It took four days for the No. 2 Ohio State women to go from unbeaten to second place in the Big Ten. If the Buckeyes don't find a fix quickly, coach Kevin McGuff knows the slide could accelerate.Here, in perhaps the top women's basketball conference as February looms, nothing is a given. With four teams ranked in the top 11, six in The Associated Press Top 25 and all six within three games of the league lead, every night seems like musical chairs. And every night, it seems someone else is being left out.On Thursday, it was McGuff's team again.“I think there are several teams in the league, that if they play their best basketball down the stretch, can make a deep run in the (NCAA) Tournament and maybe to Dallas," McGuff said after a 78-65 loss at No. 6 Indiana. “There are a lot of teams that have upperclassmen with great experience. Indiana is one of them, but that's really across the Big Ten and, obviously, that makes it difficult.”This week's first two games gave McGuff a glimpse of how tough the final month of the regular season might be. After starting 19-0 and climbing as high as a school-record tying No. 2, Ohio State's quest for a perfect season came crashing down Monday night on its home court with an 83-72 loss to No. 10 Iowa. Then came the trip to Indiana where they were greeted by a mariachi band and another regular-season record-breaking crowd of 10,455. The previous mark stood 11 days.Meanwhile, the Hoosiers' win, coupled with their 10-point victory Monday at No. 13 Michigan, suddenly has Indiana's swelling fan base dreaming about adding a third line to the conference championship banner. The Hoosiers won the 2002 Big Ten Tournament title but their only previous regular-season crown came in 1983.Still, record-setting coach Teri Moren and her players recognize the next month will be as difficult or more difficult than the first three months, which included a nine-game stint witout all-conference guard Grace Berger.“They're all big if you ’re chasing something the way we’re chasing something,” Moren said. “You can’t overlook anything and make the moment bigger than it is.”So far, Indiana's only stumble came at Michigan State on Dec. 29.But anything can happen with 10 of 14 teams entering Friday with winning records and some outside the leading pack building momentum.Yes, Indiana (19-1, 9-1) seems well-positioned with a 6-0 mark against ranked teams including its only scheduled meeting against perennial power No. 10 Maryland. They even own road wins at Michigan and No. 22 Illinois.What's left? Two matchups against the Hawkeyes (16-4, 8-1) and potential national player of the year Caitlin Clark, two more against resurgent rival Purdue (14-6, 5-5) and rematches with the Buckeyes (19-2, 8-2) and Michigan (16-5, 6-4).Iowa’s three losses all came to ranked teams — UConn, North Carolina State and at Illinois — and now it must navigate a final month that includes two dates against Maryland and trips to Nebraska and Penn State in addition to the Hooisers.Ohio State still plays Maryland twice, travels to Michigan and Penn State and hosts the Hoosiers. And, of course, nobody will forget about the Terrapins, winners of 10 their last 11, or even Illinois, which has only won two of its last five but also has only two games left against ranked foes.In fact, everyone is expecting February to be as wild and wacky as any championship chase in the country.“The potential’s there, we’ve seen it,” Moren said of her team making a third straight deep postseason run. “But I also know this can be a funny game, right? If you’re not ready night in and night out, you’re always in jeopardy of coming up short.”Especially in the Big Ten.

In fact, everyone is expecting February to be as wild and wacky as any championship chase in the country

Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes reacts after making a basket and getting fouled during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State

Big Ten's depth poses strong challenge for women's title run

Luka Doncic left the Dallas Mavericks' game against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night with a sprained left ankle. The Mavericks said he would not return to the game.Doncic played just three minutes before limping to the locker room during a timeout. The 23-year-old, who was voted an All-Star for the fourth straight season earlier Thursday, came into the game averaging 33.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists.Doncic was trying to make a move close to the basket against Phoenix's Cam Johnson, but stepped on Mikal Bridges' foot before passing the ball and limping away. He grabbed at his lower left leg before Dallas coach Jason Kidd called for a timeout.The Suns and Mavericks both had a 25-24 record coming into the game.

The Mavericks said he would not return to the game

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and teammate Josh Green (8) celebrate during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat in Dallas

Mavericks All-Star Doncic leaves game with ankle injury

The Knicks are a young team that's still learning how to string together victories. They're hoping to bottle several lessons from their latest outing.Julius Randle had 37 points and nine rebounds, and hit the free throws that gave New York the lead for good in a 120-117 overtime win over the East-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday night.Jalen Brunson added 29 points, seven assists and a game-ending blocked shot for the Knicks, who have won two straight. RJ Barrett had 19 points and Immanuel Quickley finished with 17 points and five rebounds."We held our own," Barrett said. “We played together and we played hard. We got the good result.”Boston’s Jaylen Brown had a chance to put the Celtics ahead with 7.6 seconds remaining, but misfired on two free throws, forcing the Celtics to foul.“Just got to be better,” Brown said. “Tonight was just a rough game and I’m a better basketball player than I played today. Those two free throws embodied the whole game for me.”Jayson Tatum, who was voted an All-Star game starter for the third consecutive season prior to tip-off, finished with 35 points and 14 rebounds. Brown added 22 points and nine rebounds for Boston, which has lost three straight for just the second time this season.New York led by 13 in the fourth quarter but scored just four points in the final 5:26 of regulation to help the Celtics send the game to OT.Randle said he never saw panic in his teammates' eyes during the Celtics' comeback.“Just poise,” he said. “We've been in those type of situations all year. So I feel like we're getting more and more comfortable in those situations.”Boston scored the first five points of the extra frame. New York responded by scoring the next six, taking a 116-115 lead on Barrett’s 3-pointer from the wing.“I didn't have a good shooting night, but I was ready to take that shot,” Barrett said. “I feel like we're getting more comfortable in those situations.”Brown nudged the Celtics back in front with a driving layup out of a timeout with 24 seconds remaining. Randle’s two free throws then put New York back in front for good at 118-117.Boston had a final chance to tie but Brunson blocked Malcolm Brogdon's 3-point try.Tatum hit his first five shots of the night. He struggled in the second and third quarters but had 11 in the fourth quarter to lead Boston’s rally.The Celtics struggled to find an offensive flow throughout, shooting 41% with 13 turnovers.<h2>Frantic finish</h2>The Knicks outscored the Celtics 33-25 in the third quarter and took a six-point edge into the fourth.The lead grew to 102-89 on a pair of free throws by Miles McBride with just over seven minutes to play. The Celtics charged back and had a chance to win it regulation, but Tatum missed a 19-footer and Robert Williams had his follow shot blocked as time expired.<h2>Tip-ins</h2>Knicks: Randle had a driving, one-handed dunk over Tatum late in the third that was part of a 14-5 run to put New York in front 87-78. . … Outscored the Celtics 48-42 in the paint. … Evan Fournier missed his second straight game (personal reasons).Celtics: Dropped to 18-6 at home, with three of those defeats coming in overtime. ... Marcus Smart sat for the third straight game with a sprained right ankle. Interim coach Joe Mazzulla said he is wearing a special sock to help reduce swelling. He remains day-to-day. … Boston hit 7 of their first 9 attempts from the field and led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter. They finished the period by hitting 5 of their final 18 shots and held a 60-58 halftime lead. … Tuesday marked the Celtics’ 6,000th regular-season game.

