Sports

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer Richard Pitino took less than a day after his firing from Minnesota to jump at the chance to coach New Mexico. And like their second-year coach, the 22nd-ranked Lobos are moving fast. New Mexico is one of three unbeaten teams left in Division I — the others being No.

By RIZWAN ALI AP Sports Writer KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — New Zealand fought back to limit Pakistan’s progress to 377-8 despite Agha Salman scoring a gritty half-century on the second day of the first test. Pakistan lost skipper Babar Azam in the day’s first over with no addition to his epic overnight score of 161.

By ERIK GARCÍA GUNDERSEN Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jusuf Nurkic scored 27 points, including a career-high five 3-pointers, to go with 14 rebounds and six assists as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 124-113. Jerami Grant led all scorers with 32 points for Portland. Damian Lillard had 17 points and nine

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts tried their third starting quarterback of the season Monday night. It didn’t make a difference. Indy’s struggling offense produced just one field goal and no third-down conversions. Nick Foles threw three interceptions and was sacked seven times. For the Colts, this kind of

SYDNEY (AP) — Favorable northerly winds have helped propel the four leading super maxis in the Sydney to Hobart race through the notorious Bass Strait and nearing the coastline of the island state of Tasmania still within sight of race record time. After 24 hours of racing, Andoo Comanche holds a lead of about 12

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