Paul George suspended 25 games

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has been suspended 25 games without pay for violating terms of the NBA/NBAPA anti-drug program, the league announced Saturday.

"Over the past few years, I've discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication," George said in a statement provided to ESPN's Shams Charania.

He continued, "I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates, and the Philly fans for my poor decision-making during this process. I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return."

Kris Letang out with fractured foot

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss at least four weeks with a fractured foot.

The club announced the extent of the injury on Saturday before the surging Penguins faced the New York Rangers. Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said Letang, who is in his 20th season, injured the foot during a 6-2 victory over Chicago on Thursday.

Letang's absence comes with the Penguins surging into the Olympic break. Pittsburgh is 6-0-2 in its last eight games to move into second place in the Metropolitan Division.

White Sox sign Austin Hays to 1 Year

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

The deal is a one-year contract worth $6 million in guaranteed money, including a base salary of $5 million in 2026, reports The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The deal also contains a mutual option for 2027 with a $1-million buyout if the option isn't exercised, Rosenthal adds.

Hays can earn another $375K through incentives based on plate appearances, according to Rosenthal. He apparently chose the White Sox in part because they offered him a chance to play every day, as opposed to being the right-handed half of a platoon.

Curry leaves game with knee soreness

Stephen Curry has been bothered by a sore right knee over the past week and the injury limited him to three quarters in the Golden State Warriors' 131-124 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Coach Steve Kerr didn't consider it serious.

Curry, who will turn 38 on March 14, scored 23 points on 7-for-16 shooting with four 3-pointers over 25 minutes in his fourth straight 20-point performance before exiting with with the knee soreness.

Seahawks will go up for sale after Superbowl

The Seattle Seahawks will go up for sale after Super Bowl LX, sources told ESPN's Seth Wickersham and Brady Henderson. 

Conversations about a sale have reportedly been taking place for at least a week.

Paul Allen's estate has owned the Seahawks and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers since his death in 2018, which followed a lengthy battle with cancer. His sister, Jody Allen, is the executor of the trust.

Maple Leafs lose 6th straight game

Shane Wright scored two goals and the Seattle Kraken extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

Brandon Montour and Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken, who scored at least five goals in back-to-back games for the first time. Seattle, which beat Washington 5-1 on Tuesday, has won four of its last five games. Joey Daccord stopped 29 shots.

Nicholas Robertson and Morgan Rielly scored for Toronto, which slipped to 0-5-1 over its past six games.

Patrick Kane makes history

Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane notched the 1,375th point of his career Thursday against the Washington Capitals to pass Hall of Famer Mike Modano as the NHL's all-time leading scorer among American-born players.

Kane accomplished the feat with an assist on Ben Chiarot's goal in the second period.

Luka records triple double in first half

Luka Doncic had a triple-double by halftime and finished with 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in the Los Angeles Lakers' 142-111 rout of the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

Doncic had 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the first two quarters. His 10th rebound came in the waning seconds of the second.

The last time a player had a triple-double in the first half, according to Sportradar, was when Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks did it Dec. 5. Johnson had 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in the half.

Jacob Wilson signs 7 Years with Athletics

The Athletics and All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson agreed to a seven-year contract extension with a club option for 2033, the club announced Friday.

The deal is worth $70 million, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Wilson slashed .311/.355/.444 with 13 homers, 63 RBIs, and a 120 wRC+ over 125 games last year en route to finishing as the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up.

David Robertson retires from baseball

Veteran reliever David Robertson, a former All-Star and consistent bullpen presence for nearly two decades, announced his retirement Friday after 17 big-league seasons.

The 40-year-old spent his final campaign with the Philadelphia Phillies. He made 20 regular-season appearances plus one more in the playoffs after they signed him in late July.

Eagles hire Sean Mannion

The Philadelphia Eagles hired Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion as their offensive coordinator, the team announced Thursday.

Mannion spent the last two seasons with the Packers. Before becoming a coach, he played quarterback in the NFL from 2015-23. Drafted in the third round in 2015 by the then-St. Louis Rams, Mannion finished his career with 573 passing yards in 14 games.

