PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes has won the National League Cy Young Award in a unanimous vote, becoming the first pitcher in 40 years to win Rookie of the Year one season and a Cy Young Award the next. The 23-year-old right-hander led the majors with a 1.97 ERA and struck out 216 batters for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal won his second straight American League Cy Young Award. Skubal posted a 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA. Skubal is the 12th pitcher in MLB history to capture a Cy Young in back-to-back seasons.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 55 points, tying the highest-scoring performance in the NBA this season, and 12 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets beat the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers 130-116 on Wednesday night for their sixth straight victory. Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 55 in a double-overtime game at Indiana on Oct. 23. Jokic scored 25 of Denver’s 39 points in the first quarter. He missed adding to his league-leading six triple-doubles with six assists. The Serbian big man was 5 of 6 on 3-pointers and made 14 of 16 free throws. James Harden scored 23 points — making all 10 of his free throws — for the spiraling Clippers.
DALLAS (AP) — Tennessee Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has been indicted in Texas on a misdemeanor charge for failing to report an aggravated assault. The incident allegedly occurred last year in suburban Dallas. A Dallas County grand jury indicted Sneed on Tuesday. The indictment relates to an alleged shooting on December 6, 2024, involving Sneed and another man, Tekonzae Williams. Williams faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Titans say they are aware of the legal matter and are in contact with NFL security. Sneed was placed on injured reserve last month with a quadricep injury.
A $2.8 billion NCAA settlement will let schools pay athletes directly, ending the amateur model that defined college sports for over a century. But many fear women will be left behind, with roster limits threatening opportunities in non-revenue sports and underfunded schools like HBCUs facing even greater strain. Female athletes argue the plan favors men’s football and basketball, lacking safeguards to ensure gender equity or Title IX compliance.
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer says his heart and the hearts of his players are still heavy after the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. The coach says they continue to share, laugh and cry after the loss of their teammate. Schottenheimer held his first media availability Wednesday since Kneeland’s death during their bye last week. The Cowboys will resume practice Thursday. Police in Frisco said Kneeland was found dead early last Thursday of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Players were off Wednesday after two days with team meetings and breakout sessions with grief specialists. There was also a private memorial candlelight vigil Tuesday night.
A Miami judge ordered that former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown will be released on $25,000 bail and must wear an ankle monitor. He has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree attempted murder charge in Florida. That carries a potential 15-year prison sentence and a fine up to $10,000 if he's convicted. His lawyer said the 37-year-old Brown would return to his home Florida while the case proceeds. Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match on May 16 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. Brown's lawyer says it was his own gun.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Russell Wilson is again contemplating an uncertain football future after losing out on the New York Giants' starting quarterback job again. Wilson is set to be the backup this weekend after interim coach Mike Kafka instead chose Jameis Winston to be the starter with rookie Jaxson Dart in concussion protocol. Wilson turns 37 on Nov. 29 and does not have an NFL contract beyond this season. He said he has not asked for his release and wants to see things through with the Giants.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikola Jokic has led the Denver Nuggets to a 130-116 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 55 points to tie the highest-scoring performance in the NBA this season. The Nuggets had previously been winless in games where Jokic scored 50 or more points. This marks their sixth straight victory. Jokic has been on a historic run, becoming the first player in NBA history to average a 35-point triple-double while shooting 60% or better over a six-game stretch. Coach David Adelman praised Jokic's preparation and performance, calling it unforgettable.
NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz has pleaded not guilty to charges he took bribes to help gamblers win bets placed on pitches he threw. His teammate, Guardians former closer Emmanuel Clase, has also been charged in the alleged scheme. Ortiz appeared Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court, Clase, the Guardian’s former closer, will be arraigned at the same courthouse Thursday. The two natives of the Dominican Republic have been on paid leave since July, when Major League Baseball began investigating what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched. Following the indictments, the league announced new limits on betting on individual pitches.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal is out for the season due to a hip fracture. The team announced Wednesday that Beal will undergo surgery next week and is expected to recover in six to nine months. He got injured last Saturday against Phoenix, his former team. Beal, a three-time All-Star, played only six games this season. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard has an ankle and foot sprain with no timetable for return. He missed his fifth game of the season on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets. Leonard is receiving treatment and will travel with the team on its upcoming trip.
Finals
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final N-Y Rangers 7 Tampa Bay 3
Final OT Edmonton 2 Philadelphia 1
Final Utah 5 Buffalo 2
Final OT New Jersey 4 Chicago 3
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Houston 78 Oakland 45
Final (20)Tennessee 99 North Florida 66