"We held our own," Barrett said. “We played together and we played hard. We got the good result”

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) drives to the basket to score as Boston Celtics center Al Horford, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Boston

Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT

Novak Djokovic put aside some shaky play in the early going and took over his Australian Open semifinal against unseeded American Tommy Paul on Friday, winning 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to close in on a 10th championship at Melbourne Park and 22nd Grand Slam title overall. Djokovic’s parents and brother are in town for the tournament for the first time since he claimed major trophy No. 1 there back in 2008, but his father stayed away from this match after getting caught up in a flap connected to spectators who brought banned Russian flags on site earlier in the week.<h2>"I like that number"</h2>Forget about that potential distraction. Forget about the heavily taped left hamstring that was an issue last week. Forget about how Djokovic produced twice as many unforced errors, 24, as winners, 12, in the opening set. Forget that he dropped four games in a row in one stretch. As usual, Djokovic summoned what it took to extend his Australian Open winning streak to 27 matches, the longest in the Open era, which dates to 1968.There was a pause in that string of victories a year ago, of course, when Djokovic was deported from Australia before competition began because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. He still has not gotten the shots, but the strict border controls established by the country during the pandemic have been eased.On Sunday, No. 4 seed Djokovic will take on No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who eliminated Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 to reach his first final at Melbourne Park and second at a Slam.Whoever wins the final will rise to No. 1 in the ATP rankings. For Djokovic, that would mark a return to a spot he has occupied for more weeks than anyone; for Tsitsipas, if would mark a debut there.“I like that number. It’s all about you. It’s singular. It’s ‘1,‘” said Tsitsipas, who was 0-3 in Australian Open semifinals before Friday. “These are the moments that I’ve been working hard for.”Djokovic has never lost a semifinal or final in Melbourne, going a perfect 19-0, and his nine triumphs there already are a men’s record. If he can add one more to go alongside his seven titles at Wimbledon, three at the U.S. Open and two at the French Open, the 35-year-old from Serbia would equal Nadal for the most Grand Slam trophies earned by a man.Djokovic is 10-2 against Tsitsipas, taking the last nine encounters in a row.Tsitsipas’ other major final came at the 2021 French Open, when he grabbed the first two sets before blowing that big lead and losing to Djokovic in five.Which was all related to an amusing moment this week, when Djokovic said about Tsitsipas: “He has never played a final, am I wrong?” Reminded by reporters about what happened at Roland Garros, Djokovic replied: “That’s right. Sorry, my bad.”Asked about that exchange Friday, Tsitsipas responded with a deadpan expression and the words: “I don’t remember, either.”Until this week, the 35th-ranked Paul never had been past the fourth round in 13 previous appearances at majors.The 25-year-old was born in New Jersey and grew up in North Carolina, playing tennis at a club where the walls were festooned with posters of Andy Roddick — the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, way back at the 2003 U.S. Open. That drought will continue for now, because even though Djokovic was not at his best in the opening set, he was good enough at the end of it, breaking in the last game, and never relented.The blips for Djokovic arrived right at the outset.The footwork was not up to his usual reach-every-ball standard. The shotmaking was subpar. The serving was so-so.He got into a bit of a discussion with the chair umpire. He started gesturing and shouting in the direction of coach Goran Ivanisevic and the rest of this entourage.In the first game, Djokovic flubbed an overhead, a weakness he’s never solved. He dumped a backhand into the net. He double-faulted. And just like that, three minutes in, he offered up a break point to Paul. Djokovic saved that, but then another missed backhand provided another break chance to someone playing the biggest match of his life.Djokovic saved that, too, collected that game and would race to a 5-1 lead. Then came the lull. He got broken when serving for the set there. And again at 5-3, when Paul walloped a down-the-line forehand and Djokovic’s backhand on a 29-stroke point landed out.<h2>"Couldn’t be more ready for this moment"</h2>Paul held for 5-all. Might he be making a match of it?Not for much longer. Djokovic, the greatest returner or his, or maybe any, generation, broke to close that set, when Paul sent a forehand wide. Serbian flags were displayed throughout the stands and Rod Laver Arena was filled with chants of Djokovic’s two-syllable nickname, “No-le! No-le!”The contest was never much of a contest from there on out.Tsitsipas had a harder time strictly following the rules governing the 25-second serve clock and foot-faults than he did outplaying Khachanov for nearly three full sets, then recovered after blowing two match points late in the third.Tsitsipas regained his footing quickly, grabbing a 3-0 lead in the fourth and closing out the win about 40 minutes after his initial opportunity.Looking ahead to Sunday, he declared: “Couldn’t be more ready for this moment.”