The 33-year-old will be the Eagles' offensive play-caller for the 2026 season, sources told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. He didn't call plays during his tenure on Matt LaFleur's staff.

Gordon out 4-6 weeks with hamstring injury

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will miss at least four-to-six weeks after aggravating a hamstring strain, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Gordon missed more than a month earlier this season following a hamstring strain in late November. He's appeared in 10 games for Denver since returning to the lineup Jan. 4.

The injury again derails what's otherwise been a career year for the former NBA champion. Gordon's 17.7 points per game through 23 contests are the most he's posted over 12 NBA seasons. He's also registering 50.9/40/78.9 shooting splits while adding 6.2 boards and 2.5 assists per contest.

Kershaw Votto & Rizzo join NBB Broadcasting

Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto, and Anthony Rizzo are going into TV broadcasting.

The former MLB superstars are finalizing deals to join NBC's baseball coverage heading into the 2026 season, according to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.

Kershaw spent his entire 18-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers before hanging up his cleats last year. His resume includes NL MVP (2014), three NL Cy Young awards (2011, 2013, 2014), and three World Series titles (2020, 2024, 2025).

Brian Cashman defends offseason roster moves

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman pushed back against criticism that he hasn't done enough to shake up the roster this winter, insisting the team will look different in 2026.

"First, we have good players. It's a collection of really talented players. It's not the same roster (as 2025), I would differ there," Cashman said Wednesday, according to Yankees Videos. "We have some players at some point returning from the IL (next season) that are important players - (ace) Gerrit Cole being, obviously, one of them."

Cashman's comments come just days after New York finalized a five-year, $162.5-million contract to bring back Cody Bellinger.

Cavaliers showcase tribute to LeBron James

It's always special for LeBron James when he returns to Northeast Ohio.

The 41-year-old was even more emotional than usual on Wednesday, when the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James teared up during a timeout with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter when the Cavaliers showed video highlights of him scoring 25 straight points during Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons.

Senators defeat struggling Avalanche

Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, Artem Zub added two assists and the Ottawa Senators defeated the league-leading Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, Claude Giroux and Brady Tkachuk also scored for Ottawa and James Reimer made 16 saves.

Parker Kelly and Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche, who have now lost three of their last four. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 18 shots.

Bo Nix broken ankle won’t delay offseason

Bo Nix insists he'll be the same dual-threat quarterback he was before breaking his right ankle in the playoffs and missing the AFC championship game.

The Denver Broncos signal-caller said a simple misstep led to a clean break and required a straightforward fix. 

He said the injury was "nothing that concerns me, nothing that scares me going forward like I'm injury-prone or anything. This is one of those just inconvenient football plays and I'm excited already to get back to work. I can't necessarily avoid anything in the future, but I feel really good that my body's going to be in good shape."

Jayson Tatum unsure if he’ll return this season

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is uncertain if he'll return this season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon in May during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.

Tatum "wants to get it right the first time, so it's just a lot to think about," he told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne on Wednesday.

The six-time All-Star held a workout in front of reporters in Detroit last week, sparking speculation of a potential return during the 2025-26 campaign.

Acuna Jr will join Venezuela at WBC

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is among a contingent of star players who've been added to Venezuela's roster for the World Baseball Classic, MLB announced Thursday.

Acuña, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia, and Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu will also represent the nation. 

Manager Omar López will lead what's expected to be a formidable roster that also features big-leaguers Salvador Perez, Gleyber Torres, and Pablo López.

Bill Belichick Hall of Fame snub

Count New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft among those shocked that Bill Belichick will reportedly not be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. 

In a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday, Kraft said he believes Belichick's accomplishments are clearly worthy of selection for the hall on his first ballot.

"Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick's record and body of work speak for themselves," Kraft said in the statement.

Montreal fires goalie coach Eric Raymond

The Montreal Canadiens fired goaltending coach Eric Raymond on Wednesday.

They made the move 53 games into the NHL season despite sitting in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Goalies Jakub Dobes, Samuel Montembeault and Jacob Fowler have combined for a save percentage of .884 that ranks 28th among the league's 32 teams.

