AP National Sports

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Austin Ekeler scored on two 1-yard runs and the Los Angeles Chargers clinched their first playoff berth since 2018, intercepting Indianapolis quarterback Nick Foles three times to beat the overmatched Colts 20-3. Justin Herbert threw for 235 yards and Cameron Dicker made two short field goals

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Max Strus scored 19 points, Kyle Lowry added 18 points and nine assists, and the Miami Heat got back to .500 by holding off the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-110. Orlando Robinson scored 15 points and Tyler Herro had 14 for the Heat, who were without Jimmy Butler

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Jaroslav Chmelar and Matous Mensik scored 33 seconds apart during a five-minute power play as the Czech Republic stunned Canada 5-2 in the opener for both countries at the world junior hockey championship. In other action on Monday, Attilio Biasca scored 41 seconds into overtime as Switzerland opened the tournament

By MARK GONZALES Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. scored a season-high 36 points and the Houston Rockets pulled away in the second half for a 133-118 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Rockets sank 50 of 90 shots to help snap a five-game losing streak. DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points to lead

By DAVID FOLSE II Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Naji Marshall scored a career-high 22 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans extended their winning streak to three games, beating the Indiana Pacers 113-93. CJ McCollum added 19 points for New Orleans, which was missing top

By DAVE HOGG Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Paul George scored 32 points and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 14-point deficit in the final 3:34 of regulation to beat the Detroit Pistons 142-131 in overtime. Terance Mann hit a tying jumper with 5 seconds left in regulation to cap a closing 16-2 run for

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant each scored 32 points and the Nets extended their winning streak to nine games with a 125-117 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nets withstood a sensational 46-point performance by Darius Garland, who single-handedly kept the Cavs close in the fourth.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James has been ejected from the Monday night game at Indianapolis after drawing two personal foul calls in three plays. The three-time Pro Bowler was called for a facemask penalty when Michael Pittman Jr.’s helmet came off following a 7-yard catch. Two plays later, James was called

MONCTON, New Brunswick (AP) — Attilio Biasca scored 41 seconds into overtime as Switzerland opened the world junior hockey championship with a 3-2 win over Finland. Lorenzo Canonica and Jeremy Jabola also scored for Switzerland. Jonas Taibel had two assists, while Kevin Pasche stopped 14 shots. Konsta Kapanen and Kalle Vaisanen scored for Finland. Aku

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Sonny Dykes says he thought about changing careers five years ago when he was finishing a season as an off-field offensive analyst at TCU after being fired at California. Instead, he’s coaching the 12-1 Horned Frogs this week in the CFP semifinal Fiesta Bowl

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal showed how to fight back on English soccer’s traditionally busy Boxing Day by beating West Ham 3-1 to stretch its lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points. Newcastle moved second with a 3-0 win at Leicester on Monday. That pushed defending champion Manchester City down to third.

By BOB TRIPI The Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Diego Pavia threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns, and New Mexico State held off a late rally by Bowling Green to win the Quick Lane Bowl 24-19. The Aggies were up 24-7 late in the third quarter, but the Falcons closed the gap in the

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have signed 35-year-old cornerback Josh Norman to the practice squad because starter Jaycee Horn’s status for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is up in the air. Horn broke his left wrist in Carolina’s 37-23 win over the Detroit Lions on

LONDON (AP) — Eddie Nketiah scored the final goal of the match on his first start for Arsenal this season as the Premier League leaders completed a 3-1 comeback win over West Ham. The hosts dominated possession in the first half but Said Benrahma’s spot kick for West Ham was the only goal at the

By ALANIS THAMES AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has returned to the NFL’s concussion protocol. Coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that Tagovailoa was experiencing concussion symptoms when he met with team doctors on Monday, a day after the Dolphins’ 26-20 loss to Green Bay. Teddy Bridgewater is expected

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer New York Jets coach Robert Saleh announced Mike White has been cleared by doctors and will start at quarterback on Sunday in Seattle. White missed the Jets’ past two games while dealing with broken ribs suffered in New York’s 20-12 loss at Buffalo on Dec. 11. He

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Browns Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett was benched for the start of Saturday’s loss to New Orleans by coach Kevin Stefanski for an unspecified team violation. Stefanski says Garrett was being disciplined but didn’t elaborate. Garrett has played much of the season with a shoulder

By MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press HAVANA (AP) — The United States will permit Major League Baseball players from Cuba to represent their home country in the World Baseball Classic next year. The decision announced Saturday in a news release by the Baseball Federation of Cuba (FCB) could be a big step in once again turning

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Liverpool has extended its winning streak in the Premier League by beating Aston Villa 3-1 to close the gap on the top four. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk struck in the first half at Villa Park before Stefan Bajcetic scored near the end of the second. Liverpool’s third straight victory