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Paul George's throbbing toe was not only limiting his performance on the court recently, but the LA Clippers guard could feel it dragging him down mentally. So the All-Star reset his mentality, and the result has been the best week-plus stretch of the season for him and the Clippers. "The injury allowed me to kind of make an excuse for myself," George said Tuesday. "But then I put it in perspective ... if I'm gonna play, then don't let it limit me." "I feel like I've had a breakthrough because of that mindset." In his latest return to Indiana, George delivered 36 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead the Clippers to a 126-115 win over the Pacers on Tuesday. The Clippers (38-18) won their sixth straight game despite not having Kawhi Leonard (sore right foot) in their past two wins. George has shouldered the load. This was the fourth straight game George has scored 30 or more points, tied for the second-longest streak of his All-Star...

HOUSTON -- Houston attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement Tuesday night that his law firm will amend all of the lawsuits filed against Deshaun Watson to disclose the names of the plaintiffs, "even those not currently subject to any court order." The lawsuits, all originally filed on behalf of Jane Does from March 16 to April 2, allege inappropriate behavior and sexual assault against the Houston Texans quarterback. Watson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told NFL Network on Tuesday that one of the women who filed one of the 22 lawsuits has dropped her civil case against Watson. On Friday, two judges ruled that most of the plaintiffs suing Watson must identify themselves. The rulings from two hearings Friday covered 13 of the 22 lawsuits filed against Watson, while the attorneys also agreed to release a 14th name later in the day. Before Friday, only two women had been publicly identified. Another emergency hearing to determine whether the remaining...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Players from the  Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and  Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not formally report to their respective team facilities next week to begin voluntary offseason workouts, the teams said in statements released by the NFL Players Association on Tuesday. In their statement, the Broncos players cited rising COVID-19 positivity rates in Denver and surrounding communities, as well as the lack of "adequate protocols in place." Sources told ESPN that the players voted to take this action and notified coach Vic Fangio earlier Tuesday morning that the vote had taken place.  The Seahawks players issued a similar statement in which they noted, "The NFLPA has provided us with thorough research and information regarding our safety as players as we enter voluntary workouts this year, especially the benefits on our health and safety from a virtual off-season last year. After considering all the facts, we as a team have...

A star on the social media platform TikTok said that YouTube-star-turned-boxer Jake Paul forced her into a sex act without consent in the summer of 2019. Justine Paradise said in a 20-minute video posted on YouTube last Friday that she didn't say anything about the alleged attack sooner because she signed a nondisclosure agreement and thought that it would have broken the contract. In a statement to ESPN, attorney Daniel E. Gardenswartz, who works for the law firm Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP, said Paul "categorically denies the allegation" and will pursue "legal action against those responsible for the defamation of character." In the lengthy video, Paradise said she met Paul several times in June and July of 2019 at the Team 10 House, a Los Angeles mansion where several social media stars lived and worked. Paradise said that on July 20, 2019, she felt like she made it clear to Paul that she didn't want to go any further than just kissing, but Paul forced her to have oral...

As the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets resumed play after Monday's game was postponed in the wake of the police shooting of Daunte Wright, Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said he hoped playing Tuesday would "give our guys a platform to show and say what they feel." "We live here," Rosas said. "This is our community. To be experiencing this again in a middle of a trial is something that's very emotional and overwhelming." Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, died on Sunday when Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter shot him during a traffic stop. The Brooklyn Center police chief, Tim Gannon, said the shooting was "accidental" and that Potter had intended to fire a Taser and not a handgun. Gannon and Potter's resignations were announced on Tuesday. The shooting of Wright coincided with the trail of Derek Chauvin, the former policeman who prosecutors say knelt on George Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes, killing the...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks players will not formally report to their respective team facilities next week to begin voluntary offseason workouts, both teams said in statements released by the NFL Players Association on Tuesday. In their statement, the Broncos players cited rising COVID-19 positivity rates in Denver and surrounding communities, as well as the lack of "adequate protocols in place." Sources told ESPN that the players voted to take this action and notified coach Vic Fangio earlier Tuesday morning that the vote had taken place.  The Seahawks players issued a similar statement in which they noted, "The NFLPA has provided us with thorough research and information regarding our safety as players as we enter voluntary workouts this year, especially the benefits on our health and safety from a virtual off-season last year. After considering all the facts, we as a team have decided to make a decision that is...

