Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger are brutally honest about the Steelers' chances of advancing past the wild-card round of the playoffs Sunday night, especially given the Chiefs humiliated them just a few weeks ago in Arrowhead Stadium. In fact, the Steelers' likely soon-to-retire quarterback admitted, "We probably aren't supposed to be here." But the Steelers have won a Super Bowl playing in the wild-card round before, so they know that anything can happen. And the pressure is all on the AFC West champion Chiefs, who have been to three straight conference title games and the past two Super Bowls.
UNDATED (AP) — The NFL has taken several steps to improve diversity among leadership positions, yet Mike Tomlin is the only Black head coach after Brian Flores and David Culley were fired this week. League officials want to see immediate improvement, but are optimistic that numbers will increase at both coach and GM positions based on the interview requests teams have made so far. The Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advocates for diverse hiring, said in a statement that the firing of Flores and Culley is a "disappointment given efforts to increase the representation of Black coaches as head coaches in the NFL."
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs will be without Clyde Edwards-Helaire for their wild-card playoff game against the Steelers on Sunday night after their starting running back was unable to put together a full week of practice because of a hurt collarbone. Chiefs coach Andy Reid confirmed Friday that Edwards-Helaire would be ruled out for the playoff opener after he returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, but did not practice at all Thursday or Friday. The Chiefs should have Darrel Williams in the backfield after hurting his toe in their regular-season finale. Derrick Gore and Jerick McKinnon will also be available.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The nation's longest-tenured FBS head coach plans to stick around even longer as University of Iowa officials said they were extending Kirk Ferentz's contract through the 2029 season. Iowa on Friday announced the four-year extension that followed a 10-4 record in 2021. It was Ferentz's 23rd season at Iowa. The university said Ferentz would be paid $7 million a year. That includes a $500,000 base plus $5.5 million in supplemental compensation and a $1 million "longevity bonus." The contract will expire on Jan. 31, 2030. Ferentz has 178 career wins, placing him first for victories at Iowa and fourth in Big Ten Conference history. This year's season ended in a 20-17 loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Zach Edey scored 22 points and Jaden Ivey added 17 as No. 7 Purdue routed Nebraska 92-65. The Boilermakers have won two straight and six of their last seven. Keisei Tominaga scored 11 points to lead the Cornhuskers. Nebraska lost its fifth in a row and its fourth straight to a ranked opponent. Purdue opened the game on a 23-4 run and got the Cornhuskers into early foul trouble. Purdue coach Matt Painter captured his 183rd victory in Big Ten play, which broke a tie with former Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote for seventh in career wins among conference coaches.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum is skipping his senior season and entering the NFL draft. The consensus All-American was the Big Ten's offensive lineman of the year and received the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center. He also was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. Linderbaum started 35 consecutive games at center. He is projected to be a first-round draft pick and the first center selected.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A former Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle has been found dead in a Kansas federal prison where he was being held on charges of illegal firearms possession, a prison official said. U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Anna Armijo says 43-year-old Saousoalii Siavii Jr. was found unresponsive at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth on Thursday afternoon, The Kansas City Star reported. Siavii was pronounced dead at an area hospital. From American Samoa, the former Oregon lineman was drafted by Kansas City in the second round in 2004 and spent two seasons with the Chiefs. He played for Dallas in 2009 and Seattle in 2010.
UNDATED (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs have added three more players to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol as an outbreak on the team that started in December continues to drag on. The Leafs announced Friday that forwards Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie and defenseman Justin Holl have been added to the list. Toronto lost 2-1 on Wednesday at Arizona, which is dealing with its own COVID-19 issues. A total of 20 Maple Leafs players have entered the protocol since the team's outbreak began last month. Toronto's next game is Saturday at St. Louis.
Update on the latest sports
NBA-SCHEDULE
Mavs halt Grizzlies' streak
UNDATED (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies' team-record, 11-game winning streak is over.
The Dallas Mavericks dominated the second half of a 112-85 thumping of the Grizzlies, outscoring Memphis 62-30 over the last two quarters. Luka Doncic got the better of Ja Morant in an anticipated matchup of guards, posting a triple-double of 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Morant had 19 points and eight assists for the Grizzlies, who actually led by five at halftime.
Tim Hardaway Jr. was among seven Mavs to score in double figures, finishing with 16 off the bench.
Checking out Friday's other NBA action:
— Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul sent the league-leading Suns to a 112-94 win at Indiana. Booker was high scorer with 35 points, while Ayton had 27 points and 12 rebounds. Paul chipped in 12 points and nine assists for Phoenix, which was tied at 76 in the third quarter before embarking on a 23-2 run.
