NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Phoenix Suns 127, Chicago Bulls 124
Suns 127, Bulls 124 – Booker scores 38, NBA-best Suns hang on, beat Bulls 127-124
Devin Booker scored 38 points, and the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns hung on to beat the Chicago Bulls 127-124. The Suns led by as many as 27 points in the third quarter and withstood a push down the stretch to win for the 13th time in 14 games. They improved to 43-10 overall and a league-leading 21-5 on the road. Chris Paul added 19 points and 11 assists. JaVale McGee finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Mikal Bridges scored 15. Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan scored 38, coming off a season-high 45-point performance in Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia. Zach LaVine added 32 points after missing the previous two games because of back spasms.
Tonight
Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit Pistons at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
NFL – Texans hire veteran coach Smith as new head coach
Lovie Smith has been hired as the new head coach of the Houston Texans. Smith, who is Black, is the second minority candidate to be hired this offseason after the Miami Dolphins hired San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who is biracial, on Sunday. Smith spent last season as Houston’s associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He takes over for David Culley, who is also Black, and was fired after just one season.
NFL – AP sources: Saints tab Dennis Allen to replace Sean Payton
Two people familiar with the decision say the New Orleans Saints have promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to head coach. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not announced their chosen replacement for Sean Payton, who resigned nearly two weeks ago after 16 years with the club. The 49-year-old Allen is in his second stint with the Saints. He was their secondary coach when they won the Super Bowl in the 2009 season. He was the Oakland Raiders’ head coach from 2012 to 2014 before returning to New Orleans in 2015.
NFL – Bears hire Cardinals assistant Dray as tight ends coach
The Chicago Bears have hired Arizona assistant Jim Dray as tight ends coach. Dray joins new coach Matt Eberflus’ staff after spending the past three seasons as an offensive quality control coach with Cleveland in 2019 and the Cardinals in 2020 and 2021. He was an offensive assistant at his alma mater Stanford in 2018. The 35-year-old Dray played eight seasons in the NFL as a tight end with the Cardinals, Cleveland, Buffalo and San Francisco. The Bears also announced Monday they are raising season-ticket package prices by 6% because they are scheduled to play a ninth regular-season home game instead of a second preseason matchup at Soldier Field.
NFL – Goodell, civil rights leaders meet over Rooney Rule
A group of civil rights leaders called for replacing the Rooney Rule in a meeting Monday with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, National Action Network Founder and President Rev. Al Sharpton, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation President and CEO Melanie Campbell, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, and National African American Clergy Network co-convener Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner requested the meeting after former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores accused the NFL and three teams — the Giants, Broncos and Dolphins — of racial discrimination in a proposed class-action lawsuit last week.
NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Tonight
(14) Wisconsin at (17) Michigan State, 7:00 p.m. Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM 6:00
Western Michigan at Miami (OH), 7:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Ball State, 7:00 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m.
Michigan at Penn State, 9:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 8:30
NCAAMBKB – Auburn, Gonzaga stay 1-2 in AP Top 25; Texas Tech up to 9th
Auburn is No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the third straight week. Coach Bruce Pearl’s Tigers earned 48 of 61 first-place votes. Gonzaga earned the other 13 votes and has been ranked No. 2 throughout Auburn’s first stay at the top. Purdue, Arizona and Kentucky rounded out the top five. Texas Tech rose five spots to No. 9 under first-year coach Mark Adams. No. 22 Saint Mary’s and No. 23 Murray State entered the poll. Murray State’s poll appearance is its first since March 2015. Iowa State and LSU fell out from last week.
NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
Buffalo 71, Western Michigan 64
NCAAWBKB – Florida enters AP women’s hoops poll; South Carolina No. 1
Florida has jumped into The Associated Press women’s basketball poll at No. 19. The Gators have beaten four ranked teams in their past five games, losing only to top-ranked South Carolina. Florida is ranked for the first time since 2016. South Carolina remains the No. 1 team in the poll this week and was a unanimous choice from the 30-member national media panel. The Gamecocks are followed by Stanford, Louisville, Michigan and North Carolina State. Michigan’s No. 4 ranking is the best in school history.