The NFL expects the key members of each team's football operations staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a "bona fide" medical or religious reason not to, according to a memo issued to all clubs Tuesday. NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said last month that no NFL employee, including players, would be required to be vaccinated as a condition of employment, and that remains the case. Tuesday's edict, however, outlines the repercussions for those Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees who choose not to. Those groups do not include players, but rather coaches, front-office executives, medical personnel, video specialists and others who traditionally work closely with players. According to the memo, "any staffer that refuses to be vaccinated without either a religious or medical reason will not be eligible for Tier 1 or 2 status and therefore will not be permitted access to the 'football only' restricted area and may not work directly or in close proximity with players."...

The NFL expects the key members of each team's football operations staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a "bona fide" medical or religious reason not to, according to a memo issued to all clubs Tuesday. NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said last month that no NFL employee, including players, would be required to vaccination as a condition of employment, and that remains the case. Tuesday's edict, however, outlines the repercussions for those Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees who choose not to. Those groups do not include players but rather coaches, front office executives, medical personnel, video specialists and others who traditionally work closely with players. According to the memo, "any staffer that refuses to be vaccinated without either a religious or medical reason will not be eligible for Tier 1 or 2 status and therefore will not be permitted access to the 'football only' restricted area and may not work directly or in close proximity with players."...

The WNBA released its 2021 schedule Tuesday as the league gets set to celebrate its 25th season starting May 14. The 12 teams will play 32 regular-season games, which includes a break from July 12-Aug. 14 for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The television schedule will be released at a later date. The WNBA had a 22-game regular season last year in the bubble in Bradenton, Florida. This year, teams will be back at home arenas. For the defending champion Seattle Storm this season, that will be at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington, as refurbishment work continues on Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The Los Angeles Sparks will play home games at both the Los Angeles Convention Center and Staples Center. And the New York Liberty's home games are now played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. "As we tip-off this historic season with teams returning to play in their home markets, we celebrate the impact the WNBA has made on generations of young and diverse athletes and on sports...

The PGA Tour will no longer require players and caddies who are fully vaccinated to take weekly COVID-19 tests at tournament sites as a condition of competition. The tour sent a memo to players that was obtained by ESPN that lays out the broad details, with more information to come. "As the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming more readily available, more individuals are being vaccinated," the tour wrote in the memo. "PGA Tour Health and Safety protocol requires individuals to continue testing onsite until 14 full days have passed since their second dose (Moderna & Pfizer) or 14 full days since their single dose (Johnson & Johnson). Once 14 days have passed, individuals are no longer required to take a COVID-19 test when considered 'inside the bubble' at PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions or Korn Ferry Tour events." The FDA and CDC on Monday called for a pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Golf Digest first reported the contents of the PGA Tour memo. Commissioner Jay Monahan...

Sammis Reyes exited high school with dreams of playing in the NBA. Now he hopes to be the latest former Division I basketball player to make it as an NFL tight end with the Washington Football Team. He would also become the first Chilean-born player to make a 53-man roster. Washington signed Reyes, who had been training at IMG Academy in Florida as part of the International Pathway Program, on Tuesday. Participants in this program get assigned to a random division, and those teams could then pick one player from a pool of 11 athletes. But after Reyes worked out at the University of Florida's pro day on March 31, Washington decided to sign him so no one else would have a shot. At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Reyes has the size necessary to play tight end. He ran a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash while bench-pressing 225 pounds 31 times at the pro day. But he has never played in a game, despite coaches telling him when he was younger that he should try the sport. However, Reyes told...

Hours after Luka Doncic criticized the idea of the NBA's play-in tournament, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told ESPN that the concept is "an enormous mistake," especially due to this season's compressed schedule. "I get why the NBA is doing it," Cuban said in a series of messages to ESPN. "But if we are going to be creative because of COVID, we should go straight up 1-20 and let the bottom 4 play in. This is the year particularly to do it since the 10 games cut [from the normal 82-game schedule] were in conference. "The worst part of this approach is that it doubles the stress of the compressed schedule. Rather than playing for a playoff spot and being able to rest players as the standings become clearer, teams have to approach every game as a playoff game to either get into or stay in the top 6 since the consequences, as Luka said, are enormous. So players are playing more games and more minutes in fewer days." The NBA board of governors, which...

Hours after Luka Doncic criticized the idea of the NBA's play-in tournament, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told ESPN that the concept is "an enormous mistake," especially due to this season's compressed schedule. "I get why the NBA is doing it," Cuban said in a series of messages to ESPN. "But if we are going to be creative because of COVID, we should go straight up 1-20 and let the bottom 4 play in. This is the year particularly to do it since the 10 games cut [from the normal 82-game schedule] were in conference. "The worst part of this approach is that it doubles the stress of the compressed schedule. Rather than playing for a playoff spot and being able to rest players as the standings become clearer, teams have to approach every game as a playoff game to either get into or stay in the top 6 since the consequences, as Luka said, are enormous. So players are playing more games and more minutes in fewer days." The NBA board of governors, which...