— Rookie Jonathan Kuminga finished with 25 points and Jordan Poole scored 22 for Golden State in a 138-96 thrashing of the Bulls in Chicago. Andrew Wiggins dropped in 21 points and Stephen Curry had 19 for the Warriors, who had dropped four of five before building a 78-47 halftime lead. The Bulls lost star Zach LaVine to a left knee injury in the opening minutes. He's scheduled for an MRI.
— Darius Garland scored 28 points in the Cavaliers' third straight win, 114-109 at San Antonio. Jarrett Allen finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds to help Cleveland deal San Antonio its fifth loss in a row. Dejounte Murray had 30 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Spurs, who are 1-7 in the new year.
— The 76ers reeled off a 28-2 run in the first quarter before coasting past the Celtics, 111-99. Joel Embiid had 25 points and 13 rebounds but was unable to set a team record with his ninth consecutive 30-point performance. Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points, and Tobias Harris and Seth Curry each added 17 to help the 76ers win for the eighth time in nine games.
— Jimmy Butler returned from a three-game absence with a sprained ankle to deliver 23 and help the Heat rally in the fourth quarter to beat the Hawks, 124-118. Tyler Herro scored 24 points for Miami, which trailed by 10 in the second half and held Atlanta without a field goal over the final 3:13. Trae Young had 24 points for the Hawks, who trailed 30-13.
— The Pistons held the Raptors to 32% shooting in a 103-87 victory. Trey Lyles finished with 21 points, while Cade Cunningham and Hamidou Diallo each added 18. Josh Jackson had 13 points off the bench for the Pistons, who are 5-3 this year after finishing 2021 with 18 losses in their last 19 games.
— The Magic's 10-game losing streak is over after the Wagner brothers led them to a 116-109 win over the Hornets. Moe Wagner scored a season-high 26 points, while younger brother Franz added 19 points and seven assists. Gary Harris added 18 points for the Magic, who trailed by three entering the fourth quarter before winning for the first time since Dec. 22.
— The Kings were 126-114 winners over the Rockets as De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III combined for 53 points. Fox furnished 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Bagley had 26 points and 13 boards. Buddy Hield contributed 19 points off the bench and Tyrese Haliburton had a team-high 12 assists for Sacramento.
NBA-NEWS
Durant fined $15,000 for profanity during interview
UNDATED (AP) — Kevin Durant has been fined $15,000 for using profane language during an interview after the Brooklyn Nets' 114-108 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. The NBA said Durant declined to participate in an interview with the league about the incident.
In other NBA news:
— Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, and assistant Pat Delany is taking over as acting head coach starting with Saturday night's game against Portland. Delany said he spoke at length with Unseld on Friday morning, and that he's feeling OK.
T25 MEN'S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Boilermakers hammer Cornhuskers
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue has been prone to slow starts since the start of the men's basketball season. The Boilermakers rectified that situation on Friday.
Zach Edey (EE'-dee) poured in 22 points and Jaden Ivey had 17 as seventh-ranked Purdue pounded Nebraska, 92-65.
The Boilermakers opened on a 23-4 run over the first seven-plus minutes. The Cornhuskers got within 29-17 before Purdue went on a 10-2 spurt to regain control.
The Boilermakers are 14-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten following their sixth win in seven games.
In the only other top-25 game of the night, Kofi Cockburn scored 21 points and hauled in 10 rebounds to help No. 25 Illinois post a 68-53 win against Michigan. Trent Frazier scored 16 points in the second half on 5-of-11 shooting, including a stretch where he had 11 straight for the Illini. He finished with 18 points and a career-high seven assists.
NFL-NEWS
Chiefs' Edwards-Helaire out for playoff opener vs Steelers
UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will be without Clyde Edwards-Helaire for their wild-card playoff game against the Steelers on Sunday night.
The starting running back was unable to put together a full week of practice because of a hurt collarbone. He worked out with the team on a limited basis Wednesday, but did not practice at all Thursday or Friday.
The Chiefs should have Darrel Williams in the backfield after hurting his toe in their regular-season finale. Derrick Gore and Jerick McKinnon will also be available.
In other NFL news:
— Five players, including dynamic pass catchers Cooper Kupp and Davante Adams, are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2021 NFL All-Pro Team. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald also were unanimously selected.
— A former Chiefs defensive tackle was found dead in a Kansas federal prison where he was being held on charges of illegal firearms possession, a prison official said. The Kansas City Star quotes a statement from a U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman that says Saousoalii Siavii Jr. was found unresponsive at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth on Thursday afternoon. Siavii was treated by prison staff and taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Panthers blast Stars
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers continue to be one of the NHL's top teams at home.