MLB – MLB, players stop drug testing during lockout
Two people familiar with the sport’s Joint Drug Program tell The Associated Press that Major League Baseball has stopped testing players for steroids for the first time in nearly 20 years due to the expiration of the sport’s drug agreement. The halt in testing is a casualty of the sport’s lockout that started Dec. 2. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency head Travis Tygart says “it should be a major concern to all those who value fair play" and “you would have hoped they would have been able to get that figured out."
NHL – Blackhawks interview Cubs executive Greenberg for GM job
Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Jeff Greenberg has interviewed with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks for their GM opening, becoming the first known candidate for the job from outside professional hockey. CEO Danny Wirtz, the son of team owner Rocky Wirtz, promised last month that the interview process would include candidates “both inside and outside of hockey.” Greenberg took on his current role with the Cubs in 2020. He joined the franchise in 2012 as a baseball operations intern. He also has served as the Cubs’ director of pro scouting and baseball operations.
Olympics – Chen delivers record short program to begin Olympic pursuit
American figure skater Nathan Chen shattered the world record during his short program at the Beijing Olympics. He scored 113.97 points to beat the previous mark of longtime rival Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and put himself in position to win his long-sought gold medal. Chen’s total was nearly six points ahead of Yuma Kagiyama, who sits in second place. It was nearly 20 ahead of Hanyu, the two-time Olympic champion who bailed on his opening quad attempt during a calamitous short program. All that Chen needs to do is hold off the two Japanese upstarts on Thursday to win gold.
Olympics – Canada surges to 4-2 win over US in Olympic women’s hockey
Marie-Philip Poulin capped a three-goal run by scoring on a penalty shot with 2:35 left in the second period and Canada upended the defending Olympic champion United States 4-2 to claim the women’s hockey tournament’s top seed entering the playoff round. The two global hockey powers are still expected to meet once more in the gold-medal final next week. Brianne Jenner scored twice, Poulin had a goal and assist and Jamie Lee Rattray also scored for Canada. Alex Carpenter and Dani Cameranesi scored for the Americans. Maddie Rooney stopped 23 shots.
MCCAA – Junior College Basketball
Last Night
Women’s Basketball
Lake Michigan College 67, Lansing Community College 60
Men’s Basketball
Lansing Community College 91, Lake Michigan College 77
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Eau Claire 50, Lake Michigan Catholic 41
Buchanan 51, Centreville 48
GR West Michigan Aviation 51, South Haven 48
Coldwater 56, Portage Northern 48
Galesburg-Augusta 58, Gobles 49
Girls Basketball
Lakeshore 50, Buchanan 49
Michigan Lutheran 50, Lawrence 30
Brandywine 68, Berrien Springs 20
Gobles 39, Galesburg-Augusta 22
Coldwater 58, Portage Northern 34
Chelsea 41, Battle Creek Lakeview 38
Tonight
Boys Basketball
SMAC
St. Joseph at Gull Lake, 7:00 p.m.
Lakeshore at Loy Norrix, 7:00 p.m.
Mattawan at BC Lakeview, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Northern at Kalamazoo Central, 7:00 p.m.
Battle Creek Central at Portage Central, 7:00 p.m.
Wolverine
Niles at Vicksburg, 7:15 p.m.
Edwardsburg at Plainwell, 7:15 p.m.
Dowagiac at Allegan, 7:15 p.m.
Three Rivers at Paw Paw, 7:15 p.m.
Sturgis at Otsego, 7:15 p.m.
Non-Conference
Benton Harbor at Battle Creek Pennfield, 7:00 p.m.
BCS
New Buffalo at Countryside Academy, 7:30 p.m.
River Valley at Bridgman, 7:15 p.m.
Lawrence at Howardsville Christian, 6:00 p.m.
