MIAMI (AP) — The NFL has been dealing with hackers, not someone trying to peak into the league's records or team playbooks. The hackers apparently attacked social media accounts for the league and the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. The NFL says its cybersecurity department noticed a breach of a league-related social media account, then discovered targeted breaches and additional failed attempts across the league and team accounts. The league told teams to secure their social media accounts to stop further access and alerted the social media platform providers to secure all the accounts.
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Garoppolo had a front-row seat in the best classroom on the best way to prepare for being a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl. Garoppolo watched Tom Brady prepare for two Super Bowl wins as his backup on New England. Now he gets the chance to translate those lessons into his first trip as a starter for the San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo said Brady's calmness throughout the pressure-packed week is one of the things that stands out most.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The NFL's blue medical tent on each sideline is a place no player ever wants to go, and everyone else would love to sneak inside for a peek. There's no real mystery. Just imagine a portable exam room using a basic pop-up tent anchored by a metal rectangle frame on the ground around an exam table. Then a player walks in, someone pulls the tent into place and people disappear inside away from prying eyes. Dr. Allen Sills is the NFL's chief medical officer, and he says the tent is a lot more roomy than people might think.
National Headlines
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid has returned to the Philadelphia 76ers' lineup tonight against Golden State, three weeks after surgery on a torn ligament in his left ring finger. Embiid was in the starting lineup wearing No. 24 in honor of Kobe Bryant instead of his usual No. 21. The Sixers went 6-3 without their All-Star center, who is averaging 23.4 points and 12.3 rebounds in 31 games this season.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Admirers from as far away as China continued to crowd the plaza leading to the Staples Center for a third day in tribute to former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Arena officials opened adjacent Chick Hearn Court to pedestrian traffic, allowing the placement of still more memorials of flowers, balloons, photos, paintings, jerseys, hats, basketballs and thousands of heartfelt written messages. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was among nine people who died in the crash.
HOUSTON (AP) — Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros are working to finalize an agreement that would make him the team’s manager, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. Baker would take over for AJ Hinch, who was fired Jan. 13 just an hour after he was suspended for the season by Major League Baseball for his role in Houston’s sign-stealing scandal. The 70-year-old Baker has managed San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati and Washington, winning 1,863 games in 22 seasons and earning three NL Manager of the Year awards.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets and infielder Eduardo Núñez have worked out a minor league contract that includes an invitation to big league camp. The 32-year-old Núñez is a lifetime .276 hitter who batted .228 with 20 RBIs in 60 games for the Boston Red Sox last year. The Mets also gave pitcher Erasmo Ramírez a minor league contract.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open semifinals will be set following the completion of the Day 10 session. Fourth seed Simona Halep has taken the court against Anett Kontaveit, which will be followed by Garbine Mugaruza’s match against Anastasia Pavluchenkova. The men’s quarterfinals have seventh seed Alexander Zverev against Stan Wawrinka and top seed Rafael Nadal versus No. 5 Dominic Thiem.
Tuesday Scores
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final Virginia 61 (5)Florida St. 56
Final (8)Villanova 79 St. John's 59
Final (9)Duke 79 Pittsburgh 67
Final (16)Butler 69 Georgetown 64
Final 2OT (17)Auburn 83 Mississippi 82
Final (25)Rutgers 70 Purdue 63
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
L.A. Clippers 0 L.A. Lakers 0 (in progress)
Final Philadelphia 115 Golden State 104
Final Charlotte 97 New York 92
Final Toronto 130 Atlanta 114
Final New Orleans 125 Cleveland 111
Final Boston 109 Miami 101
Final Memphis 104 Denver 96
Final Milwaukee 151 Washington 131
Final Phoenix 133 Dallas 104