Djokovic summoned what it took to extend his Australian Open winning streak to 27 matches, the longest in the Open era

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Tommy Paul of the U.S. in their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

Djokovic tops Paul; faces Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

Russia's path to sending a team to the Paris Olympics next year became clearer on Thursday amid fierce objections from Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee indicated on Wednesday it favors officially neutral teams from Russia and its ally Belarus at the 2024 Olympics despite a plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to exclude them entirely.<h2>“No place” there</h2>A day later, Russia and Belarus were invited to compete at the Asian Games, a key Olympic qualifier.Russia normally competes as part of Europe but has a tense relationship with many of the countries set to host qualifying events there. Russia and Belarus have been barred from almost all international competitions in Olympic sports following the invasion of Ukraine.Zelenskyy has said he told French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is hosting the Olympics, that Russia should have “no place” there. Ukraine is seeking to rally support against the IOC-brokered plan.“IOC has been disregarding Russian war crimes, claiming that ‘No athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport', while Ukrainian athletes continue to be killed by Russia because of their passports. I urge all sports figures to make their stance known,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Thursday.Ukraine boycotted an Olympic qualifier in judo last year when Russians were allowed to compete as neutrals.In Russia, there was praise for the IOC's approach from Igor Levitin, an aide to President Vladimir Putin who holds influential government and sports posts.“I think it is already a success. Olympic society understands that the Olympic Games cannot be staged without Russia," said Levitin, who is the senior vice-president of the Russian Olympic Committee, in comments reported by state news agency Tass.Some Russian officials expressed unhappiness at the IOC declaring it would not allow athletes found to be “actively supporting the war in Ukraine.” ROC president Stanislav Pozdnyakov said on Wednesday he opposed “any restrictions, extra requirements or sanctions.”Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she backs Russians competing as neutral athletes when her city hosts the Games, without the Russian flag.“I think it’s a time for athletes and that you shouldn’t deprive athletes of their competition. But I think and I plead, like a large part of the sporting movement, that there isn’t a delegation behind the Russian banner," she told France 2 television.“Of course the Games are taking place in a geopolitical time. I hope the war in Ukraine will be behind us when we welcome the Paris Games.”There was no immediate response from the French government, even as other European countries criticized the IOC. British Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said the IOC's stance was “a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people." In Germany, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called it “the wrong path.”The IOC statement on Wednesday referenced the civil war in the former Yugoslavia around the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. The country was under United Nations sanctions so Yugoslav athletes were allowed to compete individually only as “Independent Olympic Participants." They didn't take part in team sports such as soccer and basketball.That would be stricter than previous IOC measures against Russia in the years-long fallout from one of the largest doping cases in sports history. Russians competed under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia” at the 2018 Winter Olympics and as ROC in 2021 and 2022, without their country's anthem or flag but with national colors on uniforms.The Asian Games will be in Hangzhou, China, in September and October, and function as Olympic qualifiers in several sports including archery and boxing. Some other sports host their own Asia-specific qualifying competitions.<h2>“Remains on standby”</h2>“The OCA believes in the unifying power of sport and that all athletes, regardless of their nationality or the passport they hold, should be able to compete in sports competitions,” the OCA said in a statement.The long-time director general of Kuwait-based OCA, Husain al-Musallam, is also the president of World Aquatics, which is overseeing the core Olympic sport of swimming in the IOC home city Lausanne.“The OCA has offered to give eligible Russian and Belarusian athletes the opportunity to take part in competitions in Asia, including the Asian Games,” the organization said.The OCA added it “remains on standby” until the IOC and the individual sports' governing bodies finalize the conditions for Russia and Belarus to compete.

Russia and Belarus were invited to compete at the Asian Games, a key Olympic qualifier

A Russian flag is held above the Olympic Rings at Adler Arena Skating Center during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Feb. 18, 2014.

Russia's path to 2024 Olympics takes shape, Ukraine objects

Kylian Mbappé can close in further on Paris Saint-Germain's all-time scoring record when his team hosts Reims on Sunday. Mbappé's tally of 196 goals for PSG means he is only four behind Edinson Cavani's record for the club. Cavani is still idolized by fans, many of whom were angry at the club for letting him leave in 2020.Mbappé has taken longer to win PSG's supporters over, especially when relations became frosty during the on-off transfer saga with Real Madrid.<h2>The World Cup's top scorer</h2>But his exploits for France at the World Cup in Qatar increased his popularity all over the country, and since returning he's been applauded at every away ground — although that might not be the case when PSG visits bitter rival Marseille twice next month.The World Cup's top scorer is in clinical form heading into Saturday's match at Parc des Princes after netting five goals in a French Cup win on Monday, albeit against an amateur side.Mbappé's attitude in that game stood out along with his crisp finishing. He took the match very seriously and spoke of his respect for the non-league teams afterward.“It’s a reminder for us that we all come from amateur football and it’s important to keep this link,” he said. "Even if it’s only for one game.”Neymar has been largely anonymous for PSG since his World Cup heartbreak with Brazil, so PSG coach Christophe Galtier needs Mbappé to maintain his form.“Kylian is among the greatest strikers, the world class strikers. He's one of the best,” Galtier said. “He's conditioned to score. That's Kylian, a man of statistics and numbers. I don't even need to encourage for him to break records.”He is the league's top scorer with 13 goals this season, one more than Lorient's Terem Moffi and Lille's Jonathan David, and it's only a matter of time before Cavani's record tumbles.In far quicker time, too.While Cavani notched his 200 goals in 301 games, Mbappé has taken just 241 matches to reach 196.While his best season's haul of 42 goals overall is less than Cavani's best total of 49, Mbappé is already on 25 goals in 24 games so far in this campaign.With half of the league campaign still to play, he could realistically hit 50 if PSG goes far in the Champions League and the French Cup.That might be tough, however, since PSG faces Bayern Munich in the round of 16 and is away to Marseille in the cup's last 16.<h2>PSG needs a morale-boosting</h2>A hectic schedule sees PSG playing seven games next month, including a league game at third-place Marseille that promises to be intense, and eight if it reaches the cup quarterfinals.Mid-table Reims is a hard team to beat, too, and is on an 11-match unbeaten run which includes holding PSG to a 0-0 draw at home in October.PSG's away form has been a concern recently, with consecutive defeats at Lens and Rennes allowing second-place Lens to close the gap to three points after 19 rounds.So PSG needs a morale-boosting home win to get its confidence back, and help Mbappé close the gap on Cavani.

