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.

For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, including agate, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.

The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636.

——————————

UPCOMING

——————————

___

BBO--PHILLIES-CASTELLANOS

DESCRIPTION: Deciding their relationship started to rupture when Nick Castellanos brought a beer into the dugout after he was pulled from a game, the Phillies decided to release him even though they owe $20 million for the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. 700 words, photos, by 3 p,m.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 3:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

BOX--MIKE TYSON

DESCRIPTION: Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson talks about a three-day amateur boxing event that he is backing. By Mark Anderson. 600 words, file photo.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 3:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

SOC--GERMAN ROUNDUP

DESCRIPTION: Borussia Dortmund hosts Mainz and can provisionally cutting the gap on Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to three points with its sixth consecutive win. But Mainz has won its last three.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 4:30 p.m. EST, Photo, Text

___

BBO--DODGERS-REPORT

DESCRIPTION: The two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers return to spring training, beginning their quest for a potential three-peat. Once again, the Dodgers were a big spender on the free agent market during the offseason, nabbing outfielder Kyle Tucker on a $240 million, four-year deal. By Baseball Writer David Brandt. 700 words, photos by 3 p.m. MST.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 5:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

BKN--NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

FORMATS: Photo, Text

1. WITH: BKN--NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

2. DESCRIPTION: Coverage of NBA All-Star Weekend, including the celebrity game, rising stars competition and the HBCU Classice

3. UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 5:00 p.m. EST

4. WITH: BKN--ALL-STARS-RISING STARS

5. DESCRIPTION: INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Stephon Castle, Kon Knueppel, Alex Sarr and V.J. Edgecombe are among the young talents who will kick off NBA All-Star weekend festivities in the Rising Stars game at Intuit Dome. By Greg Beacham. Starts 6 p.m. PST. 400 words, photos.

6. UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 5:00 p.m. EST

7. WITH: BKN--ALL-STAR-CELEBRITY GAME

8. DESCRIPTION: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts are among the coaches for the NBA All-Star celebrity game featuring actor Simu Liu, actor-writer Keegan-Michael Key, Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers and rapper GloRilla. By Beth Harris. 400 words, photos. Begins 7 p.m. ET.

9. UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 7:00 p.m. EST

10. WITH: BKN--ALL-STAR-HBCU CLASSIC

11. DESCRIPTION: Hampton and North Carolina A&T State face off in the NBA HBCU Classic at the Kia Forum as part of NBA All-Star festivities. By Beth Harris. 300 words. Begins 11 p.m. ET.

12. UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 11:00 p.m. EST

___

GLF--PEBBLE BEACH

DESCRIPTION: Ryo Hisatsune has a one-shot lead and Scottie Scheffler is 10 shots behind going into the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 700 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 02/13/2026 8:00 p.m. EST, Text

___

——————————

NEW AND DEVELOPING

——————————

CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA 500 PREVIEW

A battered car forces William Byron into a backup for his Daytona 500 three-peat bid

SUMMARY: William Byron chases an unprecedented third straight Daytona 500 win Sunday when he attempts to make NASCAR history. He’ll be trying to win NASCAR’s season opener for the third consecutive year in a backup car after he damaged his primary in a qualifying race. He starts near the back in 39th, but he says that does not scare him. Byron has won here with a backup before. He has also won by staying patient and avoiding trouble, not by leading lots of laps. The field also has big storylines. Kyle Busch starts on the pole while stuck in a long winless skid and Brad Keselowski races while recovering from a broken leg.

WORDS: 1644 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 1:39 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:33d6afed97867c1384306d2d8b7de881&mediaType=text

___

GLF--PEBBLE-NO SWIFT

Taylor Swift rumors spiked ticket sales for Pebble Beach golf tournament

SUMMARY: Travis Kelce is playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am, and there was a spike on ticket sales. They weren’t for him. Rumors have been swirling this week that Taylor Swift would be there watching her fiancé play in the second round at America’s most famous coastal golf course. Alas, she wasn’t there. Swifties had to settle for watching the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. Tournament director Steve John says $60,000 in tickets were sold in 12 hours after announcing Kelce was in the field. And then $21,000 in tickets were sold in the 12 hours leading to Friday’s round.

WORDS: 383 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 1:20 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0abef6608cd137c1ec73fe41c12f98d5&mediaType=text

___

OLY--MILAN CORTINA-ROUNDUP

Norwegian cross-country skiing star Klaebo ties Olympic record by winning eighth career gold medal

SUMMARY: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway has made history at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The cross-country skiing star surged to victory in the 10-kilometer interval start race, giving him a record-tying eight career gold medals at the Winter Games. Klaebo could soon have the all-time record to himself. He’s scheduled to race three more times in Italy. Elsewhere at the Games, Norwegian biathlete Strula Holm Laegreid earned a bronze in the sprint. Laegreid made headlines earlier this week when he confessed to infidelity after winning bronze in a different race.

