Sports

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal bowed his head during changeovers and rested his elbows on his knees, the very picture of resignation. What already was a poor start to 2023, following a year marred by all manner of health issues, reached a low point at the Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Andy Murray tries to back up his first-round victory over Matteo Berrettini by winning again and earning a trip to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time since 2017. The 35-year-old Murray is a three-time Grand Slam champion and a five-time runner-up at Melbourne Park. He played

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal bowed his head during changeovers and rested his elbows on his knees, the very picture of resignation. What already was a poor start to 2023, following a year marred by all manner of health issues, reached a low point at the Australian Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A clearly hurting Rafael Nadal lost his second-round match at the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday, abruptly ending his title defense and bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam trophy. It was not immediately clear what was bothering the 35-year-old

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 41 points and the Philadelphia 76ers recovered after blowing a 14-point, first-half lead to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-110 for their third straight win. Embiid had nine rebounds and made 15 of 18 free throws before leaving the game with 2:53

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Pro tennis player Jessica Pegula has Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on her mind — and his No. 3 jersey number on her outfit — at the Australian Open. Pegula, whose parents own the NFL’s Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, is wearing a white

MADISON, Wisc. (AP) — Steven Crowl scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Wisconsin held on to continue its Madison mastery over Penn State, beating the Nittany Lions 63-60. Chucky Hepburn scored 13 points for Wisconsin. Hepburn made two foul shots with seven seconds left to cap the scoring. Following a Penn State timeout,

By TOM KERTSCHER Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jrue Holiday scored a season-high 37 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Toronto Raptors 130-122. The Bucks, playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo for the fourth consecutive game, shot 19 for 39 from 3-point range. Fred Van Vleet led Toronto with 39 points, tying his season high. Gary

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 36 points as part of his 13th triple-double of the season to offset a 44-point performance from Damian Lillard, and the Denver Nuggets won their 14th straight home game by topping the Portland Trail Blazers 122-113. Jokic also had 12 rebounds and 10

By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Seth Jones scored two goals, including the game-winner 2:24 into overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Philipp Kurashev had a goal and two assists for Chicago, which was coming off an ugly 8-5 loss to Seattle. Connor Murphy

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Seattle Kraken 5-2 for their fourth consecutive victory. Connor McDavid, Derek Ryan, Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod also scored for the Oilers, who won for just the second time in their last eight home games. Jack Campbell

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Mallory Swanson scored twice and the U.S. women’s national team opened the year with a 4-0 victory over host New Zealand on Wednesday. After a scoreless first half, Swanson scored on a header off a cross from Trinity Rodman in the 52nd minute, and Alex Morgan added a second goal

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Tyree Appleby scored 24 points to help Wake Forest beat No. 19 Clemson 87-77 on Tuesday night. That ended the Tigers’ unexpected perfect start in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Demon Deacons won their fourth straight game and played from in front the entire way

By The Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr. scored 20 points apiece and New Mexico beat San Jose State 77-57. The Lobos are now 17-2 with the victory and the Spartans dropped to 12-7.

By The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ben Sheppard scored 23 points as Belmont beat Murray State 80-65 on Tuesday. Sheppard also added six rebounds for the Bruins (14-6, 7-2 Missouri Valley Conference). Drew Friberg shot 5 for 8, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc to add 14 points. Cade Tyson shot

By JACK MAGRUDER Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Nick Schmaltz and Nick Bjugstad scored on Arizona’s first two shootout attempts and the Coyotes beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Tuesday night to end a nine-game losing streak. Bjugstad, Travis Boyd and Dylan Guenther scored in regulation for the Coyotes. Lawson Crouse had three

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion as the reason he did not participate in pregame warmups when the team wore Pride-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow Pride tape. The 26-year-old Provorov did not skate with his teammates before Tuesday night’s

By ANDREW LOGUE Associated Press AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jaren Holmes scored 21 points and No. 12 Iowa State defeated No. 7 Texas 78-67 on Tuesday night. Holmes hit seven of 13 shots, including two 3-pointers, and Gabe Kalscheur added 16 points. “We earned this,” Holmes said. “We deserve this, because of our daily habits.”