The  Tennessee State Tigers officially named Eddie George as the head football coach Tuesday, calling it "the right choice and investment" for the school and its football program. "All I have done has prepared me for this moment, whether that's my football career, my entrepreneurial endeavors, my acting career," George said in a university statement. "Coaching is a full commitment, a duty of service," he said. "I take that seriously. I've done a lot of soul searching and due diligence. The more I thought about it, I got more and more excited about it. It was like picking up an old guitar or getting back on a bike, it's familiar but in a different capacity." "For decades, TSU has always made bold and strategic hires within our athletic programs that laid the foundation for our storied success in sports," said university president Glenda Glover, who made the initial call to gauge George's interest. "Eddie George, with the resources he will bring to TSU, is the right choice...

Tennessee State officially named Eddie George as its head football coach Tuesday, calling it "the right chase and investment" for the school and its football program. "All I have done has prepared me for this moment, whether that's my football career, my entrepreneurial endeavors, my acting career," George said in a university statement. "Coaching is a full commitment, a duty of service," he said. "I take that seriously. I've done a lot of soul searching and due diligence. The more I thought about it, I got more and more excited about it. It was like picking up an old guitar or getting back on a bike, it's familiar but in a different capacity." "For decades, TSU has always made bold and strategic hires within our athletic programs that laid the foundation for our storied success in sports," said university president Glenda Glover, who made the initial call to gauge George's interest. "Eddie George, with the resources he will bring to TSU, is the right choice and investment for the...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals added much-needed depth in the backfield on Tuesday when they agreed to terms on a one-year contract with former Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner. Conner, 25, will be paired with Chase Edmonds to form the Cardinals' 2021 backfield. It's expected that they'll share reps and responsibilities in coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense that asks running backs to be both rushers and receivers. Conner will reunite with Cardinals running backs coach James Saxon, who was his position coach in Pittsburgh in 2017 and 2018. He received a one-year, $1.25 million contract, which is all fully guaranteed, including a $500,000 signing bonus, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Connor went to the Pro Bowl in 2018 under Saxon's tutelage after rushing for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns, tied for the third most in the NFL that season, and while catching 55 passes for 497 yards and a touchdown in 13 games. Arizona was in need of...

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee and will be out indefinitely, the team announced Tuesday. Murray suffered what appeared to be a noncontact injury during the Nuggets' 116-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. He crumpled to the ground in pain, clutching his left knee and pounding the court with his hand after trying to split two Warriors defenders on a drive with 50.6 seconds remaining and the Nuggets trailing 111-104. Nuggets coach Michael Malone came out to check on Murray after the injury and immediately yelled, asking for more medical attention. The medical staff brought out a wheelchair, but Murray declined and hopped off the court with the aid of two staff members while trying not to put any weight on his left leg. Murray, 24, has been hobbled by injuries this season and is averaging 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. The Nuggets...

The Georgia High School Association has levied a $7,500 fine against Valdosta High School, ordered the Wildcats to forfeit seven victories from the 2020 football season, banned the team from playing in the postseason in 2021, and declared a handful of players ineligible for next season after an investigation into whether the team used ineligible players. GHSA executive director Dr. Robin Hines confirmed the sanctions to ESPN on Tuesday morning. Valdosta High School is expected to appeal the sanctions. The GHSA investigation was the result of comments made by Valdosta High coach Rush Propst on a secretly recorded conversation he had with former booster club executive director Michael "Nub" Nelson in May, in which Propst indicated he needed "funny money" to help pay for living expenses for players' families who wanted to move there. Propst was placed on administrative leave last month. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment. The Valdosta Board of Education...

Longtime UConn assistant and former Huskies player Shea Ralph is the new women's basketball coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores, the school announced Tuesday. She replaces Stephanie White, who was fired on April 6 after going 46-83 in five seasons. Ralph is the sixth coach in Vanderbilt women's hoops history. A native of North Carolina, Ralph spent 13 seasons as an assistant to Geno Auriemma at her alma mater, with the Huskies winning six national championships in that time. "I have always been motivated and inspired by people who have a passionate pursuit of excellence," Ralph said in a statement. "Vanderbilt's rich, storied tradition of excellence speaks for itself, but I believe what sets us apart is the people. I am so excited to work alongside our amazing community in elevating our women's basketball program back to an elite level. Together we will invest in each other and build a greatness that transcends the game of basketball." Ralph, 43, played at UConn...

