AP National Sports

By MARK AMBROGI Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Devin Booker scored 35 points, Deandre Ayton had 27 points and 12 rebounds and the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns beat the Indiana Pacers 112-94 on Friday night. Chris Paul added 12 points and nine assist for Phoenix, and Cam Payne had 11 points and five assists. The Suns

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic won his first legal round against Australian authorities who want to deport him. But the world tennis No. 1 now faces a formidable challenge in his second round as he takes on what some describe as the God-like powers of the immigration minister on

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Nelly Junior Joseph had 13 points and Iona dished out a season-best 23 assists to beat Manhattan 88-76. Iona  earned its sixth consecutive home victory. Elijah Joiner added 11 points. Jose Perez scored a season-high 27 points for the Jaspers. 

By AARON BRACY Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 25 points and 13 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers used a dominating start to roll to a 111-99 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday night. Embiid finished five points shy of setting a franchise record with 30 or more points in nine straight

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — Jacob Rigoni registered 17 points as Quinnipiac beat Rider 77-70 in overtime. The score was tied at 68 with 2:24 remaining in overtime before Quinnipiac put the game away with a 9-2 run. Matt Balanc also had 17 points for the Bobcats. Allen Powell had 17 points for the Broncs.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Colby Rogers came off the bench to score 16 points to carry Siena to a 67-60 win over Marist. Anthony Gaines had 13 points and seven rebounds for Siena, which won its fourth straight game. Siena rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit while holding Marist to 22 second-half points, a season low

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Former Tigers and Angels manager Brad Ausmus will be the new bench coach of the Oakland Athletics under first-year manager Mark Kotsay. The A’s announced Kotsay’s staff Friday. Ausmus, who interviewed for the Mets managerial opening and has a 386-422 record as a manager, will provide Kotsay an experienced sounding board

MUNCIE, Ind. — Jeenathan Williams had 20 points as Buffalo topped Ball State 74-68. David Skogman had 16 points and 11 rebounds for for the Bulls. Buffalo led by 10 points with 1:20 to go and outlasted a 3-pointer by Ball State’s Luke Bumbalough and two free throws by Tyler Cochran, who scored a career-high

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer 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

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls might have to get by without star Zach LaVine for awhile after he left Friday’s blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors because of a left knee injury. The All-Star and Olympic gold medal winner was scheduled to have an MRI on Saturday after he exited in the opening

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA football coach Chip Kelly agreed to a new four-year contract Friday after leading the Bruins to their best season since 2015. The agreement came two days before the $9 million buyout on Kelly’s original contract would have expired. Kelly said he had discussions about

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer Encores are tougher to pull off after receiving overwhelming acclaim for trying something new, but Nickelodeon and CBS Sports feel as if Sunday’s kids-focused broadcast of an NFL playoff game will be better than last year. After last year’s success, the NFL gave Nickelodeon and CBS one of the

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer HONOLULU (AP) — Russell Henley has a hard time believing it was nine years ago when he began his PGA Tour career by winning the Sony Open. He’s back for another chance at Waialae after playing his final six holes in 6-under par. That gives Henley a 63 and

By JOHN PYE and ROD McGUIRK Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s effort to play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19 moved to a higher court as the No. 1-ranked tennis player appealed the second cancellation of his visa. A judge ruled Saturday that lawyers representing Djokovic and the government

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants have interviewed two members of the Tennessee Titans’ front office for their vacant general manager’s job. Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch and senior vice president of player personnel Chris Mara, the owner’s brother, spoke with Ryan Cowden and Monti Ossenfort on Friday by videoconference. Cowden

By JOHN PYE and ROD McGUIRK Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s effort to play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID-19 moved to a higher court Saturday as the No. 1-ranked tennis player appealed the second cancellation of his visa. A virtual hearing is being held Saturday for Djokovic’s appeal

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Ghana has conceded a late goal to draw with Gabon 1-1 at the African Cup of Nations. A Ghana player was also red-carded for a punch on an opponent after the final whistle as the Group C game ended in a melee. Gabon’s late equalizer was tempered by news earlier in