Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

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UPCOMING

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FBC--GAMEABOVE BOWL-PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: A preview of Northwestern vs. Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. 500 words.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 12:00 p.m. EST, Text

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BKN--CAVALIERS-KNICKS

DESCRIPTION: The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks in the opening game of the NBA’s Christmas schedule. 300 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 12:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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FBN--COWBOYS-COMMANDERS

DESCRIPTION: The Dallas Cowboys play the Washington Commanders in a meaningless game between two eliminated teams. Hardly what the NFL and Netflix envisioned when they picked these rivals for the Christmas Day spotlight. By David Ginsburg. 600 words. AP Photos.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 1:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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BKN--SPURS-THUNDER

DESCRIPTION: The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder host the up-and-coming San Antonio Spurs, who already have beaten the Thunder twice this month. By Cliff Brunt. 300 words, with photos. Game time 1:30 p.m. Central.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 2:30 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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FBC--RATE BOWL-PREVIEW

DESCRIPTION: Minnesota will arrive in the desert with an eight-game bowl winning streak, longest by a Big Ten school. Awaiting the Gophers at the Rate Bowl will be New Mexico, a team riding a six-game winning streak this season. By John Marshall. 550 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 4:00 p.m. EST, Text

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FBN--LIONS-VIKINGS

DESCRIPTION: The Detroit Lions play the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, with the Lions barely hanging on and the Vikings playing for pride. By Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell. 600 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 4:30 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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BKN--MAVERICKS-WARRIORS

DESCRIPTION: The Dallas Mavericks visit the Golden State Warriors. 150 words, more on merit.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 5:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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BKN--ROCKETS-LAKERS

DESCRIPTION: Former MVP Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets visit NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic, former MVP LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. By Beth Harris. 300 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 8:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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FBN--BRONCOS-CHIEFS

DESCRIPTION: KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Denver Broncos plays Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Dave Skretta. 700 words, photos. Game starts 7:15 p.m. CT.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 8:15 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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CRI--THE ASHES

DESCRIPTION: With the Ashes retained following three consecutive wins to open the five-test series, Australia plays for a sweep and England for pride when the fourth match begins Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 9:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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SAI--SYDNEY-HOBART

DESCRIPTION: The annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts Friday in Sydney Harbor, with yachts sailing down the south coast of New South Wales state and across the often treacherous Bass Strait to the island state of Tasmania.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 10:00 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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BKN--TIMBERWOLVES-NUGGETS

DESCRIPTION: The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Denver Nuggets. 150 words, more on merit.

UPCOMING: By 12/25/2025 10:30 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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FBC--HAWAII BOWL

Hawaii stuns Cal in 35-31 in Hawaii Bowl on backup QB Drew Weaver’s last-minute TD pass

SUMMARY: Backup quarterback Drew Weaver threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cenacle with 10 seconds left, and Hawaii rallied for a 35-31 victory over California in the Hawaii Bowl. Weaver entered the game after Micah Alejado took a hard hit on the previous play. With the Rainbow Warriors in range for a tying field goal, Cenacle got between two defensive backs and made the contested catch. Coach Timmy Chang led Hawaii to its first nine-win season since 2019. Alejado finished 32 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns, helping Hawaii rally from an early 21-0 deficit. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele finished with 343 yards passing for Cal.

WORDS: 575 - MOVED: 12/25/2025 12:47 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ffd31010c404291a726051c4a0febd43&mediaType=text

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BKN--NUGGETS-JOHNSON

Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson avoids major knee injury but will miss a few games, AP source says

SUMMARY: A person with knowledge of the medical tests tells The Associated Press that the Denver Nuggets have received positive news about forward Cameron Johnson. An MRI revealed Johnson has only a bone bruise on his right knee, not any ligament or structural damage. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce the results of Johnson’s MRI. Johnson was injured during the fourth quarter of Denver’s 131-130 loss at Dallas on Tuesday night. There’s no timetable for his return, but he’s expected to miss a few games. The Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas night.