The Georgia High School Association has levied a $7,500 fine against Valdosta High School, ordered the Wildcats to forfeit seven victories from the 2020 football season, banned it from playing in the postseason in 2021, and declared a handful of players ineligible for next season following an investigation into whether the team used ineligible players. GHSA executive director Dr. Robin Hines confirmed the sanctions to ESPN on Tuesday morning. Valdosta High School is expected to appeal the sanctions. The GHSA investigation was the result of comments made by Valdosta High coach Rush Propst on a secretly recorded conversation he had with former booster club executive director Michael "Nub" Nelson in May, in which Propst indicated he needed "funny money" to help pay for living expenses for players' families who wanted to move there. Propst was placed on administrative leave last month. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment. The Valdosta Board of Education is...

Longtime UConn assistant and former Huskies player Shea Ralph is the new women's basketball coach at Vanderbilt, the school announced Tuesday. She replaces Stephanie White, who was fired on April 6 after going 46-83 in five seasons. Ralph is the sixth coach in Vanderbilt women's hoops history. A native of North Carolina, Ralph spent 13 seasons as an assistant to Geno Auriemma at her alma mater, with the Huskies winning six national championships in that time. "I have always been motivated and inspired by people who have a passionate pursuit of excellence," Ralph said in a statement. "Vanderbilt's rich, storied tradition of excellence speaks for itself, but I believe what sets us apart is the people. I am so excited to work alongside our amazing community in elevating our women's basketball program back to an elite level. Together we will invest in each other and build a greatness that transcends the game of basketball." Ralph, 43, played at UConn from 1996-2001, missing the...

The Minnesota Timberwolves will play the visiting Brooklyn Nets at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday without fans. The rare weekday matinee tilt comes after Monday's game was postponed following the police shooting of Daunte Wright. Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, died Sunday after a police officer shot him in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center during a traffic stop. The Brooklyn Center police chief said the shooting was accidental, as the officer involved intended to fire a stun gun and not a handgun during a struggle with Wright. Police were trying to arrest Wright on an outstanding warrant. Officer Kim Potter, who shot Wright, and Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon both resigned on Tuesday. The Wolves' matchup was one of several games postponed in Minnesota on Monday. The Minnesota Twins were to open their series against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Monday afternoon, but that was postponed. Instead, the teams will play Tuesday at 2:10 p.m. ET,...

Cleveland Indians infielder Yu Chang shared on Twitter that he received racist social media messages after his decisive throwing error in Cleveland's loss Monday to the White Sox. "Exercise your freedom of speech in a right way, I accept all comments, positive or negative but DEFINITELY NOT RACIST ONES," Chang, a native of Taiwan,  tweeted early Tuesday morning. "Thank you all and love you all. #StopAsianHate." Chang's tweet included a screenshot of racist, anti-Asian social media messages he purportedly received from three different users. Two of the accounts no longer existed as of Tuesday morning, and the third is private. Cleveland lost 4-3 on Monday night when Chang, who was playing first base, hit Chicago's Yasmani Grandal in the helmet with a throw while trying to force him at second base rather than step on first base for the second out in the ninth inning. The error allowed  Nick Madrigal to score the winning run. Indians manager...

Cleveland Indians infielder Yu Chang shared on Twitter that he received racist social media messages after his decisive throwing error in Cleveland's loss Monday to the White Sox. Chang tweeted early Tuesday morning: "Exercise your freedom of speech in a right way, I accept all comments, positive or negative but DEFINITELY NOT RACIST ONES. Thank you all and love you all. #StopAsianHate." Chang's tweet included a screenshot of anti-Asian racist messages he purportedly received from three different users. Two of the accounts no longer existed as of Tuesday morning, and the third is private. Cleveland lost 4-3 on Monday night when Chang hit Chicago's Yasmani Grandal with a throw while trying to force him at second base in the ninth inning, allowing Nick Madrigal to score the winning run. Chang, who was playing first base, fielded Nick Williams' one-out grounder and tried to get Grandal at second rather than step on first base for the...

Indians infielder Yu Chang shared that he received racist messages on Twitter after his decisive throwing error in Cleveland's loss Monday to the White Sox. Chang tweeted early Tuesday morning: "Exercise your freedom of speech in a right way, I accept all comments, positive or negative but DEFINITELY NOT RACIST ONES. Thank you all and love you all. #StopAsianHate." Chang's tweet included a screenshot of anti-Asian racist messages he purportedly received from three different users. Two of the Twitter accounts no longer existed as of Tuesday morning, and the third is private. The Indians lost 4-3 on Monday night when Chang hit Chicago's Yasmani Grandal with a throw while trying to force him at second base in the ninth inning, allowing Nick Madrigal to score the winning run. Chang, who was playing first base, fielded Nick Williams' one-out grounder and tried to get Grandal at second rather than step on first base for the second out....