SAC
Coloma at Saugatuck, 7:00 p.m.
Watervliet at Fennville, 7:00 p.m.
Gobles at Lawton, 7:00 p.m.
Delton-Kellogg at Martin, 7:00 p.m.
Kal. Hackett at Schoolcraft, 7:00 p.m.
Kal. Christian at Parchment, 7:00 p.m.
Southwest 10
Decatur at Cassopolis, 6:00 p.m.
Comstock at Hartford, 7:30 p.m.
Bangor at Centreville, 7:30 p.m.
Mendon at Bloomingdale, 7:30 p.m.
White Pigeon at Marcellus, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
SMAC
Gull Lake at St. Joseph, 7:00 p.m.
Loy Norrix at Lakeshore, 7:00 p.m.
BC Lakeview at Mattawan, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Central at Portage Northern, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Central at Battle Creek Central, 5:45 p.m.
Wolverine
Vicksburg at Niles, 6:00 p.m.
Plainwell at Edwardsburg, 7:15 p.m.
Allegan at Dowagiac, 7:15 p.m.
Paw Paw at Three Rivers, 7:15 p.m.
Otsego at Sturgis, 7:15 p.m.
BCS
Lake Michigan Catholic at New Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Bridgman at River Valley, 7:15 p.m.
Howardsville Christian at Lawrence, 7:00 p.m.
GR West Mich. Homeschool at South Haven, 6:00 p.m.
SAC
Saugatuck at Coloma, 7:00 p.m.
Fennville at Watervliet, 7:00 p.m.
Lawton at Gobles, 7:00 p.m.
Martin at Delton-Kellogg, 7:00 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Kal. Hackett, 7:00 p.m.
Parchment at Kal. Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Southwest 10
Cassopolis at Decatur, 7:30 p.m.
Hartford at Comstock, 7:30 p.m.
Centreville at Bangor, 7:30 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Mendon, 7:30 p.m.
Marcellus at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Basketball AP Rankings
Boys Basketball
Division 1
1. Detroit King (5) (11-1) 75
2. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (12-3) 65
3. Detroit Cass Tech (12-2) 62
4. Grand Rapids Northview (13-0) 60
5. Detroit U-D Jesuit (8-4) 58
6. Muskegon (11-1) 49
7. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (9-4) 46
8. Rockford (12-1) 43
9. Hamtramck (10-3) 32
10. Ann Arbor Huron (10-2) 28
Others receiving votes: Warren De La Salle 20, River Rouge 18, Detroit Catholic Central 14, Grand Haven 13, Oak Park 5, Detroit Renaissance 5, Grand Blanc 4, Coldwater 2, East Lansing 1.
Division 2
1. Williamston (5) (15-0) 75
2. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (13-1) 68
3. Hudsonville Unity Christian (13-0) 66
4. Ferndale (10-2) 60
5. Croswell-Lexington (12-0) 53
5. Parchment (14-0) 53
7. Marshall (13-1) 44
8. Onsted (15-0) 32
9. Freeland (12-0) 31
10. Benton Harbor (12-2) 30
Others receiving votes: Romulus Summit Academy 20, Warren Michigan Collegiate 18, Carrollton 11, Standish Sterling Central 7, Detroit Edison 7, Battle Creek Pennfield 6, Ovid-Elsie 5, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 5, Grand Rapids Christian 3, Grand Rapids West Catholic 2, Olivet 2, Clare 2.
Division 3
1. Flint Beecher (4) (10-1) 74
2. Menominee (1) (13-1) 69
3. Reese (11-2) 63
4. Traverse City St. Francis (11-1) 60
5. Riverview Gabriel Richard (13-0) 48
6. Benzonia Benzie Central (11-1) 43
7. Schoolcraft (11-2) 41
8. Detroit Loyola (10-4) 34
9. Ecorse (7-2) 33
10. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (11-2) 32
Others receiving votes: Maple City Glen Lake 23, Bad Axe 17, Vandercook Lake 16, Centreville 13, Blanchard Montabella 9, Painesdale Jeffers 9, Mesick 8, Elkton-Pigeon Bay Port Laker 4, Watervliet 3, Hemlock 1.
