AP Sports Summary for December 17th, 2023.
Jared Goff throws 5 TD passes as NFC North-leading Lions bounce back, beat Broncos 42-17
DETROIT (AP) — Jared Goff matched a career high with five touchdown passes, three to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, and the Detroit Lions routed the Denver Broncos 42-17. The NFC North-leading Lions could clinch a playoff berth for the first time since the 2016 if other results go their way the rest of this weekend. Goff threw three TD passes in the second quarter as the Lions took a 21-0 lead at halftime. Russell Wilson and the Broncos had just 75 yards of offense in the first half. The Broncos fell to 7-7 and their chances of making the playoffs took a hit.
Jake Browning shines again for Bengals, rallying them to 27-24 overtime win over Vikings
CINCINNATI (AP) — Tee Higgins made a savvy goal-line move to score a touchdown and force overtime and Evan McPherson made a 29-yard field goal to seal a 27-24 victory for Cincinnati over the Minnesota Vikings, keeping the Bengals' playoff hopes alive even with star quarterback Joe Burrow out for the season. Higgins caught a 21-yard pass from Jake Browning with under a minute remaining and pulled off an acrobatic move to stretch the ball over the goal line and tie the game. In overtime, a 44-yard catch by Tyler Boyd helped set up a chip shot from McPherson.
Gardner Minshew, Colts bolster playoff chances, beat fading Steelers 30-13
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gardner Minshew threw three touchdown passes and the Indianapolis Colts rushed for 170 yards, improving their playoff prospects with a 30-13 win over the sagging Pittsburgh Steelers. Minshew was 18 of 28 for 215 yards and matched his career high for TD passes while leading a Colts offense lacking its usual complement of playmakers. The Colts have won five of six to improve to 8-6 and temporarily moved a half-game ahead of three teams for the AFC's seventh and final playoff spot. The Steelers dropped their third straight to fall to 7-7 and into last place in the rugged AFC North.
Loyer, Smith lead No. 3 Purdue past No. 1 Arizona 92-84 in NCAA showdown
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Fletcher Loyer tied a career high with 27 points, Braden Smith added 26 and No. 3 Purdue beat No. 1 Arizona 92-84 on Saturday. Loyer was 5 of 9 on 3-pointers and Smith was 4 of 7 while falling one point shy of his career high. Zach Edey added 22 points and nine rebounds, with the 7-foot-4 All-American handling the middle while Smith and Loyer supplied the outside firepower in the Indy Classic. The Boilermakers (10-1) handed the Wildcats their first loss while defeating a No. 1-ranked team for the first time since beating Arizona 72-69 on Nov. 25, 2000, which also was played in Indianapolis.
Keegan Murray makes 12 3-pointers, scores career-high 47 points to lead Kings past Jazz, 125-104
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Keegan Murray made 12 3-pointers, two shy of the NBA record, and scored a career-high 47 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 125-104 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. Murray had a franchise-record 26 points in the third quarter and had Klay Thompson's NBA record of 14 3-pointers in his sights after making 12 of his first 13 attempts. But the second-year forward missed his final two attempts from behind the arc while becoming the seventh player to make 12 or more 3s in a game. Domantas Sabonis added 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, his seventh straight double-double and 20th this season.
Leon Edwards retains welterweight belt with unanimous decision over Colby Covington at UFC 296
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Leon Edwards successfully defended his welterweight belt, unanimously outpointing Colby Covington at UFC 296. In a bout that hardly lived up to its billing, Edwards (22-3) showed poise and patience as he picked his spots to outclass Covington (17-4), beating the former interim champion at his own game. Rather than using his strengths on his feet as a striker, Edwards chose to grapple and counter whenever Covington took shots for a takedown. After entering the arena draped in an American flag, Covington made a pit stop to share a quick word with former President Donald Trump before stepping into the octagon. In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his flyweight belt in his first title defense, winning a unanimous decision over Brandon Royval.
Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes fined a combined $150,000 for criticizing officials, AP source says
A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press that Chiefs coach Andy Reid was fined $100,000 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fined $50,000 for criticizing officials following a 20-17 loss to Buffalo last week. Reid and Mahomes violated the NFL's policy about public criticism of game officials for comments about an offside penalty that negated a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Kadarius Toney clearly lined up offside on a play in which he caught a lateral from Travis Kelce and ran for a score. Reid said officials normally warn players about being offside and called the penalty "a bit embarrassing" for the NFL.