Mbappé has taken longer to win PSG's supporters over, especially when relations became frosty during the on-off transfer saga with Real Madrid

PSG's Kylian Mbappe races after the ball during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Paris Saint-Germain at the Bollaert stadium in Lens

Record-chasing Mbappé has Cavani's PSG mark in his sights

Real Sociedad, a soccer team based near the French border in northern city of San Sebastian, has been one of the revelations of the Spanish league season. A revelation that has been building for some time.During his five-year tenure, Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil has led the club to the Copa del Rey title in 2020 and turned it into a regular Europa League participant. Now, the team is on course for a top-four finish and a Champions League berth — and perhaps even more.<h2>Norway striker Alexander Sorloth has scored 12 goals</h2>Sociedad visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday and can pull even on points with second-place Real Madrid to make the Spanish title race a three-team fight at the season’s midway point.Sociedad, which won the Spanish league in 1981 and 1982 and last reached the Champions League in 2013, trails defending champion Madrid by three points and is six points behind leader Barcelona. Both powerhouses also have one more game to play than third-place Sociedad.The Basque club will play in Spain's capital four days after Barcelona ended its nine-game winning streak in all competitions when it beat Sociedad 1-0 to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals. Sociedad played with 10 men from the 40th minute on Wednesday after attacking midfielder Brais Méndez was sent off with a direct red card for a dangerous tackle on Sergio Busquets. Ousmane Dembélé then scored the winner for his eighth goal of the season.“We are hurting, because we wanted to advance, but now there is no other choice than to think about Real Madrid and the Bernabeu,” Alguacil said.Sociedad was without its top playmaking midfielders at Camp Nou after David Silva joined Mikel Merino on the injured list. Silva injured a calf muscle and it is unclear if he will be ready for the match against Madrid. Merino is likely to also miss the game with a muscle injury.But Sociedad’s deep squad will still give it reason to hope it can compete with a Madrid team that completed a Spanish league-Champions League double last season and is led by Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.Norway striker Alexander Sorloth has scored 12 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions this season. Brais, whose will serve his suspension in the Copa del Rey next season, has scored 10 times since joining from Celta Vigo in the offseason. Takefusa Kubo, a former Madrid player, is a threat on the wing, while holding midfielder Martín Zubimendi has reportedly caught the attention of both Barcelona and Premier League leader Arsenal.<h2>Catalan derby</h2>Barcelona heads north to play a Catalan derby at Girona on Saturday in what will be the final of a three-game suspension for striker Robert Lewandowski.The league’s leading scorer with his 13 goals had two more games tacked onto a one-game suspension for his disrespectful display toward a referee in a win at Osasuna in November.Barcelona won the other two games that Lewandowski missed. Dembélé scored in a 1-0 win at Atlético and Pedri scored in a 1-0 win over Getafe.Girona’s 1-0 loss at Villarreal last weekend ended a seven-match unbeaten streak in the league. The team is in 11th place.

Sociedad visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday and can pull even on points with second-place Real Madrid

Real Sociedad's Alexander Sorloth controls he ball during the Spanish Copa del Rey soccer match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium

Sociedad out to catch Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina reached her second final in the past three Grand Slam tournaments by beating Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (4), 6-3 at the Australian Open on Thursday. Rybakina added to what already was an impressive run through a string of top opponents. Azarenka, the champion at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, joined a list of players eliminated by Rybakina over the past two weeks that includes No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 17 Jelena Ostapenko — both owners of major titles — and 2022 Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins.<h2>Rybakina is just 23, 10 years younger than Azarenka</h2>As usual, Rybakina did it with her powerful serve, delivering it at up to 117 mph (189 kph) and accumulating nine aces Thursday to bring her total to a tournament-high 44, and stinging groundstrokes that she used to close points seemingly at will. Her performance in the semifinals was particularly noteworthy against a returner and defender as established on hard courts as Azarenka, a former No. 1 and a three-time runner-up at the U.S. Open.In Saturday’s final, Rybakina will take on either No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or unseeded Magda Linette of Poland. Sabalenka took a 9-0 mark in 2023 into Thursday’s second semifinal, while Linette made it to that stage of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in 30 appearances.“For sure, I got a lot of experience from Wimbledon and, to be honest, I just want to come on court and really enjoy the moment, enjoy the atmosphere,” Rybakina said, looking ahead to Saturday.Rybakina is just 23, 10 years younger than Azarenka, and the future sure looks bright at the moment.Rybakina might be seeded just 22nd in Melbourne, and ranked just 25th, but those numbers are quite misleading and not indicative at all of her talent and form. She did not get the usual bump from her title last July at Wimbledon, where zero rankings points were awarded after the All England Club banned players from Russia and Belarus because of the invasion of Ukraine.Rybakina was born in Moscow, but she has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered to fund her tennis career.It was breezy and chilly at Rod Laver Arena from the start of Rybakina vs. Azarenka, with the temperature dipping below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).That could have played a role in the way the first set was as much of a seesaw as can be, with each player seeming to gain the upper hand — and then ceding it just as quickly.“I couldn’t play really aggressive tennis,” Rybakina said. “The ball wasn't going so much.”Rybakina’s occasional inconsistency was encapsulated by the very first game. She began, inauspiciously enough, with a double-fault, before holding with the help of three aces.Azarenka nosed ahead by breaking for a 3-2 lead on a leaping, full-extension volley winner with both women at the net. Rybakina, though, broke right back, and then once more to go up 5-3.<h2>Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2</h2>That allowed Rybakina to serve for the set, and she was a point from owning it at 40-30. But Azarenka conjured up a terrific down-the-line forehand passing shot to erase that chance, and wound up taking the game with a big backhand winner she accented with a shout of “Let’s go!”A mistake-filled tiebreaker ended with Azarenka pushing a forehand wide to cap an 11-shot exchange, and the set now did belong to Rybakina. She broke at love for a 2-1 lead in the second, and while they would continue to play for another 25 minutes, the outcome was never really much in doubt.Sure, Rybakina again faltered for a bit while trying to serve out the victory at 5-2. No one expected Azarenka to go quietly. But one last break, aided by a double-fault from Azarenka, allowed Rybakina to take another step toward another trophy.Billie Jean King and six other members of the trailblazing “Original 9” group of Hall of Famers whose $1 contracts more than a half-century ago paved the way for the millions now offered in women’s tennis were in the stands for the semifinals.“I want to say a big ‘Thank you’ from the players, because it’s unbelievable what you’ve done for us, for the new generation,” Rybakina said. “It means a lot.”

