LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs now know they control their destiny. The NFL has canceled the suspended Monday night game between Buffalo and Cincinnati. A Chiefs victory at Las Vegas on Saturday makes them the AFC’s No. 1 seed. However, the NFL has also proposed playing the AFC title game at a neutral site if Buffalo or Cincinnati misses out on home-field advantage by virtue of having played one fewer game. Kansas City began its preparations this week for the Raiders not knowing what decisions the league would make regarding playoff seeding or even this weekend's schedule.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Damar Hamlin's doctors say the Buffalo Bills safety has begun to communicate in writing with his family and others who have been at his bedside since going into cardiac arrest Monday — and his first question was “did we win?” Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said in a conference call with reporters that Hamlin remains critically ill and in the hospital’s intensive care unit. But they say it appears his neurological function is intact, meaning he can follow commands and move. The developments come as the Bills return to practice for the first time since Hamlin collapsed during the first quarter of Buffalo’s game against the Bengals.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jeremiah Davenport scored 22 points off of the bench to help lead the Cincinnati Bearcats over the Wichita State Shockers 70-61 on Thursday night. The Bearcats are now 11-5 on the season, while the Shockers fell to 7-8.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fletcher Loyer made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 11 seconds left and No. 1 Purdue bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 71-69 victory over No. 24 Ohio State on Thursday night. The Boilermakers (14-1, 3-1 Big Ten) trailed 69-66 with 41 seconds remaining after Ohio State’s Sean McNeil made a 3 pointer. Zach Edey responded with a bucket on the other end, and Purdue forced a turnover on the Buckeyes’ next possession. After Loyer’s 3, the Boilermakers defended Ohio State’s final possession and Brice Sensabaugh’s final shot didn’t get off in time.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas has fired basketball coach Chris Beard, who faces a felony domestic family violence charge after his fiancée told police he strangled and bit her. The school sent Beard's attorney a letter that said the coach was “unfit” for the position. Beard had been suspended without pay since Dec. 12. He had five years left on a seven-year guaranteed contract. Police responded to an emergency call to Beard’s house. The woman initially told officers that Beard choked her from behind, bit her and hit her during an argument. Beard’s attorney has said Beard is innocent and that his fiancée later denied she was choked.
UNDATED (AP) — As college football’s postseason heads toward the debut of an expanded, 12-team playoff in 2024 those involved with bowls anticipate changes. A bigger playoff will impact the scheduling of bowls, maybe even the number of bowls. What its takes for a team to qualify for a bowl game could change, and maybe players will be compensated for participating. While the College Football Playoff has undoubtedly diminished the importance of bowl games, they are not going away. And a bigger playoff might be a chance for bowl season to reinvent itself.
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Jon Rahm shares the lead at the Sentry Tournament of Champions with a 64. Collin Morikawa and J.J. Spaun also had 64. The low scoring is nothing new to Rahm. Last year he shot 33 under on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. That would have been a PGA Tour record except that Cameron Smith went one better. Rahm says he doesn't feel like Kapalua owes him one. It was perfect weather and low scoring. Weather was perfect for the opening round of the year. Rahm says if it stays that way, Smith's record is in danger.
THURSDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Purdue 71 (24)Ohio St. 69
Final (2)Houston 87 SMU 53
Final (5)Arizona 70 Washington 67
Final (9)Gonzaga 77 San Francisco 75
Final (10)UCLA 60 Southern Cal 58
Final Iowa 91 (15)Indiana 89
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Memphis 123 Orlando 115
Final Boston 124 Dallas 95
Final Utah 131 Houston 114
Final Denver 122 L.A. Clippers 91
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 5 New Jersey 3
Final Philadelphia 6 Arizona 2
Final Seattle 5 Toronto 1
Final Washington 6 Columbus 2
Final N-Y Rangers 4 Montreal 1
Final Nashville 5 Carolina 3
Final Edmonton 4 N-Y Islanders 2
Final Vegas 5 Pittsburgh 2
Final Vancouver 4 Colorado 2
Final Boston 5 Los Angeles 2