A former student is suing the University of Evansville, alleging she was sexually assaulted by former men's basketball coach Walter McCarty and that the school failed to provide a safe environment. The Title IX lawsuit was filed Monday. In it, the former student, identified as Jane Doe and described as a former athletic trainer at Evansville, alleges McCarty sent her inappropriate messages on social media and via text. She said that led to him pressuring her to visit his home, where he allegedly assaulted her on Dec. 9, 2019. According to the suit, the woman three days later sought counseling from a campus counselor and filed an anonymous report online with the university through Crime Stoppers. The woman said she had troubles academically and socially after the alleged assault, and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The lawsuit also claims that the university received multiple other reports of alleged inappropriate behavior by McCarty after he was hired in March...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Denver Nuggets star point guard Jamal Murray went down in immediate pain after injuring his left knee on a drive to the basket in the final minute of a 116-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.  In what appeared to be a noncontact injury, Murray crumpled to the ground in pain, clutching his left knee and pounding the court with his hand after trying to split two Warriors defenders on a drive with 50.6 seconds remaining and the Nuggets trailing 111-104. Nuggets coach Michael Malone came out to check on Murray after the injury and immediately yelled, asking for more medical attention. The medical staff brought out a wheelchair, but Murray declined and hopped off the court with the aid of two staff members while trying not to put any weight on his left leg. News of the injury spread quickly as players all around the NBA sent their well wishes on Twitter. After the game, a visibly shaken Malone said the team was...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stephen Curry became the all-time points leader in Golden State Warriors history on Monday night, passing Wilt Chamberlain's previous record of 17,783. It's a feat that even Curry himself had a hard time wrapping his head around because of Chamberlain's historical significance to the game. "It's crazy," Curry said after scoring 53 points in Monday's 116-107 win over the Denver Nuggets. "Anytime you hear his name, it's kind of daunting because you know his records are so hard to -- some of them are even impossible to eclipse, I think. You understand how great of a player he was.  "I can't remember how many games he played as a Warrior, and how many I've played, but to be anywhere near him in any record book or now be on top, it's surreal, and it's wild. Because if you grow up in the game of basketball and you hear his name, you know it's something extremely special, no matter what it is." Curry's record-setting basket came on...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stephen Curry is the all-time points leader in Golden State Warriors history, passing Wilt Chamberlain's previous record of 17,783. Curry's record-setting basket came on a driving layup with 1:40 left in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Denver Nuggets. Needing just 19 to surpass Chamberlain, Curry finished with 21 points in the first quarter, receiving congratulations from teammates and coaches after heading to the bench at the end of the quarter. He didn't stop there. Curry would go on to finish the night with 53 points in Golden State's 116-107 victory, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to record multiple seasons with three or more 50-point games.  "It's just an incredible feat," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Monday's game on the subject of Curry eclipsing Chamberlain. "Passing Wilt in anything statistically is sort of remarkable because his name is just all over the NBA record books. So the...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray injured his left knee at the end of the fourth quarter of Monday's game against the Golden State Warriors and did not return. The Nuggets are working to get Murray an MRI on the knee to evaluate the severity of the injury, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The injury occurred with 50.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter as Murray drove to the rim. It appeared to be a non-contact injury as Murray crumpled to the ground in pain after trying to make a play at the rim. Nuggets coach Michael Malone came out to check on Murray after the injury and immediately yelled for more medical attention. After staying on the ground for several minutes, Murray got to his feet and hopped back to the locker room with the assistance of members of the Nuggets training staff. Murray was not putting any weight on his injured knee. Members of both teams stood around Murray concerned about the injury as towels were brought...

DALLAS -- Count Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic among the critics of the NBA's play-in tournament concept. "I don't understand the idea of a play-in," Doncic said Monday after a 113-95 loss to the visiting  Philadelphia 76ers, the Mavs' third defeat in four games. "You play 72 games to get into the playoffs, then maybe you lose two in a row and you're out of the playoffs. So I don't see the point of that." Dallas (29-24) is in seventh place in the Western Conference standings, meaning they would have to participate in the play-in tournament if they can't move up. The Mavs are two games behind the Portland Trail Blazers, who own the tiebreaker between the teams due to beating Dallas in two of their three meetings. The NBA board of governors unanimously approved a proposal to implement a play-in tournament for this season, after the league used it for the first time prior to the playoffs in the bubble last summer. The play-in concept...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stephen Curry is the all-time points leader in Golden State Warriors history, passing Wilt Chamberlain's previous record of 17,783. Curry's record-setting basket came on a driving layup with 1:40 left in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Denver Nuggets. Needing just 19 to surpass Chamberlain, Curry finished with 21 points in the first quarter, receiving congratulations from teammates and coaches after heading to the bench at the end of the quarter. He didn't stop there. Curry would go on to finish the night with 53 points in Golden State's 116-107 victory, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to record multiple seasons with three or more 50-point games.  "It's just an incredible feat," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before Monday's game on the subject of Curry eclipsing Chamberlain. "Passing Wilt in anything statistically is sort of remarkable because his name is just all over the NBA record books. So the...