Tyler Glasnow traded to Dodgers from Rays after agreeing to $136.5 million, 5-year contract
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their second major move this offseason, acquiring Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays in a four-player trade after the pitcher agreed to a $136.5 million, five-year contract. Los Angeles also received outfielder Manuel Margot and sent the Rays young right-hander Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca. A week after signing free agent Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million, 10-year contract to bolster an already potent lineup, the Dodgers addressed a need for pitching help with the addition of an often-injured, hard-throwing right-hander with a track record of being a dominant performer when healthy.
NFL bans Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro from sideline for rest of regular season, AP sources say
Two people familiar with the league's decision told The Associated Press the NFL has banned Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro from being on the sideline for the remainder of the regular season after he was ejected from a game for a scuffle with 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. One of the people said Saturday that DiSandro is still allowed to travel with the team and perform all other work duties but he is not permitted on the sideline while the league is continuing its investigation. Both people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league hasn't announced its decision, said DiSandro can return to the sideline for the playoffs.
Bucks roll to 146-114 blowout as Pistons suffer their 23rd consecutive loss
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 33 points, Bobby Portis had a season-high 31 and the Milwaukee Bucks trounced Detroit 146-114 on Saturday to hand the Pistons their 23rd consecutive loss. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists while shooting 7 of 9 in his first game since scoring a franchise-record 64 points Wednesday. Detroit has matched the NBA's third-longest skid within the same season. The 1995-96 Vancouver Grizzlies, 1997-98 Denver Nuggets and 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats also lost 23 straight.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Milwaukee 146 Detroit 114
Final Philadelphia 135 Charlotte 82
Final Cleveland 127 Atlanta 119
Final Miami 118 Chicago 116
Final Minnesota 127 Indiana 109
Final Golden State 124 Brooklyn 120
Final Dallas 131 Portland 120
Final Oklahoma City 118 Denver 117
Final Sacramento 125 Utah 104
Final L.A. Clippers 144 New York 122
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final SO Minnesota 2 Vancouver 1
Final New Jersey 6 Columbus 3
Final Philadelphia 1 Detroit 0
Final Montreal 5 N-Y Islanders 3
Final Winnipeg 6 Colorado 2
Final Toronto 7 Pittsburgh 0
Final OT N-Y Rangers 2 Boston 1
Final Nashville 3 Washington 1
Final OT St. Louis 4 Dallas 3
Final Arizona 2 Buffalo 0
Final Calgary 4 Tampa Bay 2
Final Florida 5 Edmonton 1
Final SO Los Angeles 3 Seattle 2
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final OT Cincinnati 27 Minnesota 24
Final Indianapolis 30 Pittsburgh 13
Final Detroit 42 Denver 17
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (3)Purdue 92 (1)Arizona 84
Final (2)Kansas 75 Indiana 71
Final (4)Houston 70 Texas A&M 66
Final Michigan St. 88 (6)Baylor 64
Final (8)Creighton 85 Alabama 82
Final (14)Kentucky 87 (9)North Carolina 83
Final (11)Oklahoma 81 Green Bay 47
Final (12)Tennessee 79 NC State 70
Final Memphis 79 (13)Clemson 77
Final (15)FAU 64 St. Bonaventure 54
Final (18)BYU 86 Georgia St. 54
Final (19)Texas 96 LSU 85
Final (20)James Madison 88 Hampton 71
Final (22)Virginia 56 Northeastern 54
Final (24)Miami 84 La Salle 77
Final (25)Northwestern 56 DePaul 46
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Orlando at Boston 3 p.m.
New Orleans at San Antonio 3:30 p.m.
Houston at Milwaukee 7 p.m.
Washington at Phoenix 8 p.m.
Golden State at Portland 9 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Vancouver at Chicago 3 p.m.
Washington at Carolina 6 p.m.
Anaheim at New Jersey 7 p.m.
Ottawa at Vegas 8 p.m.
San Jose at Colorado 8 p.m.
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Atlanta at Carolina 1 p.m.
Chicago at Cleveland 1 p.m.
Houston at Tennessee 1 p.m.
Kansas City at New England 1 p.m.
N-Y Giants at New Orleans 1 p.m.
N-Y Jets at Miami 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Green Bay 1 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona 4:05 p.m.
Washington at L.A. Rams 4:05 p.m.
Dallas at Buffalo 4:25 p.m.
Baltimore at Jacksonville 8:20 p.m.
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Colgate at (16)Illinois 1 p.m.
CSU-Pueblo at (17)Colorado St. 6 p.m.
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