National Sports

Big flex: Youngsters Tiafoe, Fritz stun seeds in Australia

By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Frances Tiafoe rolled up his white shirt's right sleeve, flexed his biceps and slapped the muscle five times. Then he pounded his chest and yelled, "Yeah! Let's go! Let's go! Come on!" Forgive the young American's exuberance. ...

3 teams pour in 140 points on high-scoring night in NBA

By The Associated Press NBA teams piled up the points like they hadn't done in 35 years. Three teams scored 140 points Tuesday night, with the Golden State Warriors setting an NBA record by pouring in 51 during the first quarter of their victory over Denver. The Warriors went on to a 142-111 ...

Ball scores 19 as Lakers deal Bulls eighth straight loss

By JOE REEDY, AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers were angry after the NBA's worst team broke a long losing streak on their home floor. They weren't about to let the league's second-worst team do the same thing on Tuesday night. Ball scored 13 of his 19 ...

Hertl’s hat trick leads Sharks past Penguins 5-2

By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Tomas Hertl needed just three games to get his first NHL hat trick. It was more than a five-year wait for the second one, which came while he's playing perhaps the best hockey of his career. Hertl knocked down Evgeni Malkin with his ...

QB Tate Martell says he is leaving Ohio State for Miami

By The Associated Press Quarterback Tate Martell says he is transferring from Ohio State to Miami. Martell announced on Twitter early Wednesday: "I'm a Hurricane." Martell had entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal last week and was free to be approached by schools about a potential ...

‘Dinosaur’ defensemen like Orpik survive in NHL by adapting

By STEPHEN WHYNO, AP Hockey Writer When John Tortorella compares Brooks Orpik to a creature that went extinct 65 million years ago, he means it affectionately. "He's a little bit of a dinosaur because he hits, and there isn't a lot of hitting in this game," Tortorella said. Yet there's still ...

Patriots primed for rematch with Chiefs in AFC title game

By KYLE HIGHTOWER, AP Sports Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England tight end Rob Gronkowski said the Patriots would take the night to enjoy it. Safety Devin McCourty said it would be closer to just a few hours of celebration. However long the Patriots players planned to relax after ...

Risk-taking Saints advance to host Rams for NFC title

By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Coach Sean Payton the New Orleans Saints are anything but risk averse. After all, Payton's Saints won a Super Bowl with the help of a surprise onside kick nine years ago, and now New Orleans is one home victory away from its first Super ...

Nadal, Sharapova and Wozniacki advance at Australian Open

By JOHN PYE, AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal has missed a lot of tennis since last September. He hasn't missed a beat. The No. 2-seeded Nadal had a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 win over Australian wild-card entry James Duckworth on Monday in the first round of the Australian ...

All-female team out to prove women racers aren’t a gimmick

By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Every racing series in the world is full of wealthy enthusiasts with ideas that sound too good to be true. Expensive promises to fund life-changing opportunities are usually broken before cars even make it to the track. Jackie ...