Sports

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Leylah Fernandez has opened her 2023 season with an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 win over 15-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova in the first round of the ASB Classic. Third-seeded Fernandez needed only 61 minutes to sweep by the Czech teenager, who entered the main draw on a wild card. Fernandez said expectations on

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Czech teenager Linda Noskova has produced one of the first shocks of the 2023 season, beating 8th-ranked Daria Kasatkina of Russia 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3 in the opening round of the Adelaide International. The 102-ranked 18-year-old came through a tough qualifying draw in which she beat world No. 58 Anna Kalinskaya

By MIKE CRANSTON Associated Press DENVER (AP) — The rim was bent, nobody seemed to know how to fix it and for 35 minutes Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets players struggled to stay warm in a bizarre scene that left Celtics star Jaylen Brown fuming. Boston’s Robert Williams III seemed to be the culprit, after

By DAVID GINSBURG Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens hadn’t allowed a touchdown for the entire game, yet still needed one more defensive stand to beat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and stay on course to win the AFC North. Forced to carry the load on a team with an offense that has struggled

By MIKE CRANSTON Associated Press DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, and the hot-shooting Denver Nuggets beat the Boston Celtics 123-111 in a matchup of NBA conference leaders that was delayed about 35 minutes because a powerful dunk bent one of the rims. Denver won for the 10th

By MARK MOSCHETTI Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Eeli Tolvanen scored his first goal in a Seattle uniform since coming over from Nashville, and the Kraken halted a three-game winless streak on Sunday night by beating the New York Islanders 4-1. Adam Larsson, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Brandon Tanev also scored for the Kraken. Goalie Martin

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tashaun Gipson intercepted Jarrett Stidham in overtime and returned it 56 yards, setting up Robbie Gould’s 23-yard field goal that gave the San Francisco 49ers a 37-34 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Niners won their ninth straight and remained in contention for the

By CLAY BAILEY Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant scored 35 points, Tyus Jones added 18 and the Memphis Grizzlies broke open a close game in the fourth quarter to defeat the Sacramento Kings 118-108. Dillon Brooks added 15 for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 14 and three blocks as the

By RICH ROVITO Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rui Hachimura had 26 points, Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 and the Washington Wizards defeated the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 118-95 for their season-best fifth consecutive victory. The scuffling Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out due to left knee soreness. Jrue Holiday also missed the game with

By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Erik Karlsson extended his point streak to a franchise-record 13 games, and the San Jose Sharks beat the lowly Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. Jonah Gadjovich, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Alexander Barabanov scored in the second period for San Jose, which had dropped three in a row and six

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — In his first NFL start, Jarrett Stidham threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns against the NFL’s top defense — and apologized to his teammates after the game. Stidham was named the Raiders’ starter Wednesday after nine-year veteran Derek Carr was benched. He did just about

SYDNEY (AP) — Taylor Fritz took advantage of a dominant serve to beat Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-4 and Madison Keys also won in straight sets as the United States moved past Germany to reach the City Finals at the United Cup mixed teams event in Sydney. Team USA will qualify from Group C to face

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Madison Hayes hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:11 remaining and No. 6 North Carolina State withstood a second-half rally to beat Syracuse 56-54. Georgia Woolley of Syracuse had a chance tie the game with five seconds to go, but converted just one of two free throws to cut the deficit to

By LUKE OLSON Associated Press SEATTLE, Wash. (AP) — Adem Bona scored 18 points, Jaime Jaquez Jr. added another 17, and No. 11 UCLA defeated Washington 74-49 to kick off the new year. It was the Bruins’ 10th straight victory. David Singleton added 14 points for the Bruins and Tyger Campbell had 15 points and

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — This isn’t how the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings hoped to perform as they get ready for the playoffs. Minnesota lost 41-17 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. The Vikings won the division title thanks to 11 victories in one-score games, but they

By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Jayden Taylor’s 24 points off of the bench led Butler to an 80-51 victory against Georgetown that snapped a three-game losing streak and handed the Hoyas their 24th consecutive loss in Big East play. Georgetown hasn’t won a conference game since beating Xavier 72-66 on March 2, 2021.  The

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — Geno Smith threw two first-half touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 133 yards and the Seattle Seahawks kept alive their postseason hopes with a 23-6 win that eliminated the New York Jets from playoff contention. Seattle snapped a three-game losing streak and ensured its Week 18