By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kyle Busch made it a weekend sweep at ISM Raceway in the Arizona desert. Just like he nearly did last week at Las Vegas. Busch tracked down Ryan Blaney over a long green-flag run before passing his Team Penske rival for the lead with ...

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid mouthed "I'm back" to a roaring 76ers crowd that had missed the popular big man. The Sixers will need him to stick around to get back among the NBA's elite. Embiid had 33 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in nearly a ...

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — For the first time in nearly two months, the Boston Bruins ran out of time. It tends to happen when the Bruins play in Pittsburgh, no matter how hot they are. Jared McCann scored twice, Matt Murray finished with 39 saves and the Penguins ...

By The Associated Press undefined OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Devin Booker scored 13 straight Phoenix points during a decisive fourth-quarter stretch and finished with 37, and the Suns snapped the NBA's longest active losing streak to one opponent at 18 games by beating the Golden State Warriors ...

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer The year was 2005. No one had an iPhone. No one had tweeted. Facebook wasn't part of the mainstream. And it was the last time the NBA playoffs didn't have LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers aren't mathematically eliminated from postseason consideration ...

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Leaving the clubhouse after his first exhibition game this year, St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina got a fist bump from third baseman Matt Carpenter. “It’s good to have you back,” said Carpenter, one All-Star to another. Molina went 1 for 2 as a designated hitter ...

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A look at the upcoming week around the Atlantic Coast Conference: GAME OF THE WEEKEND No. 4 Duke at No. 3 North Carolina. The rematch of the fierce rivalry is the final game of the league schedule, this time in Chapel Hill. The Tar ...

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — From the very first day LeBron James picked up a basketball, he wanted to be like Mike. James and his closest friends idolized Michael Jordan while they grew up together on Akron's competitive playgrounds and tough streets. As James grew ...

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Earlier this week, Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire left several of his top players out of the starting lineup. It was a rainy morning, but that wasn't the only reason. Gardenhire said some were dealing with aches and pains. "I talked ...

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Sullivan isn't looking for an explanation. The Pittsburgh Penguins coach isn't sure there is one that can adequately describe why his team dominates the Columbus Blue Jackets. "All I can tell you is, every game we play them is a ...

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, the star of the Miracle Mets 1969 World Series championship team, has been diagnosed with dementia at age 74. His family made the announcement Thursday through the Hall and said Seaver has retired from public ...

CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine scored 39 points and hit the go-ahead layup in the closing seconds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 108-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. LaVine scored 13 in the fourth quarter as the Bulls wiped out a 10-point deficit on their way to one ...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman left Wednesday’s 11-5 victory over the Miami Marlins because of back stiffness. Bregman walked in the first inning and was replaced after the second. He was playing his third spring training game following arthroscopic ...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Tremont Waters dribbled the length of the court for the tying basket with 3 seconds remaining in regulation and then hit a 3-pointer early in overtime, helping No. 10 LSU escape with a 79-78 victory at Florida on Wednesday night. The Gators had a chance to win it ...

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — DeMarcus Cousins lost his cool and the Golden State Warriors lost at home in embarrassing fashion once again. Gordon Hayward scored 30 points off the bench, Kyrie Irving had 19 points and 11 assists, and the Boston Celtics ran away ...

By The Associated Press undefined DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 28 points and No. 4 Duke held on to beat Wake Forest 71-70 on Tuesday night after Chaundee Brown's jumper rimmed out at the buzzer. Tre Jones added 13 points for a sluggish Duke team missing star freshman Zion ...

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and the players' union are near an agreement to expand active rosters by one to 26 starting in 2020 as part of a deal that would include a commitment to discuss larger economic issues after opening day this year. As ...

By BETH HARRIS AP Racing Writer ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Santa Anita has canceled racing indefinitely to re-examine its dirt surface after the deaths of 21 horses in the last two months. Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita, told The Associated ...

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — It took more than half an hour for Kansas coach Bill Self to address the media after the Jayhawks' loss to Oklahoma. He had plenty to address with his team first. Kristian Doolittle had 24 points and 11 rebounds to help the Sooners roll ...

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers are rolling toward a playoff berth, even after a thorough upheaval over the past two years. LeBron James and the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers weren't much of an obstacle when two teams going in opposite ...