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NBA considering going to a tournament format for the All-Star Game, AP sources say

The NBA is considering going to a tournament-style event for the All-Star Game, similar to what has been used in the Rising Stars competition in recent years. That’s according to two people with knowledge of the plan. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because because no changes have been finalized. The idea centers around the 24 All-Star selections being split into three teams of eight players, with the fourth team likely to be the winner of the Rising Stars competition that will be held earlier that weekend. This season’s All-Star weekend will be held in San Francisco in February.

Jake Paul, Mike Tyson set for fight between influencer-turned-boxer and retired giant of the sport

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mike Tyson is set for his first sanctioned fight since 2005 as the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion takes on much younger YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Texas. The eight-round bout Friday night at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys will be streamed on Netflix. Texas regulators sanctioned the bout with limited rounds at just two minutes per round and heavier gloves. Tyson retired with a 50-6 record and 44 knockouts after losing to Kevin McBride. The 27-year-old Paul debuted as a pro boxer about four years ago and is 10-1 fighting mostly mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.

Tyson-Paul fight gives Netflix opportunity to show it can handle big events with NFL, WWE on horizon

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson aren’t the only ones who have high stakes when they meet in the boxing ring on Friday night. For Netflix, it is their biggest live sports event to date, and an opportunity to make sure it can handle audience demand with the NFL and WWE on the horizon. The bout between the YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul and Tyson, 58-year-old former heavyweight champion, from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will stream globally and be available to Netflix’s 280 million subscribers at no additional cost. Netflix will broadcast the bout in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French and German.

USC’s Juju Watkins reaches 1,000 points. It took her 2 fewer games than Caitlin Clark

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California’s Juju Watkins reached 1,000 career points in the second fewest amount of games in NCAA Division I history during the second half against Santa Clara. The sophomore guard achieved the milestone in her 38th game when she hit a jumper with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter on Friday for the third-ranked Trojans. According to the NCAA record book, LSU’s Maree Jackson, Oregon State’s Carol Menken and New Orleans’ Sandra Hodge all reached the mark in 37 games. Weber State’s Kathy Miller and Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne also did it in 38 games. Watkins reached the mark two games quicker than Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.

McIlroy one off the lead at World Tour Championship and in good shape to clinch Race to Dubai title

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The path is clear for Rory McIlroy to clinch the year-long Race to Dubai title and be crowned the European tour’s best player for a sixth time. He’s well in contention to win the season-ending World Tour Championship too. McIlroy hit a fairway wood from 265 yards to 15 feet at No. 18 and two-putted for a closing birdie in his second round. A 3-under 69 left the No. 3-ranked Northern Irishman one stroke off the lead held by France’s Antoine Rozner (65) on 9-under par. McIlroy was tied with Tyrrell Hatton (69) for second place in the tournament but his lead in the year-long Race to Dubai standings looks impregnable.

It doesn’t have to take years to rebuild, especially with the right coach: Analysis

Teams considering a coaching change should be encouraged by some of the quick turnarounds around the NFL. Three teams with new coaches entered Week 11 holding a playoff position. Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders led that group in victories despite a 26-18 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday night. Raheem Morris and the Atlanta Falcons are first in the NFC South. Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers currently have the second wild-card spot in the AFC. Quinn, Morris and Harbaugh have another thing in common. They previously were head coaches in the NFL. Harbaugh led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance before going to Michigan and winning a national title.

Swiatek helps Poland oust host Spain from Billie Jean King Cup Finals, Britain beats Germany

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Iga Swiatek has beaten Paula Badosa in three sets and Poland has knocked out host Spain 2-0 in the opening round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga. The world No. 2 Swiatek sealed Poland’s spot in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic. She beat No. 12 Badosa 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 on the indoor hard-court. Magda Linette won the opening match for Poland against Spain’s Sara Sorribes after nearly four hours. Britain also eliminated Germany thanks to wins by Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter.

Alcaraz misses out as Zverev and Ruud complete semifinal field at ATP Finals

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz was the big name missing when the last two semifinal spots were filled at the ATP Finals. Alcaraz’s 7-6, 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev meant the four-time Grand Slam champion was eliminated from the tournament for the top eight players. Zverev will meet Taylor Fritz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner will play Casper Ruud in Saturday’s semifinals. Ruud advanced by beating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Alcaraz left for Malaga and next week’s Davis Cup finals where he will play for Spain in Rafael Nadal’s swansong.

Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic set for delayed UFC heavyweight championship fight at Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are set to fight for the heavyweight championship at UFC 309 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Miocic gets his shot at a third heavyweight championship reign. The heavyweights were slated to fight last November at the Garden until Jones tore a tendon during training and was forced to withdraw. Both fighters have had little to do but train over the last five years. Jones hasn’t fought since he ended a three-year sabbatical and choked out Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. Miocic last fought when he dropped the belt to Francis Ngannou at UFC 280 in March 2021.

Jannik Sinner is ‘playing with a clear conscience’ amid doping case, coach Darren Cahill says

TURIN, Italy (AP) — Jannik Sinner’s co-coaches discuss in a joint interview with The Associated Press how the top-ranked player from Italy keeps winning at the ATP Finals amid enormous expectations from his home fans and a pending doping case. Darren Cahill says “you need to be a special type of person to be able to embrace all that pressure and come here and feel the pressure but still be able to perform at your very best.” Simone Vagnozzi adds “Jannik is still only 23 so there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

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