6:06 AM ET Associated Press BEIJING — China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday stuck to its line that it wasn’t aware of the controversy surrounding tennis professional Peng Shuai, who disappeared after accusing a former top official of sexually assaulting her. Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters that the matter was “not a diplomatic question and
8:21 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — The Denver Nuggets were without reigning MVP Nikola Jokic on Friday night against the Chicago Bulls because of a sprained right wrist. Jokic appeared to hurt the wrist the night before in a home loss to Philadelphia. The Nuggets big man is averaging 26.4 points, 13.6 rebounds and
2nd T20I: Batter Fakhar Zaman struck an unbeaten 57 off 51 balls.© AFP Pakistan beat Bangladesh by eight wickets in the second Twenty20 International to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Dhaka on Saturday. Fakhar Zaman struck an unbeaten 57 off 51 balls as Pakistan reached 109-2 in 18.1 overs after
6:01 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Barcelona defender Oscar Mingueza said the players had “stopped believing” under former coach Ronald Koeman and has welcomed the appointment of Xavi Hernandez. Mingueza, 22, was promoted to the first team by Koeman and handed his full debut by the Dutchman, but believes a change of manager was
2:09 AM ET BOSTON — LeBron James‘ return from an extended absence couldn’t cure the inconsistent play that has plagued his team on both ends and was on full display in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 130-108 loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday. The defeat dropped L.A. — one of the oddsmakers’ favorites to win
9:15 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche signed coach Jared Bednar to a two-year extension that runs through the 2023-24 season, the team said Friday night. Bednar is coming off a 2020-21 season in which he guided the Avalanche to the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s top mark and their fourth straight
8:04 PM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Jessie Vargas and Liam Smith have agreed to terms for a 154-pound fight on Jan. 28 or Jan. 29 in Las Vegas that will headline Matchroom Boxing on DAZN, multiple sources tell ESPN. The matchup of former champions has been discussed for over a year but finally comes to fruition
12:48 AM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Demetrius Andrade can’t seem to entice a marquee opponent — or anyone remotely close to that level — into the ring with him. And when he does fight these fringe contenders, the bouts often last the distance despite the obvious disparity in talent. That has been the case in several
11:40 PM ET Associated Press The ball is back in Novak Djokovic‘s court. Australian Open chief Craig Tiley confirmed on Saturday that everyone who attends the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2022 will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including all the players. That continues to leave the status of defending and nine-time
9:16 PM ET Associated Press MONTREAL — Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has tested positive for COVID-19. The Canadiens said the positive test was confirmed Friday morning, and that Bergevin is being monitored by the teams’ medical staff. Bergevin is the latest high-profile case of COVID-19 in the Canadiens’ organization. Coach Dominique Ducharme tested
10:05 PM ET Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral appears to have already made the decision to turn pro following the season. The junior from California tweeted a lengthy message on Friday night, thanking “Rebel Nation” and calling Saturday’s matchup against Vanderbilt “my final game at The Vaught,” a reference to Ole Miss’ Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. “Thank
AB de Villiers thanked his fans and critics alike for their constant support.© BCCI/IPL Former South African captain AB de Villiers took to Instagram where he gave an emotional message for his fans through his former Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal challengers Bangalore (RCB). In course of the video, the RCB cricketer thanked all
4:34 PM ET NFL NationESPN Week 11 of the NFL season features elite quarterback battles, renewed division rivalries and a homecoming in Carolina. With seven more weeks left on the regular-season schedule, teams are preparing for the final stretch. Injuries have played a huge factor this season, and clubs are monitoring their injury reports heading
8:43 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers added infielder Kody Clemens, the youngest son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, to their 40-man roster. Detroit also added right-hander Angel De Jesus to the roster Friday. Niko Goodrum, who hit .214 in 90 games with the Tigers last season, cleared waivers and
7:58 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Clint Frazier‘s tenure with the Yankees might have ended after five unfulfilling seasons when New York designated him for assignment on Friday to open a roster spot for a prospect ahead of the winter meeting draft. Frazier can be claimed by another major league team off waivers.
3:48 PM ET Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. — Noah Syndergaard got a qualifying offer and not much else from the New York Mets over the past two months. That’s one big reason he’s switching coasts to join Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels. The imposing right-hander known as Thor said Friday he
8:16 PM ET Jamal Collier MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said the organization would “continue to fight for better” in the aftermath of a jury’s verdict Friday that Kyle Rittenhouse, who fatally shot two men and wounded another during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year, was acquitted of all charges. The Bucks performed
6:49 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Short of 40-man roster spots to protect prospects ahead of next month’s winter meeting draft, the New York Yankees traded right-hander Nick Nelson to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday along with minor league catcher Donny Sands. New York received minor league infielder T.J. Rumfield and left-hander Joel