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks took himself out of the lineup for Monday's series opening win against the  Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in the wake of the unrest in Minneapolis after the police shooting of Daunte Wright on Sunday night During his pregame media availability, manager Aaron Boone said designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was also considering sitting the game out, but the slugger ended up playing Monday night in New York's 3-1 win.    "With all that's going on in Minneapolis, he's having a tough time right now," Boone said of Hicks. "Had a conversation in my office and he just felt like it was best to not be in the starting lineup tonight. And I certainly support that and we'll and try to rally around him the best we can. Obviously, the situation is heartbreaking right now in Minneapolis. And I think it has hit Aaron particularly hard." "I talked to [Giancarlo Stanton] briefly, so we'll see where...

METAIRIE, La. -- The "King of New Orleans"? Saints coach Sean Payton will be portrayed by comic actor Kevin James in an upcoming Netflix movie titled, "Home Team." The movie is being produced by Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions. As NBC's Peter King first reported, the movie will be based on how Payton wound up serving as an assistant coach on his son Connor's sixth-grade football team in the Dallas area while he was suspended by the NFL in 2012 over the "Bountygate" scandal. Payton told ESPN that he believes the movie will have a "humorous Adam Sandler" spin and will be more "inspired by" his real-life experience than an exact retelling. It will be focused on his experience coaching the youth team. Payton said the idea was generated after his daughter, Meghan, reported a story for the NFL Network looking back on that season with the kids from the Liberty Christian Warriors team. Meghan's boyfriend, Christopher Titone, is Sandler's brother-in-law, as well as an actor who...

Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch is back in Houston for the first time since he was dismissed by the  Astros in the aftermath of a sign-stealing scandal that rocked baseball. If he was worried about how he will be received in his old stomping grounds, he hid it well during a pregame videoconference on Monday, but that doesn't mean he didn't anticipate some strong feelings. "I do have to focus on the good things that happened here," Hinch said before his new club opened a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. "I have a lot of fond memories, incredible interactions with fans and throughout the organization. Some really great times and ultimately a really low time. I kind of embrace all parts of that in my journey through this. "I think it will be emotional for me. I wish I had a great quote for the words or the right thing to say about what I'm feeling. I know Jose (Altuve) described it as weird, and it's different, coming to the visiting side as the ex-manager is a lot...

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- New York Yankees centerfielder Aaron Hicks took himself out of the lineup for Monday's series opener between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in the wake of the unrest in Minneapolis after the police shooting of Daunte Wright on Sunday night During his pregame media availability, manager Aaron Boone said designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was also considering sitting the game out but the slugger ended up playing Monday night.    "With all that's going on in Minneapolis, he's having a tough time right now," Boone said. "Had a conversation in my office and he just felt like it was best to not be in the starting lineup tonight. And I certainly support that and we'll and try to rally around him the best we can. Obviously, the situation is heartbreaking right now in Minneapolis. And I think it has hit Aaron particularly hard." "I talked to [Giancarlo Stanton] briefly, so we'll see where that leads,"...

Patriots star receiver Julian Edelman, who helped New England win three championships and was the MVP of Super Bowl LIII, announced his retirement in a video posted on social media Monday. The NFL transaction wire released Monday stated that Edelman had his contract terminated by the Patriots, but the roster move is expected to be a technicality as part of his retirement, a source told ESPN. "It was a hard decision, but the right decision for me and my family," Edelman said. "And I'm honored and so proud to be retiring a Patriot. ... It's been the best 12 years of my life." Edelman, who turns 35 next month, was limited to six games last season because of a chronic knee injury. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Patriots and ranks second in NFL history with 118 postseason receptions, behind only Jerry Rice's 151. One of Edelman's signature plays was an improbable diving catch in Super Bowl LI, helping the Patriots overcome a 28-3 second-half deficit to rally past...