WORDS: 467 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 12:46 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dcad429a5c8b612cc9bec027d357735a&mediaType=text

___

OLY--SKI-VONN’S CRASH

Lindsey Vonn hopes to go home after another surgery following crash in Olympic downhill

SUMMARY: Lindsey Vonn says she will have another surgery on her broken left leg Saturday at the Italian hospital treating her “and then I can potentially leave and go back home.” Vonn posted a video message on Instagram following her horrific crash in the Olympic downhill at the Milan Cortina Games. She says “it has been quite a hard few days in the hospital here. I’m finally feeling more like myself. I have a long, long way to go. Tomorrow I’ll have another surgery and hopefully that goes well and then I can potentially leave and go back home, at which point I will need another surgery.”

WORDS: 435 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 12:42 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:96035a0d65074e2e02f039a3fad52c2a&mediaType=text

___

US--PATRIOTS-DIGGS-STRANGULATION CHARGE

Patriots’ Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty to assault allegation

SUMMARY: New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from an alleged dispute with his former private chef. According to a police report, the woman told officers Diggs struck her and attempted to choke her during an argument about unpaid wages in early December. Diggs’ attorney has denied the allegations, calling them unsubstantiated and tied to a financial dispute. The Patriots have said they support Diggs. Friday’s arraignment comes days after the team’s 29-13 loss to Seattle in Super Bowl LX.

WORDS: 327 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 12:17 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:00db3f42ffd8e627b25362de90266517&mediaType=text

___

US--TRUMP-FOOTBALL PARDONS

Trump pardons 5 former NFL players for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has pardoned five former NFL players for crimes that include perjury, counterfeiting and drug trafficking. White House pardon adviser Alice Marie Johnson announced the pardons on X Thursday night. She says Trump supports second chances. The White House did not return a request for comment on the reasons for the pardons. The players include Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.

WORDS: 448 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 12:02 p.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b6497288ae05c2cc2a3598918fe4679b&mediaType=text

___

OLY--FIG-MEN’S FREE SKATE

American ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin carries 5-point lead into the free skate at Milan Cortina Olympics

SUMMARY: Ilia Malinin enters the Olympic men’s free skate as the clear favorite, and he holds a strong lead after the short program. On Friday night at the Milan Cortina Games, he carries a five-point edge over Yuma Kagiyama and Adam Siao Him Fa. Malinin has gone more than two years without losing. The free skate also fits him better. It has more jumping chances, and he plans seven quad jumps. His rivals plan four. The other big question is his quad axel. He is the only skater who lands it in competition. Malinin also owns team gold, helping the Americans clinch their second straight title earlier during the Winter Games.

WORDS: 742 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 11:59 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9701617ebaad752e616f88259e33b6b3&mediaType=text

___

OLY--WINTER OLYMPICS-PASSION PLAY

Bravo! Act I of the Winter Olympics’ visit to Italy has been filled with drama, catharsis and tears

SUMMARY: The Winter Olympics in Italy feel like an opera, with big emotions driving the story as much as the sport. From American skier Lindsey Vonn’s crash in the women’s downhill to Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych’s political statement to U.S. skier Breezy Johnson’s wedding proposal, the opening week of the Games has not lacked for memorable moments. The Winter Olympics have, in a way, held up a mirror to the host country. Underneath all the emotion, however, is the hard work that has long served as the bedrock athletes have relied on to get to this moment in their careers.

WORDS: 1387 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 11:38 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0af225f6509041717bb71c830004dd7e&mediaType=text

___

LT--MEXICO-WORLD-CUP-DISPLACEMENT

World Cup means slashed wages and displacement for some workers in Mexico City

SUMMARY: Preparations for the 2026 World Cup in Mexico City are cutting into the livelihoods of sex workers and street vendors near Azteca Stadium. Workers along Calzada de Tlalpan say city projects aimed at sprucing up ahead of the soccer tournament have slashed their incomes. Sex workers say a new bike lane blocks cars from pulling over and nighttime metro closures leave them stranded. Advocacy groups say promised aid has not appeared. Vendors in pedestrian tunnels say officials have ordered them out for renovation projects. Many fear “social cleansing,” in which cities push informal workers aside to impress visitors.

WORDS: 1223 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 11:15 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f4594b9961ba7658c07e18d2ff52716d&mediaType=text

___

OLY--BIA-MEN’S SPRINT

Norwegian biathlete wins another Olympic bronze medal, 3 days after confessing his infidelity

SUMMARY: Norwegian biathlete Strula Holm Laegreid won his second bronze medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics — three days after making an unexpected personal confession during a post-race interview. Laegreid was third in Friday’s sprint race. He also won bronze in the 20-kilometer individual race on Tuesday but tearfully revealed during a live broadcast that he had been unfaithful to his girlfriend. Quentin Fillon Maillet of France won the sprint race for his second gold medal of the Milan Cortina Games and fourth overall. Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen of Norway took silver. Fillon Maillet dedicated his victory to his girlfriend “because we are expecting a baby.”

