Wizards acquiring Anthony Davis from Mavericks in 8-player trade, AP source says
DALLAS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal says the Washington Wizards are acquiring Anthony Davis in an eight-player trade with the Mavericks that includes draft picks for Dallas. The move is a signal the Mavericks are moving on from the widely criticized trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package headlined by Davis last year. The Wizards are sending Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham and Marvin Bagley III to the Mavericks along with two first-round draft picks and three second-rounders. Washington gets Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum.
Warriors agree to send Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield to Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, AP source says
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have found their dependable big man by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from Atlanta and have granted forward Jonathan Kuminga his wish to be traded. The Warriors also agreed to deal guard Buddy Hield to the Hawks, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been approved by the league. Kuminga sat out his fifth straight game in Tuesday’s 113-94 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers because of a bone bruise in his left knee. He had recently fallen out of the Warriors' rotation.
Curling opens competition at 2026 Winter Olympics as brief power outage pauses play, luge training
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The 2026 Winter Olympics have opened competition with the first curling matches in Cortina. A power outage moments after play begin briefly halted the action on Wednesday night and delayed training for men's luge at the nearby sliding center. Fans at the curling center cheered when the lights returned, and play resumed. The mixed doubles curling tournament began two full days before the opening ceremony.
Vance heads overseas for the Winter Olympics. Then he'll stop in Armenia and Azerbaijan
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance is heading overseas to lead President Donald Trump’s delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics. Afterward, Vance plans stops in Armenia and Azerbaijan in a show of support for an agreement the two nations signed at the White House last year aimed at ending decades of conflict between them. On the weeklong trip, Vance will be fulfilling two traditional roles for American vice presidents: representing the U.S. at a ceremonial function, and advancing U.S. foreign policy aims.
Portland upsets No. 6 Gonzaga 87-80 snapping 15-game winning streak
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Joel Foxwell scored 27 points and Portland upset No. 6 Gonzaga 87-80, giving the Pilots their first victory over a top-10 team and snapping the Bulldogs’ 15-game winning streak. The victory also ended a 20-game Gonzaga winning streak in the series. The Pilots had not defeated the Bulldogs since an 82-73 triumph in Portland on Jan. 9, 2014. James O’Donnell added 16 points for the Pilots, who snapped a three-game losing streak. They were a 21 1/2-point underdog, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Graham Ike had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Gonzaga, which had won 14 straight conference games. Gonzaga’s only previous loss this season came on Dec. 10 against then-No. 7 Michigan in Las Vegas.
Tigers and pitcher Framber Valdez agree to $115 million, 3-year deal, AP source says
Free agent pitcher Framber Valdez and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a $115 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Valdez became one of baseball’s most durable starters with the Houston Astros. Now, the left-hander is set to join a Tigers rotation anchored by two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Valdez is a two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion. He was Houston’s ace last season with a 13-11 record and 3.66 ERA, and became a free agent for the first time.
LA Kings acquire high-scoring Artemi Panarin in a trade with the New York Rangers
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings have acquired Artemi Panarin in a trade with the New York Rangers. The Kings are sending a conditional third-round pick and prospect Liam Greentree to the Rangers for the 34-year-old winger. The Rangers retain half of Panarin’s $11.6 million salary cap hit. The move takes the best player available off the market more than a month before the March 6 trade deadline. Panarin led the Rangers in scoring every season since signing with them as a free agent in 2019.
The Washington Post's sports section was a gold standard, all the way to the end
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Post has eliminated its sports section while laying off a third of its staff. For decades, the Post treated sports as a vital part of life in the District of Columbia, and some of the biggest names in sports writing either got their start at the Post or spent decades there. Before they became TV stars on “Pardon The Interruption” at ESPN, Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser were D.C. institutions at the Post. Christine Brennan and Sally Jenkins received career achievement awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors. And in recent years, reporting by the Post contributed to the downfall of Commanders owner Dan Snyder.
Tarik Skubal goes to arbitration with Tigers, asking for record $32 million instead of $19 million
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is in a record-setting salary arbitration hearing. The left-hander is asking for $32 million, while the Detroit Tigers are offering $19 million. A two-time All-Star, the 29-year-old Skubal is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six major league seasons. A decision is expected Thursday. Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. He was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA last year. Players have won both decisions so far, Kyle Bradish and Yainer Diaz. Seven more players are scheduled for hearings through Feb. 13.
Knicks outlast Nuggets 134-127 in 2 OTs for their eighth straight victory as Brunson scores 42
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson had 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the New York Knicks outlasted the Denver Nuggets 134-127 in two overtimes for their eighth straight victory. Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 12 rebounds Wednesday night while playing with a bandage over his right eye after he was bloodied in a head-to-head collision in the first quarter. He fouled out in the first overtime, but Brunson took over with 10 points in the second overtime. Jamal Murray scored 39 points for the Nuggets, while Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in his first triple-double since returning from a knee injury last week.