Sam Bennett's second hat trick of the season highlighted the Panthers' blowout win over the Stars, 7-1.
Bennett finished with four points and Jonathan Huberdeau added a goal and three assists, giving him 51 points. Anthony Duclair got into the act with a goal and two assists for the Cats, who are 7-0-1 since the COVID-19 pause and 19-3-0 overall at home.
Jake Oettinger was pulled after allowing four goals on 17 shots. He was lifted after Carter Verhaeghe and Huberdeau scored 30 seconds apart in the second period.
Roope Hintz had the lone goal for Dallas, which is 4-11-1 on the road this season.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Matt Boldy and Mats Zuccarello scored four seconds apart while the Wild collected four goals in the third period of a 7-3 trouncing of the Ducks. Zuccarello finished with two goals and an assist, Boldy and Ryan Hartman had one of each, and Kirill Kaprizov added two assists in his return. Kaapo Kahkonen made 39 saves for the rested Wild, who won their 10th straight against the Ducks.
— Nazem Kadri scored the shootout winner and the Avalanche extended the NHL's longest home winning streak in nearly four years to 13 with a 4-3 victory over the undermanned Coyotes. Mikko Rantanen, Tyson Jost and Andre Burakovsky scored in regulation for Colorado and Pavel Francouz stopped 23 shots. Arizona took a 3-2 lead on Shayne Gostisbehere's goal 39 seconds into the third period, but Burakovsky tied it just 29 seconds later.
NHL-NEWS
Maple Leafs put 3 on COVID-19 list as outbreak persists
UNDATED (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs have added three more players to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol as an outbreak on the team that started in December continues to drag on. The Leafs say forwards Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie and defenseman Justin Holl have been added to the list.
Twenty Maple Leafs players have entered the protocol since the team's outbreak began last month. Toronto's next game is Saturday at St. Louis.
More than 100 games have been postponed this season because of coronavirus concerns.
In other hockey news:
— Islanders forward Ross Johnston was suspended for three games without pay by the league for an illegal check to the head against Devils forward A.J. Greer. Johnston was assessed a minor penalty for illegal check to the head early in the first period of the Islanders' 3-2 home victory on Thursday.
— A showcase game in Canada featuring prime prospects eligible for the NHL draft has been postponed because of COVID-19 concerns. The 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game was originally scheduled for Feb. 2 at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, home of the Ontario Hockey League's Rangers.
— Claude Julien has been named coach of Canada's men's hockey team for the Beijing Olympics, and Shane Doan has been named general manager. They replace St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong and Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, who vacated their positions on the national team when the NHL pulled out of an agreement to send its players to the Olympics last month.
TENNIS-EVERT-CANCER
Evert says she is battling cancer
UNDATED (AP) — Tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert says she was diagnosed last month with an early stage of ovarian cancer and has begun chemotherapy treatments this week.
The 67-year-old Evert revealed the illness in a story posted Friday on ESPN.com; she is an on-air announcer for ESPN.
Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, reached No. 1 in the WTA rankings and was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1995.
TENNIS-DJOKOVIC
Joker heading to fifth set
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic was reported to be back in immigration detention Saturday after his legal challenge to avoid being deported from Australia for being unvaccinated for COVID-19 was moved to a higher court.
A Federal Court hearing has been scheduled for Sunday, a day before the men's No. 1-ranked tennis player and nine-time Australian Open champion was due to begin his title defense at the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year.
The Australian Associated Press reported that Djokovic was back in detention. He spent four nights confined to a hotel near downtown Melbourne before being released last Monday when he won a court challenge on procedural grounds against his first visa cancellation.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on Friday blocked the 34-year-old Serb's visa, which was originally revoked when he landed at a Melbourne airport on Jan. 5.
PGA-SONY OPEN
Henley leads after 63
HONOLULU (AP) — Russell Henley closed with a 30-foot eagle put for a 7-under 63 and the second-round lead at the Sony Open.
Henley set a strong target when he was 6 under over his final six holes. That put him at 15-under 125 in another week of low scoring with very little wind at Waialae.
Haotong Li is alone in second, three shots back and one ahead of Matt Kuchar. Both players shot 65s on Friday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWS
ACC commissioner says CFP expansion should be put on hold
UNDATED (AP) — Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner Jim Phillips says now is not the time for College Football Playoff expansion.
Phillips told reporters on a conference call Friday that with the NCAA about to embark on a transformation of Division I, CFP expansion should not be the priority. He also cited the continuing need for federal legislation regarding name, image and likeness compensation for athletes.