Marco Marciano was promoted from the same job with the American Hockey League's Laval Rocket to fill the role on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. Raymond had served in the job since 2021.

Devils trade Ondrej Palat to Islanders

The New Jersey Devils traded forward Ondrej Palat, a 2026 third-round pick, and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Islanders for forward Maxim Tsyplakov, the teams announced Tuesday.

The Devils aren't retaining any of Palat's $6-million cap hit. The 34-year-old is signed through 2026-27 and has a 10-team trade list. He ranked 24th on theScore's trade deadline big board.

Palat has recorded four goals and 10 points in 51 games this season, with just two goals and no assists in his last 11 contests. The Devils held him out of Tuesday's outing against the Winnipeg Jets for roster-related reasons.

Will LeBron head back to Cleveland

The Cleveland Cavaliers are open to bringing the King home.

The team would welcome a third stint with LeBron James if the Los Angeles Lakers star wants to play in Cleveland next season, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Now over midway through his record 23rd season, James hasn't divulged his plans following the campaign. The NBA's all-time scoring leader, whose contract expires this summer, has repeatedly insisted that he hasn't decided on a potential retirement.

Vladdy Guerrero joins Dominican WBC roster

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been added to the Dominican Republic's roster for the World Baseball Classic, the nation announced Wednesday.

It will be Guerrero's WBC debut after he withdrew prior to the 2023 event because of knee discomfort.

The 26-year-old is coming off a stellar big-league season where he posted an .848 OPS and received downballot MVP votes.

Red Wings are shopping at deadline

The Detroit Red Wings are hoping to add a second-line center and a right-handed defenseman before the March 6 trade deadline, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."

The Red Wings are targeting players with term remaining on their contracts, as they're not interested in rentals, adds Dreger.

Looking to end a nine-year playoff drought, Detroit sits second in the Atlantic Division with a 32-16-5 record this season. The team's been hot lately, going 8-1-1 in its last 10 games.

Bryan Rust suspended three games

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust was suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser, the league announced Tuesday.

The incident occurred in the final seconds of Pittsburgh's 3-2 win over Vancouver on Sunday.

Thatcher Demko hip surgery

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will undergo season-ending hip surgery, the team announced Tuesday.

"After consulting with our team doctors and outside specialists, Thatcher Demko will be shut down for the rest of the year," general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. "Thatcher will undergo surgery next week for an injury unrelated to the one that kept him out of action last season. Following his rehab, he will be ready for the start of training camp in September."

Demko finished as the Vezina Trophy runner-up in 2023-24 but appeared in only one of Vancouver's 13 games that postseason due to an injury. He's started just 43 games since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign as a result of injuries.

Teams are chasing Zac Gallen

With spring training looming, Zac Gallen's market seems to be finally gaining steam.

The Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Arizona Diamondbacks - Gallen's team for the last seven seasons - are showing interest in the veteran right-hander, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Gallen is one of the best starting pitchers left on the free-agent market despite coming off a difficult 2025. He posted a career-worst 4.83 ERA and 8.2 K/9 along with a 1.26 WHIP in 192 innings with Arizona last season.

Buffalo Bills promote Joe Brady to Head Coach

The Buffalo Bills didn't have to look far to find Sean McDermott's replacement, as the franchise is promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, NFL Network reports.

Brady signed a five-year contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Brady was in demand during this year's coaching carousel. He had recently completed a second interview with the Las Vegas Raiders for their head coaching vacancy. He also interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins for their respective openings.

Luka Doncic masterpiece leads Lakers

Luka Doncic had 46 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 129-118 victory on Monday night.

Dave Roberts would like to manage Team USA

Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts wants to manage Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in L.A. if Major League Baseball allows its players to participate.

"I want to manage the Olympic team," Roberts told Dylan Hernandez of the California Post. "That's what I want to do. In L.A., I want to manage that team."

The 53-year-old manager, whose father spent three decades in the military, believes he's the perfect candidate for multiple reasons.