Azarenka nosed ahead by breaking for a 3-2 lead on a leaping, full-extension volley winner with both women at the net

Elena Rybakina, left, of Kazakhstan is congratulated by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus following their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne

Rybakina tops Azarenka to make Australian Open women's final

Stephen Curry threw his mouthpiece into the seats in frustration and got tossed himself for the surprising episode late in the game. And the Golden State Warriors still pulled off a wild one against the nemesis Memphis Grizzlies.Jordan Poole made the winning layup with a second remaining to cap a crazy, back-and-forth final minute, and the Warriors fought back to beat Ja Morant and Memphis 122-120 on Wednesday night.“Incredible, heady play by Jordan,” Klay Thompson said.Curry outdueled Morant and scored 34 points before being ejected with 1:14 remaining in another thrilling game between the rivals who played last year in the Western Conference semifinals won by the Warriors in six games.<h2>"He knows he can’t make that mistake"</h2>Curry hit a tying jumper with 2:18 left and made three free throws at the 1:55 mark. He wasn't around for the finish after firing the mouthpiece into the stands. Crew chief Sean Wright confirmed the reasoning to a pool reporter: “Stephen Curry takes his mouth piece and throws into the stands with force, as per rule, that is an automatic ejection.”“He knows he can’t make that mistake,” coach Steve Kerr said. “To win the game after the Steph ejection was great. I liked the execution down the stretch.”Afterward, Curry was in the hallway eager to greet Poole with a celebratory hug. Poole had launched a 30-footer with nearly a full shot clock and Curry open, and Curry didn't like it.Curry said the way the season has gone there's a “heightened sense of urgency of how every detail matters.”“The way that we responded after that shows just how much it matters to us,” Curry said.Brandon Clarke had a tying dunk with 6.3 seconds left for Memphis on a pass from Morant after Thompson’s 3-pointer with 14.6 remaining put the Warriors ahead. Thompson then missed a rushed baseline jumper with five seconds to play, but Golden State got the ball out of bounds.Morant wound up with 29 points and 12 assists after missing a game with an ankle injury. He converted a pair of free throws with 26.6 seconds left to put Memphis ahead before Thompson's big 3.Desmond Bane added 20 points for the Grizzlies in a balanced effort to help lessen the sting of losing durable big man Steven Adams for the foreseeable future with a knee injury.Morant, who missed a loss Monday night at Sacramento with soreness in his left ankle, found Clarke for an alley-oop layup and three-point play with 4:10 remaining then Curry and Poole scored consecutive layups.Thompson added 24 points and his 3 with 3:38 left in the third pulled the Warriors to 81-79. Then Curry converted a tying four-point play with 2:27 to go in the period after falling into the courtside seats.The Warriors had lost four straight home games after beginning the season 17-2 at Chase Center.Jonathan Kuminga moved into the Golden State starting lineup with Andrew Wiggins ill. Late in the first half, Kuminga drove through the lane for a highlight-reel left-handed slam then knocked down a 3-pointer a few possessions later. He wound up with 13 points.Poole finished with 21 points and seven assists as the Warriors beat the Grizzlies again following a 123-109 win on Christmas Day. The Grizzlies have lost a season-high four straight to begin this season-long five-game West Coast trip.“It’s a long season. I don’t think too many people are too flustered," Bane said.Draymond Green — who called that final out-of-bounds play for Poole's winner — was whistled for his 14th technical foul of the season, moving him within two of an automatic one-game suspension.<h2>Missing Adams</h2>Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins will mix and match lineups and substitution patterns without Adams, who is expected to miss three to five weeks with a sprained ligament in his right knee that he injured Sunday in Phoenix.“We’re definitely going to miss Stevo, he does so much for us, all the little things, to impact winning,” Jenkins said. "We're just going to need other guys to raise their level in those departments. Obviously, we’re struggling right now on both ends of the floor, we just got to find our groove, it’s next-man up mentality.”<h2>Tip-Ins</h2>Grizzlies: F Danny Green is set to make his season debut Feb. 1 at home against Portland as he returns from left knee surgery. “That’s the plan as of now,” Jenkins said. Green will get some scrimmaging and work with the G League Memphis Hustle this week. ... Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out with 2:33 to go. ... Memphis will host the defending champions for the last two meetings: March 9 and 18.

