Sports

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving can keep refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He just won’t play for the Brooklyn Nets until he does. The Nets announced Tuesday that Irving would not play or practice with them until he could be a full participant, ending the idea that

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Before last season, the New York Knicks had little expectations and no real star power. Julius Randle changed a lot in New York. He led the Knicks to a surprising playoff berth and turned himself into an All-Star who was rewarded over the summer with

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nick Watney was feeling like he was at the end of the road on the PGA Tour. He kept his card by using a one-time exemption as top 50 in career money. That was an easy decision. But he also asked tough questions about whether

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Dream has hired longtime WNBA player Tanisha Wright as its new head coach. The organization hopes she’ll bring some much-needed stability to a team that struggled under two interim coaches this past season and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018. The 37-year-old Wright played

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant couldn’t get the injury-weakened Brooklyn Nets past the Milwaukee Bucks in last season’s playoffs. But the way he played in the series — 49 points and a triple-double in Game 5, 48 points in Game 7 — and then in Tokyo while leading

By JOHN RABY AP Sports Writer Solid Big 12 defenses are making a comeback. In a league with a long history of high-scoring football games, several teams are making their marks on the other side of the ball. Kansas State, Oklahoma, Iowa State and Oklahoma State rank in the top 12 nationally in rushing defense.

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving won’t play for the Brooklyn Nets until he can play in all their games. The Nets announced Tuesday that Irving would not play or practice with them until he could be a full participant, ending the idea that he would play in only

MONTREAL (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens have signed center Nick Suzuki to an eight-year, $63 million contract extension. The deal will pay Suzuki an average annual salary of $7.875 million. Suzuki, 22, led the Canadiens in playoff scoring last season with 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 22 games to help the team reach

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — UEFA has invited bidders to host a 24-team European Championship in 2028. UEFA did not however rule out changing the dates and format of the tournament. It’s been looking at expanding the Euros again to include 32 of its 55 member nations. UEFA has set a

By The Associated Press The PGA Tour stays in Las Vegas for the second straight week and the second year in a row. The CJ Cup is typically held in South Korea. A year ago it was at Shadow Creek. Now it goes to The Summit Club, a private course. Collin Morikawa is a member.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An Australian own-goal kept Japan in the race for an automatic spot in next year’s World Cup. Australia defender Aziz Behich put the ball into his own net in the 85th minute to give Japan a 2-1 victory and six points from four matches in Group B. The Aussies are

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Athletes Unlimited is starting a basketball league this winter with 44 players, including WNBA guard Natasha Cloud. The season will be played in the same city running from Jan. 29 through Feb. 28. Players will earn points each week based on their team’s results as

By CIARÁN FAHEY AP Sports Writer BERLIN (AP) — Germany remains a work in progress under new coach Hansi Flick. There are signs he can turn it into a title contender at next year’s World Cup. Flick’s team became the first to qualify for the tournament in Qatar after a 4-0 win in North Macedonia

By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) — The NFL has selected the cities Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich to enter a final bidding stage to host a regular-season game in Germany. Next season is the target for Germany to host its first game though it could also debut in 2023 because of potential scheduling

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev beat Filip Krajinovic 6-2 7-6 (1) to reach the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open. Women’s top seed Karolina Plisova was upset by Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 7-5. Haddad Maia got into the main draw as a lucky loser. She lost in the final round