Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has a hamstring tear and surgery is an option, AP source says
FRISCO, Texas (AP) -- A person with knowledge of the situation says Dak Prescott's injured hamstring is partially torn away from the bone and surgery for the star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is possible. The injury is known as a partial avulsion and is likely to lead to an absence longer than the minimum of four games that would be required by putting Prescott on injured reserve. Former Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith missed 13 games two years after sustaining what is called a full avulsion in training camp. The complete tear of the hamstring off the bone requires surgery.
76ers' All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey out with hamstring injury, AP source says
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A person with knowledge of the situation says Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey could miss at least two weeks with a right hamstring injury. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't disclosed details of Maxey's injury publicly. Maxey was injured in Wednesday night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He was set for additional medical evaluation on Thursday. Maxey scored 12 points in 32 minutes against the Clippers.
Florida says coach Billy Napier will return for a fourth season despite 15-18 record
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida coach Billy Napier is getting a fourth season to try to get the Gators back to their winning ways. Athletic director Scott Stricklin made the announcement in a "letter to Gator Nation" that says the team is "building a foundation." The Gators have made significant strides since lopsided losses to Miami and Texas A&M during the first month of the season. Napier shored up the team's shaky defense, found a potential star in freshman quarterback DJ Lagway and developed young talent on both sides of the ball. It's the kind of progress that made Stricklin's decision a relatively easy one despite Napier's 15-18 mark in Gainesville.
Sinner and Alcaraz headline the ATP Finals with Djokovic out
TURIN, Italy (AP) -- Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are poised to add another entry into their rapidly developing rivalry when the ATP Finals open Sunday without any members of the Big Three for the first time in nearly a quarter century. The top-ranked Sinner and No. 3 Alcaraz evenly split the year's Grand Slam titles between them with two apiece and it would be fitting if the pair meet again in Turin. Sinner and Alcaraz could be placed in the same round-robin group. Sinner and Alcaraz were placed in different groups in Thursday's draw. Novak Djokovic withdrew on Tuesday due to an injury.
McIlroy felt 'unimaginative' with new swing as Fleetwood leads after shooting 62 in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Rory McIlroy described his new swing as "unimaginative" after trying it out for the first time competitively in shooting 5-under 67 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship. It left the No. 3-ranked McIlroy five shots off the lead held by Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood in the first event of the European tour's playoffs. McIlroy is seeking a victory that can clinch a sixth year-long Race to Dubai title and has returned to competitive action after a month away. Most of that time was spent in a studio hitting balls against a screen in search of a more robust swing that can hold up in pressure-filled moments.
No. 2 Georgia visits No. 16 Ole Miss team that faces must-win situation for playoffs, SEC title
Lane Kiffin typically steers clear of talk about playoffs and championships. This week is an exception. There's no sugarcoating the situation facing Kiffin and No. 16 Mississippi: They have to win out to keep those postseason hopes alive, starting Saturday with powerhouse No. 2 Georgia. Kiffin reminded his players that they have all those goals still intact at this point. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is coming off a school-record passing performance against Arkansas. Georgia has won four straight games, but Carson Beck has been intercepted eight times in the past three games.
Dodgers not counting on Ohtani to pitch at the start of next season following left shoulder surgery
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't counting on Shohei Ohtani to pitch at the start of next season and will wait to see how his rehabilitation progresses following shoulder surgery on his non-throwing arm. Ohtani had a procedure Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury sustained while sliding during a stolen base attempt in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26. The two-way star did not pitch this year while recovering from elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023. General manager Brandon Gomes says the Dodgers are "going to let the rehab process play out."
Paul George gets booed in his return to LA for the 1st time since leaving Clippers to join 76ers
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- Paul George was booed in his return to Los Angeles for the first time since leaving the Clippers last summer for the Philadelphia 76ers. Fans booed George when he was introduced at Intuit Dome, the Clippers' new arena that wasn't close to being full. They got vocal each time he touched the ball in the opening minutes, and he responded by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers that pulled the Sixers into an early tie. George was playing just his second game of the season after a left knee injury kept him out. The Clippers honored him with a tribute video in the first quarter and George waved to acknowledge the polite applause.
Ovechkin scoring another game-winning goal for the Capitals comes as no surprise to the Predators
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 130th career game-winning goal to keep his hot streak going, the Washington Capitals winning and the Nashville Predators losing. He's just six away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's NHL record. Ovechkin has scored six in his past five games to move on a pace to break Wayne Gretzky's career mark before the end of the season. Nashville's Steven Stamkos and Andrew Brunette have seen a lot of Ovechkin over the years and were not at all surprised by the 39-year-old beating them with a nasty shot midway through the third period.
Cavaliers mark historic 9-0 start by getting coach Kenny Atkinson all wet
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are returning home in rare air. They're 9-0 for the first time in the franchise's 55-year history after a 131-122 victory in New Orleans. First-year coach Kenny Atkinson says players celebrated by dumping water bottles over his head in the locker room. Although the Cavs have their sights set on bigger things, Atkinson says it's important to recognize and enjoy such accomplishments because it's a long season and it's hard to win in the NBA. The Cavaliers are shooting an NBA-best 52.6% after making 54.2% of their shots in New Orleans. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell says the vibes and energy around the Cavs are great and that Atkinson has done a "phenomenal job" in his first season running the team.