Curry outdueled Morant and scored 34 points before being ejected with 1:14 remaining in another thrilling game between the rivals who played last year

Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole, left, celebrates with Donte DiVincenzo, right, after scoring the game-winning basket against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco

Poole beats buzzer with layup, lifts Warriors past Grizzlies

Seeking to make qualifying for the World Cup and European Championship more interesting, UEFA said Wednesday that men’s teams will no longer play in six-team groups after Euro 2024. UEFA said it expected “less predictable and more dynamic” play when qualifying for the 2026 World Cup begins in March 2025 with 12 groups of four or five teams each.In qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, England was unbeaten in a six-team group with four wins against Andorra and San Marino by a combined score of 24-0.A wider revamp of European men’s national-team soccer will see a new knockout round in the Nations League start in 2025 — which shapes as a congested year as UEFA and FIFA schedule potentially rival events.FIFA president Gianni Infantino has targeted a June 2025 launch for a 32-team Club World Cup which will lean heavily on European entries and could be played in North America. His goals detailed in Qatar last month met with pushback from European officials who said they were not consulted.UEFA’s projected calendar for the European summer in 2025 also includes a double-header of games for national teams in early June.“FIFA is planning a Club World Cup in the full knowledge of the international calendar,” UEFA director of competitions Giorgio Marchetti told reporters in an online briefing. “This (new UEFA) format does not impact the calendar at all.”Marchetti suggested an expanded Club World Cup could replace the old FIFA Confederations Cup slot that until 2017 was played in late June in the country hosting the next year’s World Cup. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.However, the Confederations Cup had eight teams playing over two weeks, while a 32-team Club World Cup would likely last one month.Europe will have 16 teams at the 2026 World Cup when the tournament expands to a 48-team format and the three extra slots helped prompt UEFA’s review of qualifying.The 12 qualifying group winners in 2025 will advance to North America and the four remaining entries should be decided in playoffs in March 2026.“This is not the end of the story,” Marchetti acknowledged about the revised European schedule. “We will need to discuss also with FIFA because the World Cup is their competition.”Qualifying for Euro 2028 is likely to see 12 group winners and the six best runners-up advance directly. Six more entries for the 24-team tournament should be decided in playoffs that involve some teams based on their Nations League ranking.The biennial Nations League format currently sees the four winners of top-tier groups advance to a Final Four mini-tournament the following year.In 2025, the top two from each group will advance to a new quarterfinal round that will be played in March over two legs. Also in March, middle-ranking teams will play in new promotion-relegation playoffs between the top, second and third tiers.The added competitive games for some mid-ranking nations can compensate any revenue lost from having one fewer home game in World Cup and Euros qualifying.There has been speculation Brazil and Argentina could join Nations League play as part of UEFA’s close relations with South American soccer body CONMEBOL. However, Marchetti said UEFA’s plan detailed Wednesday envisaged just the 55 European soccer federations.

UEFA said it expected “less predictable and more dynamic” play when qualifying for the 2026 World Cup begins in March 2025 with 12 groups

UEFA said it expected “less predictable and more dynamic”

UEFA to have smaller groups for World Cup, Euros qualifying

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis will miss at least the next couple of weeks after spraining his right medial collateral ligament and right ankle in a 150-130 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday. The Bucks announced the severity of Portis’ injuries to his knee and ankle on Wednesday and said he would be re-evaluated in two weeks.Portis, who turns 28 on Feb. 10, is averaging 14.4 points and a career-high 10.1 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-11 forward will miss a game for the first time this season when the Bucks host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.Portis got hurt the same night that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and three-time All-Star Khris Middleton returned from knee injuries. Middleton, who had been out with right knee soreness, played just his eighth game of the season on Monday. Antetokounmpo returned after missing five games with left knee soreness.

The Bucks announced the severity of Portis’ injuries to his knee and ankle on Wednesday and said he would be re-evaluated in two weeks

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) dunks against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love and forward Evan Mobley (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game

Bucks' Portis out at least 2 weeks with sprained MCL, ankle

Fernando Santos is going from coaching Cristiano Ronaldo to leading another soccer great, Robert Lewandowski. A month after parting company with his native Portugal, Santos was presented in Warsaw on Tuesday as the coach of Poland's national team, covering the European Championship in 2024 and the World Cup in 2026.The 68-year-old Santos became Poland’s third foreign-born coach — after Leo Beenhakker and Paulo Sousa — and arrives with experience of leading high-profile players such as Ronaldo, who Santos even benched last month during the knockout stage of the World Cup.Now Santos will be coaching a team captained by Lewandowski, the Barcelona striker who, at 34, is approaching the end of his career and might only have the European Championship in 2024 and possibly the 2026 World Cup left to play at international level.“We want to be in the group stage of the Euros and then we want to keep winning,” said Santos, who stated his belief that Poland has the potential to compete with every team in the world.“Starting today, I am a Pole, I am one of you,” Santos said in his first comments as coach, having greeting the media conference in Polish.Santos is tasked with improving Poland’s underwhelming record at recent major tournaments.Since 1986, the national team has only advanced from the group stage at one World Cup (2022) and one European Championship (2016).Santos, renowned for being a pragmatic, defensive-minded coach, has good pedigree at international level. In eight years with Portugal, he led the team to the Euro 2016 title — the country’s first international trophy — and the inaugural Nations League title in 2019. He also coached Greece at Euro 2012, where it reached the quarterfinals, and the 2014 World Cup.Cezary Kulesza, the head of Poland's soccer federation, said his criteria in choosing the new coach were experience in running a national team, past successes, charisma and experience working with stars.“We can afford to have the best coach available now,” Kulesza said.Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said he believes that “our national team and all the fans will go though many nice moments with the new coach.”Poland didn’t extend the contract of Santos' predecessor, Czeslaw Michniewicz, after reaching the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time in 36 years. Michniewicz’s contract ended Dec. 31.Former Portugal and South Korea coach Paulo Bento and Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, recently fired by Aston Villa in the Premier League, were linked with the job after the Polish soccer federation said it would be hiring a foreign coach.Santos' greater experience might have made the difference. On Monday, when it became clear Santos would be hired, Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk congratulated the soccer association on Twitter on its decision and called Santos a highly successful coach with “experience in working with great stars" such as Ronaldo.

