AP Sports Summary for January 30, 2025:
Eagles' run to the Super Bowl vs. the Chiefs is fueled by changes after epic collapse last season
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles can trace their run to the Super Bowl to an epic collapse last season. The Eagles were 10-1 and flying high as the best team in the NFL in 2023. Then they limped to a 1-5 regular-season finish before they were put of their misery in a wild-card loss to Tampa Bay. Changes were mandated. The Eagles needed to fix everything from the assistants to the game plan to drafting to repairing the loose connective tissue inside the locker room. The pain and lessons learned from last season fueled the Eagles on their way to a 14-win regular season and three more wins in the playoffs.
Frustration boils over for Spurs' Wembanyama after shove by Zubac sends him flying
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama has had enough. The San Antonio star charged after Ivica Zubac after the Los Angeles center shoved him to the court during the Clippers' 128-116 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night. The frustration with what Wembanyama sees as a lack of calls, and respect, from officials boiled over late in the third quarter — and during his postgame press conference. When asked if he believes he gets a fair whistle from officials, Wembanyama curtly said, "No." Despite Zubac's shove, no foul was called. Officials also did not call a technical foul on Wembanyama and, after a brief discussion, did not review the play.
Nikola Jokic says the surging New York Knicks are a 'top-5 candidate' to win the NBA title
NEW YORK (AP) — Two years after he won an NBA title, Nikola Jokic views the surging New York Knicks as a "top-five candidate" to end their 52-year championship drought. The Knicks beat Jokic's Denver Nuggets 122-112 on Wednesday for their fifth straight victory. At 32-16, they are a game behind reigning champion Boston for second place in the Eastern Conference. After ringing up 143 points in each of their two previous games, their total Wednesday gave the Knicks 408 over their last three games, a franchise record. The Knicks haven't won the title since 1973 and haven't reached the conference finals since 2000.
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 52 but Curry and Wiggins lead balanced Warriors past Thunder 116-109
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry hit a long 3-pointer with 1:52 left on the way to 21 points, Andrew Wiggins scored 27 and the Golden State Warriors beat the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 116-109. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 52 points for the Thunder, two off his career high set against the Utah Jazz a week earlier. Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 points in the opening 8:10, and 21 of his team's 34 first-quarter points. He shot 16 for 29 and converted 18 of 21 free throws.
Caitlin Clark declines invite to a 3-point shootout at NBA All-Star weekend
Caitlin Clark is going to wait until Indianapolis hosts the WNBA All-Star weekend to enter her first 3-point contest. Clark's representatives said Wednesday that the Fever star declined an invitation to participate in a special challenge during NBA All-Star weekend next month. There had been discussions for Clark to participate in a contest similar to the one that pitted Stephen Curry against Sabrina Ionescu in a 3-point shootout during last season's NBA All-Star festivities. The upcoming season's WNBA All-Star weekend is scheduled at the end of July in Indianapolis.
PGA Tour contemplates announcing fines as part of study into slow play
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — More changes could be on the way for the PGA Tour. That might include the use of rangefinders to speed play and even disclosing violations and fines related to pace of play. It's all part of the "Fan Forward" program announced last year. That included a survey of some 50,000 fans to see what they like and what they want to see. Among the key topics are improving the broadcast and speeding play. Also being studied is change to the Tour Championship format. Commissioner Jay Monahan is expected to go into more detail at The Players Championship in March.
Objections flow in on NCAA settlement over 'unnecessarily harsh' impact of roster limits
Most of the objections posted so far to the lawsuit settlement set to alter the college-sports model concerned the impact roster limits will have on players in so-called "Olympic sports," some of whom have already been cut from their teams. As part of the settlement, the NCAA proposed limits on rosters that would be imposed for schools that choose to adhere to the terms of the deal. While the new roster limits expand the number of scholarships schools can provide, estimates are they could lead to the loss of 10,000 or more spots in "non-revenue," or Olympic sports, across the NCAA.
Utah Hockey Club narrows the choice of a permanent name to three finalists. It won't be the Yeti
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club has chosen three finalists for the permanent team name it will adopt beginning with the 2025-26 NHL season. Yeti isn't one of them. The franchise will use a final round of fan voting to decide among the Utah Mammoth, Utah Hockey Club and Utah Wasatch. Fans in attendance the next four home games beginning Wednesday night against Pittsburgh will vote at designated iPad stations at the Delta Center to help decide the name and logo. Team officials backed away from including Yeti as a finalist after being unable to work out a co-existence agreement with Yeti Coolers to use the name in branding and merchandising.
Ravens fans urged to donate for Kincaid after Bills fan organized effort for Andrews
Baltimore Ravens fans are being urged to donate to a group supported by Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid. He had a pass go through his arms late in last weekend's playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. This effort comes after a Bills fan started a fundraiser for a charitable cause supported by Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. His dropped 2-point conversion helped seal Buffalo's win over Baltimore in the divisional round. According to a GoFundMe page Wednesday night, over $20,000 had been raised for Summit Educational Resources. The Summit Center provides programs to children and adults with developmental, social and behavioral challenges. Last April, Kincaid visited with students and staff at Summit Academy.
Ohio State quality control coach placed on leave amid university investigation
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State defensive quality control coach Joe Lyberger has been on paid administrative leave for the last month while the university investigates him. Ohio State's human resources department sent Lyberger a letter on Dec. 27 that noted he would be placed on leave immediately. The investigation is being conducted by the university's Office of Institutional Equity. The letter was obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press through a public records request. The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch first reported Lyberger's situation and noted that the Office of Institutional Equity deals with complaints of harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct among other things. The letter didn't specify the nature of the investigation.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Brooklyn 104 Charlotte 83
Final Toronto 106 Washington 82
Final Indiana 133 Detroit 119
Final Cleveland 126 Miami 106
Final Boston 122 Chicago 100
Final Philadelphia 117 Sacramento 104
Final New York 122 Denver 112
Final L.A. Clippers 128 San Antonio 116
Final Dallas 137 New Orleans 136
Final Minnesota 121 Phoenix 113
Final Golden State 116 Oklahoma City 109
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Minnesota 3 Toronto 1
Final Florida 3 Los Angeles 0
Final New Jersey 5 Philadelphia 0
Final Vancouver 3 Nashville 1
Final OT Pittsburgh 3 Utah 2
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Auburn 87 LSU 74
Final (4)Alabama 88 (14)Mississippi St. 84
Final (6)Houston 63 West Virginia 49
Final Maryland 76 (17)Wisconsin 68
Final (22)Texas Tech 71 TCU 57
Final (23)Mississippi 72 Texas 69
Final (25)UConn 72 DePaul 61
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Atlanta at Cleveland 7 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Washington 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Utah 9 p.m.
Houston at Memphis 9:30 p.m.
Orlando at Portland 10 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Chicago at Carolina 7 p.m.
Los Angeles at Tampa Bay 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Montreal 7 p.m.
Washington at Ottawa 7 p.m.
Winnipeg at Boston 7 p.m.
N-Y Islanders at Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
Anaheim at Calgary 9 p.m.
Detroit at Edmonton 9 p.m.
Columbus at Vegas 10 p.m.
San Jose at Seattle 10:30 p.m.
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(16)Oregon at UCLA 10:30 p.m.
(18)Illinois at Nebraska 8:30 p.m.
(19)Memphis at Tulane 9 p.m.
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