AP National Sports

By JULIUS ERVING For The Associated Press Hall of Famer Julius Erving says the commercial success he and other NBA players enjoyed in the 1980s didn’t just happen. The NBA champion known as Dr. J says players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan gave credit to him and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But they all stood

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer The Premier Hockey Federation is more than doubling each of its six teams’ salary caps to $750,000 and adding two expansion franchises next season in a bid to capitalize on the wave of attention women’s hockey traditionally enjoys following the Winter Olympics. The increased payroll and number of teams

By JOHN WAWROW AP Hockey Writer The Premier Hockey Federation is more than doubling each of its six teams’ salary caps to $750,000 and adding two expansion franchises next season in a bid to capitalize on the wave of attention women’s hockey traditionally enjoys following the Winter Olympics. The increased payroll and number of teams

By TOM MITCHELL Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The African Cup of Nations is underway in Cameroon and many students in London have been avidly following along. Nathan Williams didn’t have to search long among the 24 teams at the tournament to pick his favorite. He’s originally from Ghana and that’s who he is hoping

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid says former great Francisco “Paco” Gento has died. He was 88. Gento is the only soccer player to win European Cup titles. He played 18 seasons with Madrid from 1953-71. His 23 titles with the club in official competitions is a record he shares

BY JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Andy Murray held off 21st-seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili in five sets to win a match at the Australian Open for the first time in five years. The five-time runner-up has missed three trips to Melbourne Park since then because of injuries or illness and lost in

By JULIUS ERVING For The Associated Press Hall of Famer Julius Erving says the commercial success he and other NBA players enjoyed in the 1980s didn’t just happen. The NBA champion known as Dr. J says players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan gave credit to him and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But they all stood

By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer The basic mantra for all NBA teams this season should be just get into the playoffs. It applies to franchises at the top of the league standings or on the fringe of the playoff race. Given the array of injuries to big-name players and the hour-by-hour uncertainty due to

BY JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open started well for second-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who is one of the biggest potential beneficiaries of Novak Djokovic’s deportation. Medvedev had a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over Henri Laaksonen in the first round at Melbourne Park as he bids to be the

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer Auburn coach Bruce Pearl was not satisfied with his team climbing to No. 2 in this week’s AP Top 25. He believes the Tigers should be No. 1, based on the quality of their wins and strength of schedule. Auburn gets a couple of big tests this week against

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jason Zucker scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from an early three-goal deficit to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3. Pittsburgh scored five unanswered goals to improve to 13-2-0 since Dec. 4, including a 4-2-0 mark on its six-game road trip — the team’s longest

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Darrion Trammell had 25 points as Seattle topped California Baptist 92-85 in overtime. Reed Nottage led the Lancers on Monday night with 19 points and eight rebounds.

BY JOHN PYE AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Leylah Fernandez has lost to a 133rd-ranked wild-card entry in her first Grand Slam match since her runner-up finish at the U.S. Open. The 19-year-old Canadian had an upset 6-2, 6-4 loss to Maddison Inglis on Tuesday in the first round of the Australian Open.

POCATELLO, Idaho — Koby McEwen and Seikou Sisoho Jawara scored 23 points apiece as Weber State beat Idaho State 78-61. Tarik Cool led the Bengals on Monday night with 18 points and eight rebounds.

By DAVID SOLOMON Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brayden Schenn and Ivan Barbashev each had two goals and two assists as the St. Louis Blues came from behind to beat the Nashville Predators 5-3. Ryan O’Reilly added a goal and two assists in the first meeting between the teams since they played back-to-back games