Division 4
1. Southfield Christian (3) (11-2) 73
2. McBain Northern Michigan Christian (1) (13-0) 66
(tie) Rudyard (11-0) 66
4. Powers North Central (12-1) 57
5. Hillman (1) (13-0) 53
6. New Buffalo (12-1) 46
7. Ewen-Trout Creek (10-2) 40
8. Bellevue (10-1) 36
9. Munising (13-1) 33
10. Onaway (11-0) 31
Others receiving votes: Genesee Christian 24, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 20, Lake Leelanau St Mary 13, Ellsworth 11, Deckerville 9, Colon 7, Clarkston Everest Catholic 7, Buckley 4, Wakefield-Marenisco 2, Eau Claire 1, Norway 1.
Girls Basketball
Division 1
1. Hudsonville (4) (12-2) 71
(tie) West Bloomfield (1) (12-1) 71
3. Hartland (13-1) 65
4. Midland Dow (13-1) 60
5. Parma Western (14-1) 54
6. Dearborn Divine Child (14-1) 51
7. Grosse Pointe North (12-1) 40
(tie) Rockford (13-1) 40
9. Farmington Hills Mercy (12-2) 39
10. Wayne Memorial (13-1) 31
Others receiving votes: Holt 15, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North 14, Byron Center 13, Battle Creek Lakeview 11, Dexter 8, Saline 4, East Lansing 3, DeWitt 3, Howell 2, Haslett 1, Macomb Dakota 1, Detroit Renaissance 1, Gibraltar Carlson 1, St. Clair Shores Lakeview 1.
Division 2
1. Frankenmuth (12-1) 105
2. Detroit Edison (4) (6-2) 74
3. Grand Rapids West Catholic (1) (13-1) 69
4. Redford Westfield Prep (13-1) 61
5. Lansing Catholic (14-0) 55
6. Newaygo (14-1) 47
(tie) Portland (13-1) 47
8. Houghton (13-1) 38
9. Edwardsburg (14-0) 32
10. Lake Fenton (12-1) 29
Others receiving votes: Tecumseh 17, Ovid-Elsie 15, Chelsea 11, Detroit Country Day 9, Otsego 9, Saginaw Swan Valley 6, Marine City 5, Flat Rock 5, Romulus 4, Williamston 1.
Division 3
1. Ypsilanti Arbor Preparatory (4) (12-1) 74
2. Kent City (1) (15-0) 70
3. Maple City Glen Lake (15-0) 65
4. Sandusky (13-0) 58
5. Calumet (13-1) 53
6. Brandywine (13-1) 49
7. Harbor Springs (14-1) 31
8. Madison Heights Bishop Foley (10-1) 20
(tie) Lake City (13-1) 20
10. McBain (14-2) 19
Others receiving votes: Hart 16, Schoolcraft 15, Jonesville 12, Brooklyn Columbia Central 12, Sanford-Meridian 11, Grass Lake 9, Hemlock 9, Reese 8, Leslie 5, Watervliet 3, Blissfield 1, Buchanan 1.
Division 4
1. Portland St. Patrick (5) (14-0) 75
2. Fowler (10-2) 67
3. Plymouth Christian Academy (12-3) 61
4. Posen (12-0) 55
5. Athens (11-1) 50
6. Baraga (14-1) 49
7. Carney-Nadeau (12-1) 45
8. Gaylord St. Mary (12-3) 42
9. Lake Leelanau St. Mary (10-2) 30
10. Adrian Lenawee Christian (10-4) 23
Others receiving votes: Mackinaw City 20, Pickford 17, Mendon 15, Colon 12, Coleman 10, Pittsford 9, McBain Northern Michigan Christian 7, Saginaw Nouvel 5, Ewen-Trout Creek 4, Allen Park Inter-City Baptist 2, Munising 2.