The Washington Capitals acquired Red Wings winger Anthony Mantha in a blockbuster deal ahead of Monday's NHL trade deadline, the team announced. In exchange, the Capitals sent the Red Wings forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik, as well as a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick.   Mantha, 26, was a 2013 first-round pick of the Red Wings and has scored 95 goals and 99 assists for 194 points in 302 career games. The winger just signed a new four-year deal with the Red Wings in November; Mantha is under contract through 2023-24 at a cap hit of $5.7 million. Detroit is poised to miss the postseason for the fifth-straight season -- following the franchise's record 25-year playoff streak. Mantha has long been viewed as a core piece to build around, alongside captain Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi. However general manager Steve Yzerman is embarking on a full rebuild, and sources say in recent weeks became open...

Patriots star receiver Julian Edelman, who helped New England win three championships and was the MVP of Super Bowl LIII, is expected to retire, a source told ESPN. The NFL transaction wire released Monday stated that Edelman had his contract terminated by the Patriots, but the roster move is expected to be a technicality as part of his retirement, the source told ESPN. Edelman, who turns 35 next month, was limited to six games last season because of a chronic knee injury. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Patriots and ranks second in NFL history with 118 postseason receptions, behind only Jerry Rice's 151. One of Edelman's signature plays was an improbable diving catch in Super Bowl LI, helping the Patriots overcome a 28-3 second-half deficit to rally past the Atlanta Falcons. Two years later in a victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, he was named MVP after totaling 10 receptions for 141 yards. Edelman caps his career in second...

The Vegas Golden Knights acquired forward Mattias Janmark from the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a three-team trade Monday that also involved the San Jose Sharks. Chicago received a second-round pick in the 2021 draft and a third-rounder in 2022, while Vegas also acquired a fifth-round pick and defenseman Nick DeSimone from San Jose, which received a fifth-rounder via Buffalo. The Blackhawks had scratched Janmark, 28, from Sunday's game with an eye toward Monday's trade deadline. Although the Blackhawks are close to playoff contention, they are in the midst of a youth movement. Janmark was a depth forward for the Dallas Stars for the first four seasons of his career, never breaking the 40-point mark. But he surprised in Chicago, even earning time on the power play. He paid back the bigger role with 10 goals and nine assists in 41 games. The Golden Knights, gearing up for a deep postseason run, are currently in second in the West Division,...

The  Minnesota Twins,  Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Wild all postponed games on Monday following the police shooting of Daunte Wright on Sunday night. Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, died Sunday after a police officer shot him in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center during a traffic stop. The Brooklyn Center police chief said the shooting was accidental, as the officer involved intended to fire a stun gun and not a handgun during a struggle with Wright. Police were trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. "Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Brooklyn Center, and following the additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interest of our fans, staff, players and community to not play today's game" the Twins said in a statement.   The decision to postpone their home game against the Boston Red Sox was made by the Twins after consulting...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As thrilled as Sam Darnold appears to get a second chance with the Carolina Panthers, he admitted it was tough moving on from the team that drafted him and even tougher being kept in limbo the past three months while the New York Jets explored their options at quarterback. "That was tough. I'm not going to lie,'' Darnold said Monday in his first public comments since the Jets traded him a week ago. "That was the tough part for me, just because ... I'm a planner. I like to have things planned out and what the next step was going to be. "The uncertainty there was, for lack of a better term, driving me insane.'' The Jets never committed to Darnold, the third pick of the 2018 draft, after the 2020 season as they evaluated what they might do with the second pick of this year's draft. It wasn't until Ohio State's pro day on March 30 that talks with Carolina general manager Scott Fitterer escalated. Six days later, the Panthers gave...

The  Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Timberwolves postponed games on Monday following the police shooting of Daunte Wright on Sunday night. "Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Brooklyn Center, and following the additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interest of our fans, staff, players and community to not play today's game" the Twins said in a statement. The Twins were slated to play the Boston Red Sox. The Timberwolves were scheduled to play the Brooklyn Nets. The decision to postpone the game was made by the Twins after consulting Major League Baseball, in addition to local and state officials. Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, died Sunday after a police officer shot him in the suburb of Brooklyn Center during a traffic stop. The Brooklyn Center police chief said the shooting was accidental, as the officer involved intended to fire a stun gun and not a handgun...

Monday afternoon's game between the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox has been postponed due to "safety reasons" following the police shooting of Daunte Wright on Sunday night. "Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Brooklyn Center, and following the additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interest of our fans, staff, players and community to not play today's game" the Twins said in a statement. The decision to postpone the game was made by the Twins after consulting Major League Baseball, in addition to local and state officials. Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, died Sunday after a police officer shot him in the suburb of Brooklyn Center during a traffic stop. The Brooklyn Center police chief said the shooting was accidental, as the officer involved intended to fire a stun gun and not a handgun during a struggle with Wright. Police were trying to arrest him on an...