Santos arrives with experience of leading high-profile players such as Ronaldo, who Santos even benched last month during the World Cup

Poland hires Santos as coach through 2026 World Cup

Contrary to all those high-scoring games, players still are playing defense in the NBA. Seriously, they are.It's just the task of stopping two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic or Luka Doncic or Joel Embiid or anyone else in the league has become more challenging than ever.Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle may have described the assignment of locking down a premier — or even a reserve — player the best: "It’s a wild, hot mess trying to guard in the NBA now," he said.A combination of rule changes, style-of-play alterations, the ongoing addiction to the 3-point shot and more have added up to the game being significantly tilted toward the offensive player.Someone will win “Defensive Player of the Year” this spring, even after a season where no one seems to be able to stop anyone with the ball. It’s almost certain that more players will average 20 points per game than ever before. A decade ago, there were a dozen or so players. This season, 50 isn’t out of the question (there were 27 last season and 31 in 2020-21).The NBA will analyze all the variables after the season. But since its sense is fans love scoring, and there’s nothing out there contradicting that stance, a massive swing of the rules pendulum toward helping out defenders doesn’t seem likely.“For me, a fan, the talent level is just off the charts, and that has a lot to do with what we’re seeing,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in Paris last week. “Of course, the enormous increase in 3-point shooting is going to lead to more scoring, too, especially when these guys, even the big men, shoot 3-point shots as well as they do.“I don’t think it’s necessarily a case that defense is not being focused on as it once was,” Silver added. “I’ve been around the league long enough to remember when the claim was guys played no defense at all, and so there’s a fair amount of defense played.”From zone defenses to constant rotations, teams are trying a little bit of everything to slow down offensive stars. Still, the stars shine. In January alone, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points on Jan. 2; Chicago's Zach LaVine knocked down 11 3-pointers on Jan. 6; and Miami's Jimmy Butler went 23 of 23 from the free throw line on Jan. 10.Playing defense is harder these days, but not impossible.“It just requires a real connectedness defensively,” Carlisle explained.Scoring is up again this season, with teams averaging more points (114.1) than the league has seen at any time in the last half-century. Sacramento leads the way with 120 points per game, with six players averaging 12 or more points.It's hardly a surprise to longtime NBA veteran Ish Smith that 44 players are currently averaging at least 20 point a game.“I guarantee you, when I come and show my kids the game in 10 or 15 years, we’re going to be talking about how it might be 100 guys now averaging 20,” cracked Smith, the Nuggets guard who broke into the league in 2010. “It’s just a tribute to guys getting better. Everybody can dribble, shoot, pass — and it makes it difficult.”Bottom line: The standouts are simply doing what they do best — stand out. Doncic and Embiid lead in points per game (33.6), Jokic in triple-doubles (14), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in two-point field goals (398) and Buddy Hield in 3-pointers (181).“The league is in such a great place and people are so into checking out highlights and seeing high scores for entertainment,” said David Adelman, an assistant coach for the Nuggets and son of longtime NBA coach Rick Adelman. “I don’t think the NFL is any different. I mean, it’s hard to be a defensive back these days. That's probably the hardest job in sports, maybe.“So I don’t see (the NBA) changing it. My son is 9 years old and he loves watching the NBA because we’re scoring 130 points. That’s just the way it is.”Given rule enforcements designed to allow more freedom of moment in both the post and on the perimeter, it's only natural to expect free throws to be on the rise. There have been an average of 23.8 attempts at the line (through Sunday) this season, which is on pace to be the highest since 2010-11 (24.4).“Generally, when you look at some of these really, really, explosive individual performances where guys have put up huge numbers, I think you can immediately look at the free-throw line. There’s always a correlation,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan explained. “The free throw and the fouling has become a real challenge, because the minute you get your hands on people, those elite scorers know how to manipulate and draw fouls.”The league has tried to minimize that, at least when it comes to shooters looking to draw contact on flailed 3-pointers. But the NBA knows any rule change or shift always gets countered somehow by smart players, who just find another avenue to get to where they want.“I remember people were saying, ‘It’s all about dunking and guys can’t shoot.’ Now it’s, ‘They shoot too well. It should be more of an inside game,’” Silver said. “We’ll keep looking at it.”

Playing defense is harder these days, but not impossible

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) loses his balance while dribbling against Los Angeles Clippers forward Robert Covington (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas

Analysis: Trying to play good NBA defense 'wild, hot mess'

<h2>LOOKAHEAD TO WEDNESDAY</h2>There couldn’t be more contrasting men’s quarterfinals at the Australian Open.&nbsp;Novak Djokovic is still on track for his 10th title at Melbourne Park and now faces No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev — who is 0-6 in Grand Slam quarterfinals. The other men’s match Wednesday features a pair of unseeded 20-something Americans: Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul. Neither has ever been this far at a major tournament and the matchup between the 89th-ranked Shelton, a 20-year-old from Florida, and the 35th-ranked Paul, a 25-year-old from New Jersey, will be the first Slam quarterfinal between two men from the U.S. since 2007, when Andy Roddick beat Mardy Fish in Melbourne. Roddick’s title at the U.S. Open 20 years ago remains the last major singles championship for an American man. There is also a fresh face among the women: Magda Linette is playing in her first quarterfinal in 30 Grand Slam appearances at age 31. She faces Karolina Pliskova, a two-time runner-up at majors. The other quarterfinalists are appearing for the first time in the last eight at Melbourne Park: No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka and unseeded Donna Vekic. Sabalenka is 8-0 in 2023.<h2>TUESDAY'S KEY RESULTS</h2>Women's Quarterfinals: No. 22 Elena Rybakina beat No. 17 Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4.Men's Quarterfinals: No. 18 Karen Khachanov beat No. 29 Sebastian Korda 7-6 (5), 6-3, 3-0, retired.<h2>WEDNESDAY'S FORECAST</h2>Partly cloudy with a high of 83 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius).<h2>STATE OF THE DAY</h2>35 — Tournament-leading ace count for Elena Rybakina, including 11 against Jelena Ostapenko.<h2>QUOTE OF THE DAY</h2>“It’s obviously not the way you want to finish a match, and I think until a certain point, it was very competitive and a good battle." — Karen Khachanov on Sebastian Korda's mid-match retirement because of an injured right wrist.