WORDS: 684 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 11:13 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:74d33ce927e21cb54d6ee7d3fbca65c2&mediaType=text

___

US--SPORTS-PREDICTION MARKETS

Prediction markets love sports, but the feeling isn’t exactly mutual

SUMMARY: Sports are a big part of prediction markets. So big that even sportsbooks have moved into the business. While some leagues are cashing in, others are taking a more cautious approach. The rapid growth of sports offerings on prediction markets — called event contracts — has captured the attention of the four major North American sports, along with the NCAA and other organizations. Kalshi and Polymarket are the two biggest platforms, but they have plenty of company. More are on the way, too. Almost eight years after a Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for legalized sports gambling across the country, the increased presence of prediction markets has received a mixed response in sports.

WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 10:40 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:663ec7f5da78aeed7d7c145bb9cb65ca&mediaType=text

___

OLY-XXC-CROSS-COUNTRY-MEN’S-INTERVAL-START

Norway’s Klaebo makes history on skis, ties all-time Winter Olympics gold record

SUMMARY: Norway’s Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has won an eighth gold medal in cross-country skiing at the Milan Cortina Olympics, tying an all‑time Winter Games record. The 29‑year‑old claimed victory Friday in the men’s 10 kilometer interval‑start race, for his third gold at the 2026 games. He ties the record shared by three other Norwegian athletes, all retired: Marit Bjoergen and Bjoern Daehlie in cross-country skiing and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen in the biathlon.

WORDS: 759 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 9:47 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6d712004bd9250bf8921d3c1a8333312&mediaType=text

___

CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA-TRADE DEADLINE

Could a trade deadline enliven the NASCAR season? Plenty of moving parts work against driver swaps

SUMMARY: NASCAR fans are imagining a trade deadline, but drivers and teams say the sport’s structure makes real trades unlikely. On Monday, Brad Keselowski says teams act as independent contractors, so a league-style deadline does not fit. NASCAR also has a small pool of Cup teams, and team size limits shrink options. Trades can happen, and one swap in 2024 showed how rare they are. Sponsors and manufacturers also complicate any deal. Jimmie Johnson calls the idea a stretch. Denny Hamlin says yearly free agency could add drama. Keselowski jokes a draft sounds better.

WORDS: 828 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 6:00 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:553e2a1dc1b2e96e3a46eafb05172ce0&mediaType=text

___

BBO--OBIT-FACE

All-Star reliever Elroy Face, who saved 3 games for Pirates in 1960 World Series, dies at 97

SUMMARY: Elroy Face, an All-Star reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates who saved three games in the 1960 World Series to help them upset the New York Yankees, has died. He was 97. In a news release, the Pirates announced they confirmed Face’s death. Team historian Jim Trdinich said the club was contacted by Face’s son, Elroy Jr., and informed the former pitcher died Thursday at an independent senior living facility in North Versailles, Pennsylvania. No cause of death was provided. Selected to six All-Star teams, Face went 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 major league seasons with Pittsburgh, Detroit and Montreal. He compiled 191 career saves — although saves didn’t become an official statistic until 1969.

WORDS: 408 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 5:06 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9d9c3899349042ffaae417f8d2778bbc&mediaType=text

___

BKN--JAZZ-SITTING PLAYERS

Tankers beware: Jazz fined $500,000, Pacers $100,000 by NBA for player participation policy breach

SUMMARY: The NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for sitting healthy stars late in close games. The league announced the decision on Thursday. The Jazz kept key players out of recent fourth quarters, even though games were tight. The NBA said the players could have kept playing. Utah has also faced past fines tied to resting Lauri Markkanen. The Pacers were fined $100,000 for holding out Pascal Siakam and other starters. The policy targets teams that chase better draft odds by losing on purpose.

WORDS: 731 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 2:50 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:12c4bc557167d1190e24cb67a2c48163&mediaType=text

___

BKN--LEBRON-OLDEST TRIPLE DOUBLE

LeBron James becomes the oldest player to have a triple-double in NBA history

SUMMARY: LeBron James became the oldest player in NBA history to have a triple-double, accomplishing the feat for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. James had 28 points and 12 assists when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 2:06 to play in the Lakers’ 124-104 victory. James got a standing ovation when he checked out moments after grabbing his final rebound to complete his 123rd career triple-double, fifth-most in NBA history. At 41 years and 44 days old, James broke the record held by Karl Malone, who recorded a triple-double for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.

WORDS: 811 - MOVED: 02/13/2026 2:45 a.m. EST

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e68250d0eb292a4c0bba1019069b62a4&mediaType=text

___

MOVING TOMORROW

—OLY--Winter Olympics Coverage

—BKN--NBA All-Star Weekend