AP Sports

The All-Star break is almost over. It’s time for the stretch run toward the NBA playoffs

The trade deadline is gone. The All-Star break is ending. Luka Doncic is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jimmy Butler is with the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis is with the Dallas Mavericks, though it’s unknown when he’ll play again. The dust has settled. It’s time for the stretch run. Every club has between 26 and 30 games remaining in this sprint to the April 13 finish line. And teams will point to recent history as proof that getting into the playoffs means anything can happen: No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 seeds have made their way to the conference finals in the last two years.

The idea of a US vs. World matchup in the NBA All-Star Game has some player support

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama has already gone up against the U.S. in international events, most notably last year’s Paris Olympics when he led France’s march to the gold medal game against the Americans. He’d like to be in that position more often — maybe even annually. And Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo loves that idea as well. In the ongoing search for what the right NBA All-Star format, there was plenty of talk this weekend in San Francisco about an idea that has picked up some momentum in recent years: The U.S. on one side, the world on the other side.

Yankees’ Stanton hasn’t swung bat in 3 or 4 weeks and is unsure of whether he can play in opener

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t swung a bat in three or four weeks and isn’t sure whether he will be ready for opening day because of painful tendinitis in both elbows. Speaking before the team’s first full-squad workout, Stanton revealed he played in pain for much of last season as he helped the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009. He wouldn’t guess whether playing in the American League champion’s March 27 opener against Milwaukee is realistic.

Notre Dame moves up to No. 1 in AP poll for first time since 2019 after UCLA suffers 1st loss

Notre Dame is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll for the first time since 2019. Texas moved up to second for its best ranking since 2017. UCLA had been No. 1 for 12 straight weeks after beating South Carolina in late November but the Bruins are now third in the rankings. USC moved up to fourth and UConn is fifth after routing then-No. 4 South Carolina.

Auburn stays at No. 1 in AP Top 25 for 6th straight week, Florida up to No. 2; Louisville returns

Auburn is No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the sixth consecutive week. The Tigers claimed 59 of 60 first-place votes in the latest poll after beating then-No. 1 Alabama on the road. Florida claimed the other first-place vote and broke last week’s tie with Duke to move up to second. The Southeastern Conference has a national-best nine ranked teams. No. 25 Louisville returned to the poll for the week’s only new addition.

Angels star Mike Trout moving from center to right field in hopes of staying more healthy

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels oft-injured star Mike Trout is moving from center to right field in hopes of better preserving his health. The three-time AL MVP played in 82 or fewer games in three of the past four seasons while dealing with an assortment of injuries. That doesn’t include the 53 games he played in 2020 because that season was shortened to 60 games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trout approached the club about the position switch.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay agrees to a deal that could keep him with the team through 2029

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Manager Mark Kotsay has agreed to a contract extension with the Athletics through the 2028 season that includes a club option for 2029. The deal was announced Monday, which coincided with the team’s first full-squad workout of spring training. The 49-year-old Kotsay is in his fourth season with the A’s leading the franchise through a period of upheaval that’s included a move from Oakland to Sacramento, California, where they’ll play at a minor league stadium for the next few seasons. The eventual plan is to end up in Las Vegas. The A’s went 69-93 record last season, a 19-win improvement over a 112-loss season in 2023.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon ready to partner with Tom Cruise on ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon wants a “Days of Thunder” sequel and said at Daytona International Speedway that he’s been in touch with Tom Cruise about making the project come to life. The Hollywood Reporter reported in November that Cruise had talked to Paramount about a follow-up to his 1990 NASCAR racing film. The original was a critically panned summer blockbuster that was largely lampooned throughout the NASCAR industry for its exaggeration and overindulgence. Gordon said he had talked to Cruise about another “Thunder” movie.

Shaw performs Black Power salute after goal for Man City Women following racist abuse

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has bowed her head and raised a gloved fist after scoring a goal on her first start for Manchester City Women since pulling out of the team because of racist abuse directed at her on social media. The Jamaica international performed the Black Power salute during City’s 4-0 win over Liverpool in the Women’s Super League on Sunday. Shaw was targeted by online abuse after a league game against Arsenal on Feb. 2. Shaw says it was “definitely good to get back on the scoresheet after a difficult couple of days.”

The All-Star verdicts are in, and the player reaction to the mini-tournament is mixed

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The verdicts were mixed, as would be expected. The NBA’s All-Star Game mini-tournament is now complete, Shaq’s OGs getting the win in the four-team, three-game event where the first squad to score 40 points in each game got the victory. Some players liked it. Some didn’t. Some seemed ambivalent. It was entertaining and had moments where things turned competitive, though tended to lean toward more of the same highlight-reel-type play that has been the norm in All-Star Games for years.