There couldn’t be more contrasting men’s quarterfinals at the Australian Open

Tommy Paul of the U.S. reacts after defeating Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023

Australian Open lookahead: Djokovic and 2 US first-timers

Mikaela Shiffrin holds a slim lead during the first run of a giant slalom and is in position for a record-breaking 83rd World Cup win. Shiffrin currently shares the women’s record of 82 wins with former American teammate Lindsey Vonn.Shiffrin stood 0.13 seconds ahead of world champion Lara Gut-Behrami and 0.27 ahead of home favorite Federica Brignone at the Kronplatz resort in San Vigilio on Tuesday.Petra Vlhova, Shiffrin’s usual rival, was 1.01 back, with Olympic champion Sara Hector nearly two seconds behind.Lower-ranked skiers were still coming down the course.The second run starts at 1:30 p.m.

Shiffrin currently shares the women’s record of 82 wins with former American teammate Lindsey Vonn

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup giant slalom, in Kronplatz, Italy, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023

Shiffrin leads 1st run of GS as she chases record win No. 83

Sébastien Haller has already faced his toughest challenge of this season, or indeed any season. Reviving Borussia Dortmund looks simple by comparison. A loud roar greeted Haller on his belated debut for Dortmund on Sunday, ending six months out of the game. Following two operations for testicular cancer and chemotherapy, he was back.Before the game, a dramatic 4-3 win over Augsburg, Haller reminded his teammates to keep soccer in perspective."He (Dortmund coach Edin Terzic) asked me how I feel to speak, and I said, ‘Of course, if you give me the chance, I will speak, because it’s, in my opinion, something even more than football,'” said Haller, an Ivory Coast international who was born in France.“It's always nice to try to make them realize how big the things are, and football at the end, it's in the background. So (we) just need to not forget why we play.”Haller was first diagnosed with a tumor in July, less than a month after signing for Dortmund. He had been brought in from Ajax to replace Erling Haaland after the Norwegian was sold to Manchester City, and Dortmund's plans for 2022-23 were built around him.Without Haller, Dortmund slipped to sixth in the Bundesliga. Anthony Modeste was signed as an emergency replacement, but the experienced French striker scored only twice in 20 games. Eighteen-year-old forward Youssoufa Moukoko has plenty of talent but hasn't looked quite ready to lead a team of Dortmund's stature every week.Haller came on against Augsburg with a half hour remaining to replace Moukoko — Modeste was out of the squad entirely — and while he didn't score, he created space for other substitutes to shine as bench players Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Gio Reyna scored crucial goals.“We all know what’s happened the first part of the season, and now we have the chance to start the new year with another dynamic. Something new, something extra. Another boost,” Haller said. “Also with my return, I hope that it can give a boost. Of course, with the atmosphere today, with the fans, with the team, with the win, we need to use those things, too, to create something new.”Dortmund's perennial quest to end the dominance of Bayern Munich may be out of reach for another year, seven points behind the champions, but a battle looms for the Champions League places with Eintracht Frankfurt, Leipzig, Wolfsburg and surprise challengers Union Berlin and Freiburg.After getting through a Champions League group with Manchester City, Sevilla and Copenhagen, Dortmund has a last-16 match next month against another big team in difficulties, Chelsea.

Big Ten's depth poses strong challenge for women's title run

Mavericks All-Star Doncic leaves game with ankle injury

Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT

Djokovic tops Paul; faces Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

Russia's path to 2024 Olympics takes shape, Ukraine objects

Record-chasing Mbappé has Cavani's PSG mark in his sights

Sociedad out to catch Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Rybakina tops Azarenka to make Australian Open women's final

Poole beats buzzer with layup, lifts Warriors past Grizzlies

UEFA to have smaller groups for World Cup, Euros qualifying

Bucks' Portis out at least 2 weeks with sprained MCL, ankle

Poland hires Santos as coach through 2026 World Cup

Analysis: Trying to play good NBA defense 'wild, hot mess'

Australian Open lookahead: Djokovic and 2 US first-timers

Shiffrin leads 1st run of GS as she chases record win No. 83

Back on the field, Haller hopes to spark Dortmund's revival

Sports

Big Ten's depth poses strong challenge for women's title run

Mavericks All-Star Doncic leaves game with ankle injury

Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT

Djokovic tops Paul; faces Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

Russia's path to 2024 Olympics takes shape, Ukraine objects

Record-chasing Mbappé has Cavani's PSG mark in his sights

Sociedad out to catch Real Madrid at the Bernabeu

Rybakina tops Azarenka to make Australian Open women's final

Poole beats buzzer with layup, lifts Warriors past Grizzlies

UEFA to have smaller groups for World Cup, Euros qualifying

Bucks' Portis out at least 2 weeks with sprained MCL, ankle

Poland hires Santos as coach through 2026 World Cup

Analysis: Trying to play good NBA defense 'wild, hot mess'

Australian Open lookahead: Djokovic and 2 US first-timers

Shiffrin leads 1st run of GS as she chases record win No. 83

Back on the field, Haller hopes to spark Dortmund's revival