Nylander fined $5,000 for bad attitude

The NHL fined Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander $5,000, the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement, for making an obscene gesture during Sunday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Nylander, currently sidelined with a groin injury, was shown on the broadcast from the press box pointing his middle finger at the camera.

"Only love for Leafs nation," Nylander posted on Instagram following the 4-1 loss. "Sorry about the moment of frustration today! Didn't mean to upset anyone. Looking forward to being back on the ice and not in the stands. Love Willy."

David Pastrnak reaches 900 points

Bruins forward David Pastrnak became the sixth Boston player with 900 career points when he picked up his third assist in Monday night's game against the New York Rangers.

The 29-year-old Pastrnak assisted on Elias Lindholm's goals in the first and second periods at Madison Square Garden and reached the milestone on Morgan Geekie's score at 8:52 of the second that gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead.

Giants sign Harrison Bader

The San Francisco Giants agreed to a two-year contract with outfielder Harrison Bader, a source told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Bader's deal is worth $20.5 million and can reach $21 million through incentives, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

The outfielder said he's excited to join the Giants, calling them a "perfect fit" for him during an appearance on "The Show" with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Jose Altuve will not play for Venezuela at WBC

Jose Altuve won't play for Venezuela at the 2026 World Baseball Classic at the request of the Houston Astros, a source told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

Altuve had expressed interest in joining Venezuela's roster, which is being managed by Astros bench coach Omar López, but Houston prefers that the 35-year-old attend spring training to prepare for the upcoming MLB season, McTaggart adds.

"I signed the paper that I'm willing to go play, like I did the last two WBCs," Altuve told reporters Saturday, including Michael Shapiro of the Houston Chronicle. "Always an honor to represent my country. I played in the last one and the one before, and I'm trying to do it in this one.

Seahawks defeat Rams and go to Superbowl

Sam Darnold was cast aside by the New York Jets, who drafted him No. 3 overall in 2018. The Minnesota Vikings didn't bring him back after he led them to a 14-3 season but flopped in the playoffs.

Now, in his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, he's Super Bowl-bound.

Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks' "Dark Side" defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop, and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game on Sunday.

Nylander flips the bird to camera

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander apologized for making an obscene gesture during Sunday's home loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Nylander, currently sidelined with a groin injury, appeared on the broadcast in the press box and was seen pointing his middle finger at a camera.

"Only love for Leafs nation," Nylander posted on Instagram following the 4-1 loss. "Sorry about the moment of frustration today! Didn't mean to upset anyone. Looking forward to being back on the ice and not in the stands. Love Willy."

Patriots defeat Broncos and return to Super Bowl

Drake Maye ran for 68 yards and threw for 86 in sloppy, snowy conditions and scored New England's only touchdown on a 6-yard keeper, propelling the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Christian Gonzalez intercepted Jarrett Stidham, starting in place of an injured Bo Nix, at New England's 36 with 2:11 remaining and the Patriots (17-3) iced their first playoff win in Denver when Maye ran for 7 yards on third-and-5 from his 41.

In Mike Vrabel's first season as coach, New England became the third team in the Super Bowl era to win a conference championship with 10 points or less. Buffalo beat Denver 10-7 in the 1991 AFC title game, and the Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay 9-0 in the 1979 NFC championship game.

Ottawa Senators smash Golden Knights

Stephen Halliday had two goals and an assist, Dylan Cozens also scored twice and the Ottawa Senators routed the road-weary Vegas Golden Knights 7-1 on Sunday night.

Senators goalie Linus Ullmark returned to to the active roster from a personal leave, backing up Mads Sogaard. Ullmark was the 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner.

Halliday scored his second and third career goals, and added the assist for a three-point game in his first season in the NHL.

Devin Booker out with ankle sprain

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker will be out at least one week due to a right ankle sprain, the team announced Sunday, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.

He'll miss a minimum of four games under the timeline provided.

Booker sustained the injury during the third quarter of Friday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The four-time All-Star was making his way upcourt when he inadvertently stepped on the foot of Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu.

