on Page 640 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Rockets are hot, Heat are not as opposites attract
The contrast is stark.,When the Miami Heat plays host to the Houston Rockets on Friday night, it will be a battle between two teams who have been headed in different directions over recent weeks.,Houston (45-25) is on a season-best eight-game win streak.,Miami (29-40) is on a nine-game losing streak...

Texans sign veteran CB Ronald Darby
Ronald Darby is staying in the AFC South, as the Houston Texans signed the former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback on Thursday.,ESPN and NFL Network reported earlier in the week that the Texans' agreement with Darby, 31, was for one year and $2.5 million.,Darby played in 13 games (12 starts) for the ...

Report: Lions adding veteran CB Rock Ya-Sin
The Detroit Lions are fortifying their depth at cornerback by agreeing to terms with veteran Rock Ya-Sin, according to NFL Network on Thursday.,Ya-Sin, 28, played primarily on special teams in his lone season with the San Francisco 49ers, totaling three tackles in 13 games in 2024.,The Lions already...

Houston dominates early, cruises past SIU Edwardsville
Milos Uzan scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half to help top-seeded Houston cruise to a 78-40 victory over SIU Edwardsville on Thursday in Midwest Region first-round play at Wichita, Kan.,L.J. Cryer scored all 15 of his points in the first half and Ja'Vier Francis had 13 points and eight rebo...

Magic keeping long-range faith with visit to Wizards ahead
The fading Orlando Magic will look for better shooting and a better result when they visit the Washington Wizards on Friday.,The Magic (32-38) currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference, one of four play-in tournament spots. But they are not there because of their long-distance shooting.,Orlando...

Wisconsin finds extra gear, pulls away from Montana 85-66
DENVER - John Blackwell scored 19 points, Steven Crowl added 18, and No. 3 seed Wisconsin used a strong second half to pull away from No. 13 Montana for an 85-66 victory in a first-round game in the East Region on Thursday.,John Tonje contributed 15 points, Xavier Amos finished with 11 and Nolan Win...

UNC's First Four win draws record TV ratings
While North Carolina's addition to the NCAA Tournament was deemed controversial, there is no denying the program's March pedigree and it was evident in record First Four television ratings on Tuesday.,According to Front Office Sports, North Carolina's 95-68 victory over San Diego State in an NCAA To...

Jamiya Neal, Creighton cruise past Louisville in South Region opener
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Jamiya Neal poured in a career-high 29 points to go with 12 rebounds and six assists to lead ninth-seeded Creighton past eighth-seeded Louisville, 89-75, on Thursday in a South Region first-round contest.,Steven Ashworth added 22 points and Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 14 for Creighton ...

Commanders sign WR Michael Gallup
The Washington Commanders signed wide receiver Michael Gallup to a contract on Thursday.,Terms of the deal were not disclosed for Gallup, who returns to the NFL after he retired last offseason.,Gallup, 29, was released from the Las Vegas Raiders' reserve/retired list earlier this month. He signed a ...

Blue Jays prez expects to extend Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s deal
Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro is confident the team will be able to keep star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the free-agent market when his current contract expires after this season.,"I think we're going to sign him. I think we're going to extend him," Shapiro told reporters on ...

Report: Lakers G Luka Doncic (ankle) out vs. Bucks
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will not play Thursday night against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks for injury maintenance, ESPN reported.,Doncic, who has been dealing with a sprained right ankle, played 32 minutes in Wednesday night's 120-108 win against the Denver Nuggets and tallied 31 points, ...

Patton Kizzire, Paul Waring WD from Valspar Championship
Patton Kizzire withdrew from play during the first round of the Valspar Championship on Thursday due to a back injury.,Starting on the back nine at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course), Kizzire recorded three bogeys over his first eight holes before opting to call it a day at the tournament in Palm...

Charlotte FC coach Dean Smith signs contract extension
Charlotte FC signed head coach Dean Smith to a new contract through the 2027 season on Thursday.,The 54-year-old Englishman is in his second season with the Major League Soccer franchise.,In 2024, Smith guided Charlotte to a franchise-record 51 points and its first-ever playoff victory.,"I've thorou...

Reports: WR Stefon Diggs visiting Patriots on Thursday
Free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs is visiting with the New England Patriots, multiple outlets reported.,Diggs, 31, had dinner with team staff on Wednesday night with plans for meetings and a physical on Thursday.,The medical exam will be critical as the four-time Pro Bowl wideout is coming back ...

Reports: Bill Chisholm buying Celtics for record $6.1B
A group led by Bill Chisholm reportedly has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family for $6.1 billion, a record for a North American sports franchise.,The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN and other outlets reported the pending deal Thursday that would top the 2023 sale of the...

Astros RHP Luis Garcia (elbow) facing another setback
The Houston Astros are shutting down right-hander Luis Garcia due to soreness in his surgically repaired elbow, manager Joe Espada said Thursday.,The former 15-game winner had been scheduled to throw live batting practice Thursday but will instead undergo further evaluation in his latest setback sin...
Ja’Marr Chase Breaks the Bank—and Redefines What WRs Are Worth
Ja’Marr Chase’s $161M deal resets the WR market as contract extensions continue to balloon around the entire NFL....
Pitino, Calipari, Self and Co. Make Providence the Epicenter of March Madness
March Madness heats up in Providence as coaching legends and underdogs collide. Pitino, Calipari, Self, and more take center stage....

Gael Monfils becomes second-oldest man to win match in Miami
Frenchman Gael Monfils became the second-oldest ATP player to win a match at the Miami Open by delivering a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in first-round play on Wednesday.,The 38-year-old Monfils had 15 aces among 38 winners.,The only older male to win in Miami is Hall of Fame...

Women's First Four roundup: Iowa State, Southern advance
Audi Crooks scored 27 points and Addy Brown contributed 22 for Iowa State, which rallied from a 15-point deficit in the second half to beat Princeton 68-63 on Wednesday in a Women's NCAA Tournament First Four game in South Bend, Ind.,The Cyclones (23-11) advance as a No. 11 seed to face No. 6 seed M...