league-best record to 12-1. Oklahoma City blew out one of its top Western Conference rivals for the second game. It beat the Golden State Warriors 126-102 on Tuesday night. Los Angeles guard Luka Doncic, averaging 37.1 points per game, was held to 19 points. The Lakers, missing LeBron James, shot just 40.3% from the field.
Curry’s 46 points leads Warriors to 125-120 victory over Spurs despite Wembanyama’s triple-double
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 46 points and the Golden State Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs 125-120, overcoming triple-doubles by Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. Jimmy Butler had 28 points and eight assists for Golden State, which had lost three of four. Moses Moody added 19 points. Wembanyama had 31 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth career triple-double. He had 38 points and 12 rebounds in a 121-117 victory at Chicago on Monday night. Wembanyama and Castle became the first Spurs teammates to record triple-doubles in the same game. Castle finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. San Antonio suffered its first home loss this season.
Jokic’s 55-point game pays off with rare win for Nuggets on one of his prolific scoring nights
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikola Jokic has led the Denver Nuggets to a 130-116 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 55 points to tie the highest-scoring performance in the NBA this season. The Nuggets had previously been winless in games where Jokic scored 50 or more points. This marks their sixth straight victory. Jokic has been on a historic run, becoming the first player in NBA history to average a 35-point triple-double while shooting 60% or better over a six-game stretch. Coach David Adelman praised Jokic’s preparation and performance, calling it unforgettable.
Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed indicted in Texas for failing to report an aggravated assault
DALLAS (AP) — Tennessee Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has been indicted in Texas on a misdemeanor charge for failing to report an aggravated assault. The incident allegedly occurred last year in suburban Dallas. A Dallas County grand jury indicted Sneed on Tuesday. The indictment relates to an alleged shooting on December 6, 2024, involving Sneed and another man, Tekonzae Williams. Williams faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Titans say they are aware of the legal matter and are in contact with NFL security. Sneed was placed on injured reserve last month with a quadricep injury.
Cowboys’ hearts heavy after the death of Marshawn Kneeland, coach Brian Schottenheimer says
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer says his heart and the hearts of his players are still heavy after the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. The coach says they continue to share, laugh and cry after the loss of their teammate. Schottenheimer held his first media availability Wednesday since Kneeland’s death during their bye last week. The Cowboys will resume practice Thursday. Police in Frisco said Kneeland was found dead early last Thursday of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Players were off Wednesday after two days with team meetings and breakout sessions with grief specialists. There was also a private memorial candlelight vigil Tuesday night.
Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown gets $25K bail and GPS monitor on Miami attempted murder charge
A Miami judge ordered that former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown will be released on $25,000 bail and must wear an ankle monitor. He has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree attempted murder charge in Florida. That carries a potential 15-year prison sentence and a fine up to $10,000 if he’s convicted. His lawyer said the 37-year-old Brown would return to his home Florida while the case proceeds. Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match on May 16 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. Brown’s lawyer says it was his own gun.
Cleveland Guardians’ pitcher Luis Ortiz pleads not guilty to taking bribes to aid gamblers
NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to charges he took bribes to help gamblers win bets placed on pitches he threw. His teammate, Guardians former closer Emmanuel Clase, has also been charged in the alleged scheme. Ortiz appeared Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court, Clase, the Guardian’s former closer, will be arraigned at the same courthouse Thursday. The two natives of the Dominican Republic have been on paid leave since July, when Major League Baseball began investigating what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched. Following the indictments, the league announced new limits on betting on individual pitches.
Clippers’ Bradley Beal out for the season with hip fracture, will have surgery
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal is out for the season due to a hip fracture. The team announced Wednesday that Beal will undergo surgery next week and is expected to recover in six to nine months. He got injured last Saturday against Phoenix, his former team. Beal, a three-time All-Star, played only six games this season. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard has an ankle and foot sprain with no timetable for return. He missed his fifth game of the season on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets. Leonard is receiving treatment and will travel with the team on its upcoming trip.
Jameis Winston to start at QB for the Giants in interim coach Mike Kafka’s first big decision
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — With Jaxson Dart in concussion protocol, Jameis Winston is the New York Giants’ starting quarterback for their game Sunday against Green Bay. It is interim coach Mike Kafka’s first big decision since taking over following the firing of Brian Daboll and auditioning for the full-time job by showing what he can do in the final games of this lost season. Kafka opted for Winston over former starter Russell Wilson, who had served as Dart’s backup since getting benched for the rookie after an 0-3 start. The Giants are 2-8.
‘Not fair at all.’ In the super-sized conference era, a school’s fate could hinge on tiebreakers
PITTSBURGH (AP) — There is growing concern among college football coaches about spots in the Power Four conference title games coming down to tiebreakers instead of play on the field. That concern is highest in the ACC, where seven teams have two conference losses or less with three weeks to go in the regular season. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi prefers the old divisional play system, which he feels was fairer. Duke coach Manny Diaz says the heightened impact of tiebreakers is one of the “unintended consequences” of massive conference expansion that makes it impossible for every team to play each other.
Jannik Sinner seals semifinal spot at ATP Finals with win over Alexander Zverev
TURIN, Italy (AP) — Defending champion Jannik Sinner sealed a semifinal spot at the ATP Finals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev before his home fans. Sinner extended his winning streak on indoor hard courts to 28 matches stretching back to his loss to Novak Djokovic in the final of this event two years ago. It was Sinner’s fifth straight victory over Zverev. The second-ranked Sinner still has a chance to finish the year at No. 1. But he needs to win the tournament and hope that Carlos Alcaraz doesn’t win another match. Felix Auger-Aliassime claimed his first win at this year’s finals by battling back to beat Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5.
NCAA puts Michigan State football on 3 years of probation for recruiting violations under Mel Tucker
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The NCAA put Michigan State’s football program on three years of probation and penalized the school $30,000 plus 1.5% of the team’s budget after agreeing former staff members Saeed Khalif and Brandon Jordan under coach Mel Tucker broke rules regarding recruiting inducements and benefits, communication and unofficial visit expenses. Michigan State announced Wednesday that it had reached a negotiated resolution with the NCAA. Due to the participation of three ineligible players, wins from the 2022 through 2024 seasons were vacated and restrictions have been placed on recruiting for three years. The Spartans host Penn State on Saturday.