ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are turning to rookie Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback and benching veteran Kirk Cousins as they fight for their first playoff berth since 2017. Coach Raheem Morris announced the decision in a statement Tuesday night. “After review we have made the decision Michael Penix Jr. will be the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback moving forward,” Morris said. “This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.” The Falcons (7-7) ended a four-game losing streak with Monday night’s ugly 15-9 win at Las Vegas. Cousins passed for 112 yards with one touchdown — his first TD pass in five games — and one interception. The 36-year-old has thrown nine picks over the past five games and leads the NFL with 16 interceptions. Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason with $100 million guaranteed before selecting Penix No. 8 overall in the NFL draft.
NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Cody Bellinger was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for right-hander Cody Poteet. Chicago will send the Yankees $5 million as part of the trade. The 29-year-old Bellinger, whose father Clay helped the Yankees win World Series titles in 1999 and 2000, could play center field next year as Aaron Judge returns to right following the departure of Juan Soto to the Mets. Bellinger also can play first base, a position that opened when Anthony Rizzo became a free agent. Bellinger is owed $27.5 million in 2025 under the first of two player options as part of an $80 million, three-year contract. The two-time All-Star also has a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout that would be payable in equal installments on Jan. 15, 2026, and Jan. 15, 2027. Bellinger batted .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games this year. He was on the injured list from April 24 to May 7 with a broken right rib.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Tuesday night’s championship between Milwaukee and Oklahoma City didn’t quite have the intensity of a playoff game, but the high energy that has typified the second version of the NBA Cup was ratcheted up. With a trophy — and a significant amount of money on the line — it was clear this was no normal mid-December game. Even for one that doesn’t count in the standings. “It’s closer to elevated regular season than the playoffs, in my opinion,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after his team’s 97-81 loss to the Bucks. “Time of year has to do with that. The nature of a series versus a one-and-done situation has to do with that. Playing elevated opponents with some elevated stakes, elevated distractions, is a good experience in December for our team.” Four technical fouls were called by early in the third quarter, though none after that as the Bucks began to assert themselves and take the mystery out of the game.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Sarah Strong scored a career-high 29 points and Paige Bueckers added 27 to lift No. 4 UConn to a 101-68 victory over Iowa State on Tuesday night in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase. Ashlynn Shade had a career-best 27 points, hitting seven 3-pointers. She got the Huskies (10-1) going, scoring 20 points and making all seven of her shots, including six 3’s, in the opening period. UConn led 36-10 after the first 10 minutes, and the Cyclones (9-4) never were able to get within 14 the rest of the game. The Huskies finished with 20 3-pointers, which set a school record. Audi Crooks led Iowa State with 22 points. Emily Ryan finished with nine points and six assists.
TUESDAY SCORES
NCAA MEN TOP 25
No. 1 Tennessee 84, Western Carolina 36
No. 2 Auburn 100, Georgia State 59
No. 5 Duke 68, George Mason 47
No. 7 Florida, North Carolina 84
No. 17 Ole Miss 74, Southern 61
No. 18 UCLA 111, Prairie View A&M 75
No. 20 Michigan State 77, Oakland 58
No. 22 Dayton 66, UNLV 65
South Carolina 91, No. 25 Clemson 88