Andrew McCutchen is upset with Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen doesn't seem pleased with how the team is treating him before what could be the final year of his career.

McCutchen, who's currently a free agent, had harsh words for his longtime team Saturday, hours after Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was noncommittal about re-signing him.

Alex Lyon ties Sabres record

Jason Tucker scored twice and Alex Lyon stopped 26 shots and tied a Buffalo record with his ninth straight victory as the Sabres beat the New York Islanders 5-0 Saturday.

Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch also scored as the Sabres won their third straight and for the fifth time in seven games. Ryan McLeod and Mattias Samuelsson each had two assists.

Lyon, who signed with the Sabres in July after two seasons with Detroit, recorded the sixth shutout of his career and tied the Buffalo record of Gerry Desjardins (1976-77) with nine consecutive wins.

Steelers hire Mike McCarthy as Head Coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike McCarthy have reached a verbal agreement to make him their next head coach, the team announced Saturday.

McCarthy was out of the NFL last season after a five-year run as the Dallas Cowboys' head coach from 2020-24. He previously served as the Green Bay Packers' head coach from 2006-18, during which he secured a victory in Super Bowl XLV over the Steelers.

The 62-year-old would become just the franchise's fourth head coach since 1969. Mike Tomlin, who had led the Steelers for the last 19 years, stepped down following their loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.

Mike McDaniel head coaching options

Mike McDaniel canceled an interview with the Buffalo Bills for their vacant head coaching job that was scheduled for Friday, a source told The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

McDaniel was set to meet with Buffalo brass in Florida, where the club also scheduled interviews with Philip Rivers, Anthony Lynn, Anthony Weaver, and Grant Udinski.

The 42-year-old McDaniel also reportedly canceled a second interview with the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching job. He has spoken with the Las Vegas Raiders about their position, as it's still one of the five vacant head coaching jobs available.

NBA postpones game due to fatal shooting

The NBA has postponed Saturday's game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors in Minneapolis.

The NBA said the decision was made to "prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community." The decision comes in the wake of a fatal shooting in the city involving federal agents Saturday.

The matchup has been rescheduled to Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT.

Giannis out 4-6 weeks with calf strain

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo expects to miss four-to-six weeks after suffering a right calf strain late in Friday's 102-100 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, he told reporters postgame, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The two-time MVP sustained the injury in the fourth quarter as he attempted to sprint upcourt. He grabbed his right leg and subsequently limped off the court.

Jose Ramirez signs 4 Years in Cleveland

The face of the Cleveland Guardians isn't going anywhere.

Cleveland and superstar third baseman José Ramírez have agreed to a four-year, $106-million extension, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. The new agreement is being tacked onto the final three years and $69 million of his current deal, turning it into a restructured seven-year, $175-million contract.

As with his original contract, the new deal includes a full no-trade clause and doesn't contain any opt-outs, a source told Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Ramírez also gets a slew of award bonuses, with the amounts now doubled from what they were previously, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

Giants fail to land CJ Abrams

The San Francisco Giants made an aggressive push to acquire Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams but couldn't get a deal done, sources told The Athletic's Andrew Baggarly.

Had a trade been completed, Abrams would have played second base for the Giants, adds Baggarly.

San Francisco was open to adding the organization's No. 2 prospect, Josuar Gonzalez, in a deal, per Baggarly. Other players the Giants reportedly discussed with the Nationals included left-handers Carson Whisenhunt and Jacob Bresnahan, outfielder Bo Davidson, and shortstop Jhonny Level.

Miami Heat security officer sentenced 3 Years

A former Miami Heat security officer has been sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.9 million in restitution for stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable sports memorabilia while working for the team.

Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, was sentenced earlier this month, according to court records. He pleaded guilty last August to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. 

The 25-year retired veteran of the Miami Police Department worked for the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025.

Fernando Mendoza declared for NFL Draft

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, he announced Friday.

"With trust in my foundation and gratitude for every person that has helped me reach this moment, I am ready to take the next step," Mendoza said on Instagram. 

He added: "My LinkedIn status is now 'open to work' and I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft."