DETROIT (AP) — Normally, a December matchup between 4-7 teams wouldn't get much attention. The Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars, though, might be worth a watch on Sunday. The young teams are playing much better than they did during terrible starts to the season. At the end of October, ...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Steven Stamkos had an assist for his 1,000th career point, Nick Paul scored twice and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Thursday night. Ian Cole had a goal and an assist, Ross Colton also scored, Corey Perry added two assists and Andrei ...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin has agreed to join the Tampa Bay Rays on a three-year, $40 million contract that's the largest the club has ever awarded in free agency, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to ...

NASHVILLE (AP) — Goodyear will remain the exclusive tire for NASCAR's top three national series under a new multi-year deal announced on Thursday. Specifics of the extension weren't included, but the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company will continue as title sponsor of the annual Goodyear 400 ...

HOUSTON (AP) — When Deshaun Watson returns to the field Sunday, it will be in the same stadium where he played his last game 700 days ago. The disgraced quarterback will make his debut for the Cleveland Browns (4-7) against his former team, the Houston Texans (1-9-1), in his return after ...

The College Football Playoff will include 12 teams, starting with the 2024 season. An expansion plan that was crafted for two years and haggled over for another 18 months finally cleared all the obstacles needed to go from idea to reality. The CFP announced Thursday that the current four-team ...

No. 2 Michigan hopes its second straight December trip to Indianapolis ends just as well as the first — with another Big Ten championship trophy and another playoff trip. Michigan again won the East Division by beating Ohio State and will face West Division champ Purdue on Saturday. The ...

The starting five is the same, but that is where comparisons between the Virginia team that has climbed to No. 3 in the AP Top 25 and last year's NIT quarterfinalists ends. Yes, one more year together and a trip to Italy has made the first five significantly better, but part of the credit for ...

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Mackenzie Holmes scored 25 points, Sydney Parrish added 24 and No. 5 Indiana hit 12 3-pointers to defeat No. 6 North Carolina 87-63 on Thursday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The battle of unbeatens had drastically different shooting nights. The Hoosiers got hot ...

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics aren't letting Al Horford go anywhere this time. The team announced Thursday that the 36-year-old veteran big man has signed an extension to remain in Boston. The deal is for two years and $20 million, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement who spoke ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will kick off what is anticipated to be a three-city free agency tour when he meets Thursday with the New York Giants, the team that drafted him in 2014. Beckham is expected to talk with coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Simmons will miss at least the next three games with what the Brooklyn Nets said is a strained left upper calf. Coach Jacque Vaughn said before the Nets played Washington on Wednesday night that Simmons was feeling pain in the back of his knee when he asked to come out of ...

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) — Jaylin Andrews scored 19 points as Loyola (Md.) beat Binghamton 84-70 on Wednesday night. Andrews added three steals for the Greyhounds (4-4). Chris Kuzemka shot 6 for 7, including 5 for 6 from beyond the arc to add 18 points. Alonso Faure shot 7 of 10 from the field ...

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Ethan Roberts' 17 points and 10 rebounds helped Army defeat the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Mariners 88-57 on Wednesday night. Jalen Rucker scored 16 points, shooting 7 for 12, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Black Knights (3-5). TJ Small went 3 of 5 ...

SAINT BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (AP) — Kyrell Luc scored 22 points as St. Bonaventure beat Middle Tennessee 71-64 on Wednesday night. Luc shot 7 for 14 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free throw line for the Bonnies (5-2). Daryl Banks III scored 15 points while going 3 of 9 from the ...

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Josh Oduro scored 21 points and De'Von Cooper added 10 points in the overtime as George Mason took down Hofstra 81-77 on Wednesday night. Oduro had 11 rebounds for the Patriots (4-4). Ronald Polite scored 14 points and added five assists. Cooper was 3 of 7 shooting, ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, then Grayson Allen made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 30 seconds left after his superstar teammate fouled out to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 109-103 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday ...

DETROIT (AP) — Jack Quinn scored the only goal in a shootout, Dylan Cozens had the second two-goal game of his career and the Buffalo Sabres held off the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 on Wednesday night. Mattias Samuelsson got his first career goal for the Sabres, who squandered a three-goal lead in ...

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Jimmy Vesey and Barclay Goodrow gave New York a two-goal lead midway through the second period, and the Rangers beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Wednesday night. Chris Kreider also scored and Ryan Lindgren had three assists to help the Rangers snap a three-game skid — ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 39 points and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Washington Wizards 113-107 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. Durant was 13 for 20 from the field and hit all 11 of his free throws in 37 minutes after scoring a season-high 45 points Monday night ...