The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Alex Iafallo to a four-year, $16 million contract extension on Monday -- just hours before the league's trade deadline. The 27-year-old Iafallo was getting interest from other teams, but the Kings and Iafallo's agent, Lewis Gross, were able to hammer out a deal to keep the winger in Los Angeles. The Kings have fallen out of playoff contention and already sent veteran center Jeff Carter to Pittsburgh for draft picks. Iafallo has 11 goals and 14 assists in 39 games this season and has been promoted to a regular top-six role. The winger most regularly plays on Los Angeles' top line alongside captain Anze Kopitar. Iafallo, an Eden, New York, native, is in the final year of a two-year, $4.85 million deal with the Kings and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Iafallo, who played collegiately at University of Minnesota-Duluth, signed with the Kings as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

Former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid has been charged with felony driving while intoxicated for his involvement in a car crash earlier this year that left a 5-year-old girl critically injured. The Jackson County (Missouri) Prosecutor's Office filed the class D felony charge Monday, stating that Reid "operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and acted with criminal negligence by driving at an excessive rate of speed." If convicted, Reid would face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.  Reid, the son of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, surrendered to Kansas City police Monday afternoon and was released after posting $100,000 bond. As part of his bond release, Reid was ordered to not consume alcohol or visit any establishment where alcohol is the primary item sold. He also must report to a dependency services clinic for pretrial supervision, is subject to random drug testing and must use alcohol and GPS monitoring devices The crash...

The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired forward Mattias Janmark from the Chicago Blackhawks for a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft, sources told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. Chicago also sends a fifth-round pick next year for Vegas' third-rounder. Chicago had scratched the 28-year-old from Sunday's game with an eye toward Monday's trade deadline. Although the Blackhawks are close to playoff contention, they are in the midst of a youth movement. Janmark was a depth forward for the Stars for the first four seasons of his career, never breaking the 40-point mark. But he surprised in Chicago, even earning time on the power play. He paid back the bigger role with 10 goals and nine assists in 41 games. The Golden Knights are gearing up for a deep run in the playoffs. They are currently in second in the West Division, four points behind the Avalanche. Janmark is a low-risk rental for the homestretch since he'll be an unrestricted free agent after the season. This...

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier built up a lot of goodwill prior to their non-title fight at UFC 257 in January, but that appears to be gone. The two lightweight fighters lashed out at each other on social media Sunday, less than three months ahead of their scheduled trilogy bout at UFC 264 on July 10. The source of the back-and-forth is actually what brought them together at the beginning of the year: a donation from McGregor to Poirier's charity, The Good Fight Foundation. Prior to UFC 257, McGregor said he would donate $500,000 to Poirier's charity and that it would go toward building a gym for disadvantaged youth in Poirier's hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. On Sunday, Poirier accused McGregor of ignoring his attempts to reach out about the donation after the fight, which Poirier won via second-round TKO. "That's a fun prediction!" wrote Poirier, in reference to a knockout prediction from McGregor. "You also predicted a donation to my foundation and you and...

Taylor Hall would like a contract extension with the Boston Bruins, even though the star winger doesn't want to be the "focal point" of his new team. The Bruins traded for the 29-year-old left wing on Sunday, sending a 2021 second-round pick and forward Anders Bjork to the Buffalo Sabres for Hall and center Curtis Lazar. Hall becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. "I'd love to be a Bruin for a few years," Hall said. "It's obviously been a bad year for me personally, and I need to play well. I need to contribute. Most of all, I want to be part of a team that wins games. I really believe we can do that here." Hall was the NHL MVP in the 2017-18 season but has struggled to reach those heights again. After failing to secure the long-term contract he was seeking as a free agent last offseason -- the Bruins were among his suitors -- Hall signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Sabres. The team struggled mightily and so did Hall: While...

Taylor Hall would like a contract extension with the Boston Bruins, even though the star winger doesn't want to be the "focal point" of his new team. The Bruins traded for the 29-year-old left wing on Sunday, sending a 2021 second-round pick and forward Anders Bjork to the Buffalo Sabres for Hall and center Curtis Lazar. Hall becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. "I'd love to be a Bruin for a few years. It's obviously been a bad year for me personally, and I need to play well. I need to contribute. Most of all, I want to be part of a team that wins games. I really believe we can do that here," said Hall. Hall was the NHL MVP in the 2017-18 season, but has struggled to reach those heights again. After failing to secure the long-term contract he was seeking a free agent last offseason -- the Bruins were among his suitors -- Hall signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Sabres. The team struggled mightily and so did Hall: While he...