Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis steps away from the NBA to focus on undisclosed health issue
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health due to an undisclosed matter. Porzingis did not reveal the nature of the issue in a message posted on his X account, and the 31-year-old didn’t make it clear as to whether he’ll resume playing. He wrote his body didn't not respond the way he anticipated while ramping up to return to play. The issue appears to date to last season when the Latvian missed significant time after being acquired by Golden State in a trade with Atlanta. The Warriors, however, fully anticipated Porzingis to be ready for this season after signing him to a two-year, $40 million contract in late June.
Patriots RB Henderson reveals he is in the hospital undergoing tests for neurological symptoms
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson revealed he has spent several days in the hospital undergoing tests to determine the cause of unexplained neurological symptoms that have affected his strength and coordination. While the tests results have been what he called “reassuring” in coming back positive, the cause of the medical condition remains unknown, Henderson said in a lengthy post on his Instagram account. The 24-year-old Henderson has not practiced since Oct. 29, when he was listed as having an illness, and was ruled out of playing in 24-19 win over Miami on Sunday.
NFL tells Brandon Aiyuk he owes the 49ers about $13 million, AP source says
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The NFL has told disgruntled receiver Brandon Aiyuk that he needs to repay the San Francisco 49ers about $13 million he previously received in bonuses as he tries to get reinstated to the team’s roster. A person with knowledge of the situation says the league sent Aiyuk and the NFL Players Association a letter Thursday saying that he owes the 49ers the money based on bonuses he was paid after signing a four-year, $120 million extension before the start of the 2024 season. Aiyuk and new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, met with the team Friday at the Niners' business offices.
LeBron James has a rough return to Cleveland with only his 10th regular-season single-digit game
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James got a warm reception from Northeast Ohio fans when he was the last of the Philadelphia 76ers’ starters introduced before Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. That was the only highlight for James, who scored in single digits for only the 10th time in 1,630 NBA regular-season games. James was held to eight points as the Cavaliers routed the 76ers 119-95 in an NBA Cup group stage game. The Cavs did not show a video tribute to James during the game, a surprising omission from recent years. And he heard some boos when he touched the ball.
Braylon Mullins scores 23 as No. 4 UConn beats No. 16 Michigan 85-77 in rematch of NCAA title game
BOSTON (AP) — Braylon Mullins scored 23 points and connected on 10 of 11 free throws to help No. 4 UConn beat No. 16 Michigan 85-77 in a rematch of last season’s NCAA championship game. Silas Demary Jr. finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. Colben Landrew added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Huskies at TD Garden, home to the Boston Celtics. In last season’s title game, the Wolverines held off UConn 69-63 despite making only two 3-pointers. This time, Michigan again struggled from beyond the arc, going 7 of 28 against a Huskies team that led by 18 in the first half. Trey McKenney led the Wolverines with 22 points.
Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown pleads guilty to reduced charge, sentenced to probation in 2025 shooting
MIAMI (AP) — Former NFL star Antonio Brown has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a firearm in connection with a 2025 shooting in Miami. Brown entered the plea to the reduced charge in state court in Miami on Friday. The All-Pro wide receiver avoids prison time after initially being charged with attempted murder. Police said Brown grabbed a handgun from a security staffer and fired two shots at a man he had been in a fistfight with earlier. Brown maintained he was defending himself from an attack as others were trying to steal jewelry from him. The 38-year-old spent 12 years in the NFL, most of it with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The road for LIV Golf players to return remains under construction
The final chapter of LIV Golf is liquidating assets in bankruptcy court. The future of LIV Golf players looking for a way back is just as complicated. So much depends on what goes on at PGA Tour headquarters. One order of business is the extended alliance with the European tour. The leading 10 players on the Race to Dubai get PGA Tour cards. The new alliance isn't likely to allow for that many. Also complicating matters is the new tour model in 2028 that doesn't have spots for past champions. The road back feels like it's under construction.
Miami is ranked No. 1, but still a touchdown underdog at No. 4 Notre Dame. And this is a rarity
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — If the No. 1 team in the country wins on Saturday night, some might call it an upset. A rarity awaits when No. 1 and unbeaten Miami visits No. 4 and once-beaten Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish opened as a 4.5-point favorite on many boards, and after the injury to star Miami receiver Malachi Toney the spread has grown to somewhere around seven points according to most sportsbooks. The most recent instance of a No. 1-ranked team being an underdog by at least seven points is believed to have come in 2014, when Mississippi State was a touchdown underdog to then-No. 4 Alabama
Two women's basketball players make hoops for the wrong team on a day of point-blank blunders
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Women's basketball players from New Mexico State and Northwestern State each sank layups on the wrong end of the floor on Friday. One came when Emma Christiano of the Aggies stole an inbounds pass and coasted in for the easy score — for Southern Utah. The other came when Northwestern State's Karma Wynn took a bounce pass and found herself wide-open under the basket. For good reason. That layup was part of Northwestern State's 89-59 loss to Arkansas.
TV ratings are down for the Cup Series, but NASCAR points to other factors that suggest growth
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — While acknowledging sagging television ratings for the Cup Series, NASCAR is trying to “create as many avenues as possible” to attract new fans. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell, speaking two days before the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, said the sanctioning body is turning to YouTube and social media influencers in hopes of growing the series beyond its southern roots and moving further into international markets. O’Donnell pointed to admission being up 5% across all races and attendance for kids 12 and up being up 12%. He blamed recent TV ratings on head-to-head matchups with college football and the NFL.
