KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce plans to play next season rather than retire. The 35-year-old Kelce had been mulling whether to return for a 13th season. But the four-time All-Pro made his feelings clear in a text to Pat McAfee that the host read during “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday. The four-time All-Pro wrote he's “coming back for sure.” The Chiefs’ quest to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls ended with a 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 9. Kelce professed his love for football several times leading up to the Super Bowl.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers say they're reinstating former coach Jon Gruden into their ring of honor. The move comes less than four years after they removed him from the ring over his use of racist, homophobic and misogynistic language in emails to an NFL executive while he was a television analyst. Gruden resigned from his job as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders when reports of his comments surfaced early in the 2021 season.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two-way star Travis Hunter says he won’t work out at the NFL scouting combine this week. The Heisman Trophy winner might play both cornerback and wide receiver in the NFL next season after doing the same at Colorado. Hunter said during his media availability in Indianapolis that it will be up to the team that drafts him to decide his primary position but that he hoped he would be allowed to line up on both sides of the ball. Hunter says “I’ve been doing this for a long time, so I feel like I can keep doing it.”
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Alejandro helped lead UAB past Wichita State on Thursday night with 29 points off of the bench in an 80-72 win. Vasquez shot 11 of 22 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Blazers (19-9, 12-3 American Athletic Conference). Christian Coleman added 14 points while shooting 4 of 10 from the field and 6 for 7 from the foul line. Yaxel Lendeborg shot 4 of 6 from the field and 2 for 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points, while adding eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 56 points and made 12 3-pointers in Golden State's 121-115 victory over Orlando. When he has it going like that, his coach just knows some shots are going in. That included one from beyond halfcourt that ended the first half. Curry went on to extend his NBA record by making at least 10 3-pointers for the 26th time and had his 14th 50-point game. Afterward, he tossed his jersey to his mom who was sitting in the stands.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will likely be suspended for one game after being ejected and picking up his 16th technical foul of the season during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. Edwards also could draw a fine after throwing the ball into the stands after being ejected. NBA rules state a player receives a one-game suspension after picking up 16 technical fouls in a season. For every two additional technicals, the suspension will increase by one game.
PHOENIX (AP) — The injuries have taken on toll on Zion Williamson during his six-year NBA career. So have the losses. But on nights like Thursday, there are tantalizing reminders of how good the 2019 No. 1 overall pick could become. Williamson finished 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double in the New Orleans Pelicans 124-116 win over the Phoenix Suns. The Pelicans have won three straight games, matching their longest streak of the season. Williamson’s big night was an encouraging moment in a tough season. Even after their three-game winning streak, the Pelicans have a 16-43 record and are far out of the playoff hunt.
UNDATED (AP) — Gregg Popovich will not coach this season. He is not ruling out a comeback in the future. Popovich met with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, releasing a statement afterward to make his decision on this season — and hope for next season — public. The 76-year-old Popovich, the NBA’s all-time coaching wins leader, had a stroke at the team’s arena in San Antonio on Nov. 2 and has been away from the team since. Popovich says “I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jake Knapp has joined the PGA Tour’s sub-60 club. Knapp — the 99th-ranked player in the world — shot a bogey-free 59 in the opening round of the Cognizant Classic at PGA National on Thursday. It's the 15th time that someone has broken 60 in a PGA Tour event. Knapp finished one shot off the tour scoring record of 58, done by Jim Furyk in the final round of the 2016 Travelers Championship. Knapp became the 14th player to shoot a sub-60 round. Furyk is the only one to do it twice.
There’s one reason Hackman’s dazzling acting career stands out for sports fans: His unforgettable role as Norman Dale, coach of the feel-good, state champion Hickory Huskers from a tiny Indiana town. News of Hackman's death hit hard in the basketball-mad state. The movie was ranked as the No. 1 sports film of all-time by The Associated Press in 2020 and was released in 1986. Hackman starred as Dale, a man who was given a second chance at coaching after his first one ended after striking one of his players years earlier.
THURSDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Mets 5 Houston 0
Final Pittsburgh 12 Minnesota 1
Final Athletics 6 San Diego 4
Final San Francisco 6 Seattle 4
Final Milwaukee 12 Kansas City 5
Final N.Y. Yankees 7 Philadelphia 7
Final L.A. Angels 4 Chicago Cubs 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Boston 6 Detroit 5
Final Baltimore 11 Toronto 8
Final Texas 8 Seattle 0
Final Chicago White Sox 4 Cleveland 2
Final Detroit 7 Tampa Bay 7
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 8 Miami 4
Final Colorado 2 L.A. Dodgers 0
Final Atlanta 4 Washington 3
Final Arizona 3 Cincinnati 3
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (15)Michigan 84 Rutgers 82
Final (23)Saint Mary's (Cal.) 58 Loyola Marymount 55
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Golden State 121 Orlando 115
Final Milwaukee 121 Denver 112
Final Dallas 103 Charlotte 96
Final New Orleans 124 Phoenix 116
Final L.A. Lakers 111 Minnesota 102
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 5 Washington 2
Final Tampa Bay 3 Calgary 0
Final Columbus 5 Detroit 2
Final Carolina 5 Buffalo 2
Final N-Y Islanders 2 Boston 1
Final OT Montreal 4 San Jose 3
Final Florida 4 Edmonton 3
Final OT Pittsburgh 5 Philadelphia 4
Final Nashville 2 Winnipeg 1
Final Utah 6 Minnesota 1
Final Anaheim 5 Vancouver 2