WORDS: 136 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 11:49 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:29e2373d8d8f8ea4563d334bed90ca48&mediaType=text

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FBN--PRO PICKS-WEEK 17

Pro Picks: Bills will edge Eagles and 49ers will beat the Bears

SUMMARY: There are 10 teams in the playoffs. Eight more are battling for the final four spots. The playoff picture will become more clear in Week 17. The Eagles-Bills matchup is a potential Super Bowl preview. Texans-Chargers, Bears-49ers and Seahawks-Panthers could end up playing again in the playoffs. Pro Picks aims to continue a hot streak. We’re taking the Bills, Chargers, 49ers and Seahawks to win the marquee matchups.

WORDS: 1217 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 11:24 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:307e71634c0caa18d06cd000706d29d9&mediaType=text

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FBC--CFP-TV RATINGS

College Football Playoff ratings drop 7% as NFL competition impacts viewership

SUMMARY: The College Football Playoff’s first round averaged 9.9 million viewers across multiple networks, marking a 7% drop from last year. A key factor was the final game between James Madison and Oregon airing on TNT, TBS, and truTV instead of ABC and ESPN. It also faced competition from an NFL game. The Chicago Bears’ victory over the Green Bay Packers drew 21.3 million viewers, overshadowing Oregon’s win, which attracted 4.4 million. Alabama’s comeback victory over Oklahoma was the most-watched CFP game, averaging 14.9 million viewers. ESPN sublicenses some CFP games to other networks, impacting viewership.

WORDS: 434 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 9:08 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:793e0c26cad0c9b4f7918821b4be08fb&mediaType=text

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SOC--AFCON ROUNDUP

Ivory Coast starts Africa Cup title defense with a win as proud dad Zidane sees Algeria beat Sudan

SUMMARY: Ivory Coast has got its Africa Cup of Nations title defense off to a winning start and France great Zinedine Zidane has watched his goalkeeper son’s safe hands as Algeria also started its campaign with a win. Riyad Mahrez scored twice and the 20-year-old Ibrahim Maza scored his first international goal for Algeria to beat 10-man Sudan 3-0 to move top of Group E. Zidane was at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium to see his goalkeeper son Luca Zidane. Ivory Coast beat Mozambique 1-0. Burkina Faso scored two goals in stoppage time to beat 10-man Equatorial Guinea 2-1 in the early game. Five-time champion Cameroon beat Gabon 1-0.

WORDS: 658 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 5:13 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ec91a673289d593eadb79f2f960a7def&mediaType=text

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FBN--STEELERS-WATT

Steelers LB TJ Watt returns to practice two weeks after surgery to repair collapsed lung

SUMMARY: T.J. Watt has returned to practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks after surgery for a partially collapsed lung. Watt was a partial participant on Wednesday. Coach Mike Tomlin says he hopes Watt can play this weekend against the Cleveland Browns but his availability remains uncertain. Watt’s presence on the field is a positive sign for the Steelers, who aim to have him back for the playoffs if they qualify. Watt, recently named to his eighth Pro Bowl, has seven sacks this season. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says Watt’s presence on the practice field is good for the team.

WORDS: 210 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 3:55 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:debbfdd297a6ee7970edb752945ea467&mediaType=text

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BKN--SPURS CELEBRATE

Spurs celebrate big win over Thunder, but matchup with reigning champs not a rivalry yet

SUMMARY: The San Antonio Spurs are the hottest team in the NBA just a year removed from two of the worst seasons in franchise history. So players and fans can be excused for celebrating a win in December like it’s 1999 and their first NBA championship. San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 130-110 on Tuesday night, handing the Thunder their worst defeat of the season and their second loss to the Spurs in 11 days. It was the Spurs’ seventh straight victory, the league’s longest active streak. Just don’t call the matchup between the teams a rivalry yet.

WORDS: 835 - MOVED: 12/24/2025 3:37 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4d51179b629a30c7e35cee2f1c897a4b&mediaType=text

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