Donovan Mitchell scores 37, Cavaliers stay perfect and improve to 14-0 with 144-126 win over Bulls
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 37 points, Darius Garland had 29 and the Cleveland Cavaliers continued one of the best starts in league history, improving to 14-0 with a 144-126 win over the Chicago Bulls in an NBA Cup game. The Cavs are the sixth team to go 14-0 and first since the Golden State Warriors opened 24-0 in 2015-16. Cleveland's 14-game winning streak is the longest in the club's 55-year existence. The Cavs won 13 in a row three times when LeBron James played for them. Jarrett Allen added 24 points for the Cavs. Coby White scored 29 and Nikola Vucevic had 25 for the Bulls.
UConn's Geno Auriemma ties NCAA Division I record with 1,216th win as No. 2 Huskies top No. 14 UNC
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- UConn coach Geno Auriemma tied the NCAA Division I record for men's or women's basketball with his 1,216th career victory Friday night as his No. 2 Huskies beat No. 14 North Carolina 69-58. The 70-year-old Auriemma is in his 40th season at UConn. He matched Stanford's Tara VanDerveer, who retired after after last season. Auriemma can break the record Wednesday, when UConn hosts Fairleigh Dickinson. His record with the Huskies is 1,216-162, good for an 88.2% win percentage to go with 11 NCAA championships -- most recently in 2016. Mike Krzyzewski holds the men's record with 1,202 victories at Army and Duke.
NBA considering going to a tournament format for the All-Star Game, AP sources say
The NBA is considering going to a tournament-style event for the All-Star Game, similar to what has been used in the Rising Stars competition in recent years. That's according to two people with knowledge of the plan. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because because no changes have been finalized. The idea centers around the 24 All-Star selections being split into three teams of eight players, with the fourth team likely to be the winner of the Rising Stars competition that will be held earlier that weekend. This season's All-Star weekend will be held in San Francisco in February.
Trey Kaufman-Renn scores 26 points to lead No. 13 Purdue past No. 2 Alabama 87-78
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and freshman C.J. Cox scored nine of his 11 points during a game-turning 13-0 run midway through the second half to help No. 13 Purdue get past No. 2 Alabama 87-78. The unbeaten Boilermakers have won 21 consecutive home games and 25 straight in November. They have not lost a regular-season game to a nonconference opponent since December 2020. Alabama was led by freshman Labaron Philon, who had a season-high 18 points off the bench before fouling out in a matchup between two of last season's Final Four teams. Braden Smith had 17 points and 10 assists as he moved into third place on Purdue's career assists list with 483.
Jake Paul, Mike Tyson set for fight between influencer-turned-boxer and retired giant of the sport
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Mike Tyson is set for his first sanctioned fight since 2005 as the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion takes on much younger YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Texas. The eight-round bout Friday night at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys will be streamed on Netflix. Texas regulators sanctioned the bout with limited rounds at just two minutes per round and heavier gloves. Tyson retired with a 50-6 record and 44 knockouts after losing to Kevin McBride. The 27-year-old Paul debuted as a pro boxer about four years ago and is 10-1 fighting mostly mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.
Bills' new stadium costs balloon to $2.1 billion, $560 million over initial estimate, team tells AP
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- The projected cost of the Buffalo Bills' new stadium has ballooned to what team officials told The Associated Press is "north of $2.1 billion." Owners Terry and Kim Pegula are responsible for picking up the more than $560 million in overruns. Bills president Pete Guelli was not surprised by the amount, given how the numbers have been tracking up since construction began 16 months ago. Guelli says the projected total represents the commitment the Pegulas have to the community. He says they are sticking to their vision for the facility without cutting corners to reduce costs.
Kiyan Anthony will follow in his father Carmelo's footsteps and go to Syracuse
Kiyan Anthony is following in his father's footsteps. He's going to play basketball at Syracuse. Carmelo Anthony's son -- a highly touted shooting guard from Long Island Lutheran High -- made it official on Friday, two years after the Orange offered him a scholarship. Kiyan Anthony is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard and generally considered the top recruit in New York state as well as one of the nation's top prospects. Syracuse had to beat out Southern California and Auburn, among others, to get the commitment.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and coach Michael Malone miss game against Pelicans for personal reasons
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Denver Nuggets were without star center Nikola Jokic and coach Michael Malone for their NBA Cup opener Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. Jokic missed Denver's 101-94 loss for personal reasons. Malone stayed behind to watch daughter Bridget compete in a high school volleyball playoff match. Nuggets lead assistant David Adelman took over for Malone and said the most difficult challenge of stepping in was that "Nikola is not here." Adelman said he did not know how long Jokic -- who has had four consecutive triple-doubles -- will be out.
Bird, Fowles, Pondexter, Beard headline Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025
WNBA greats Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, Cappie Pondexter and Alana Beard headline the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Also inducted on June 14 will be Mark Campbell, the longtime Union University coach, and Lucille Kyvallos, who led West Chester College and Queens College to early success. Women's Basketball Coaches Association executive director Danielle Donehew completes the class.
Why are so many NFL kickers getting hurt? Specialist switches have been trending up this season
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) -- The kicker carousel has spun frequently around the NFL this fall. The riders keep getting hurt. There were 45 different players who attempted at least one kick this regular season entering this week. The New York Jets will join the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants this week for the most in the league with four. The Washington Commanders have used three. Ten years ago there were 37 players in the league that attempted a kick in a regular season game. Theories on the reasons vary from longer-distance kicks to inconsistent practice routines to more in-game tackle attempts.