From play-in purgatory to Knicks playoff series, Hawks forge new identity

ATLANTA (AP) – Trae Young rose from the bench, shook the hands of his teammates and bid farewell to the 15,993 fans in State Farm Arena midway through the fourth quarter of the Hawks’ Jan. 7 win over the Pelicans.

Bengaluru beats Lucknow by 5 wickets to move atop Indian Premier League

BENGALURU, India (AP) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru dismantled Lucknow Super Giants with incisive pace bowling in a five-wicket win to move atop the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

NBA says viewership of regular-season games was up 86% over last season

NEW YORK (AP) – The numbers are in, and the NBA says Year 1 of its new television deals were a hit.

MacKinnon's all-business season means leading NHL in goals

DENVER (AP) – There are plenty of reasons for Nathan MacKinnon to smile over one of the finest seasons for him and for the Colorado Avalanche. Actually getting the all-business center to break into a grin, well, that can prove challenging – even for teammates.

WrestleMania is back in Las Vegas after a big showing last year

As WWE gears up for WrestleMania this weekend, the biggest annual event for the professional wrestling organization, data shows that its appearance in Las Vegas last year had an economic impact worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

LaMelo Ball punches team mascot after Hornets knock out Heat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – LaMelo Ball was so excited after delivering a knockout blow to the Miami Heat in Tuesday night’s electric 127-126 play-in tournament win that he carried it over to his victory celebration, delivering two right-hand jabs to the oversized head of Hugo, the Charlotte Hornets’ mascot.

Sabres ending their NHL-record playoff drought inspires joy beyond Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – When Taylor Hall signed with the Sabres several years ago, the 2018 MVP summed up a belief shared by many around the NHL by saying the league is better when Buffalo is competitive.

'I might not be here', says England cricket captain Stokes after recovery

LONDON (AP) – Ben Stokes is feeling fortunate to be alive after being struck in the face by a cricket ball, the England test captain said on Wednesday.

Lehigh sets Division I record with 38-6 victory over Coppin State

BALTIMORE (AP) – Lehigh set an NCAA Division I record by scoring 20 runs in the first inning of a 38-6 victory over Coppin State on Tuesday night.