March 20, 2026 4:31 am
MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James started for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Miami Heat, making it the 1,611th regular-season game of his career and tying Robert Parish’s all-time NBA mark. Parish held the record for nearly 30 years. He has now been caught by James, someone who now has yet another record on what seems like an endless resume of accomplishment within the game. James is also the NBA leader in, among many categories, points, seasons played, All-NBA nods and All-Star selections.
March 20, 2026 4:27 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Bregman is hoping to lead the Chicago Cubs to their first NL Central title since 2020 after signing a $175 million, five-year contract with the North Siders in free agency. But the competition is tough in a division that put three teams in the playoffs last year. Cincinnati added a familiar face when it signed Eugenio Suárez to a $15 million, one-year deal. The 34-year-old slugger played for the Reds for seven seasons before he was traded to Seattle in March 2022. The Milwaukee Brewers are the reigning Central champions, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are much improved after acquiring Brandon Lowe in a trade and signing Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year contract.
March 19, 2026 4:30 am
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sean Walker scored with 28.3 seconds left in overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes beat Pittsburgh 6-5 on Wednesday night, spoiling Sidney Crosby’s return to the Penguins’ lineup. Jackson Blake had a goal and two assists, Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Walker each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Jordan Martinook and K’Andre Miller also scored and Nikolaj Ehlers finished with three assists. Frederik Andersen made 30 saves. Erik Karlsson had two goals and an assist, Crosby added a goal and an assist, and Bryan Rust and Ben Kindel also scored for Pittsburgh. Stuart Skinner stopped 38 shots
March 19, 2026 4:32 am
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Eian Elmer scored 23 points and Miami of Ohio beat SMU 89-79 in the First Four for its first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years. Elmer went 6 of 9 from 3-point range as the 11th-seeded RedHawks, who were unbeaten during the regular season, advanced in the Midwest Region to play No. 6 seed Tennessee. Brant Byers added 19 points, including four 3s, and Luke Skaljac had 17 points for Miami, which is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007. The RedHawks finished 16 of 41 from 3-point distance. Jaden Toombs led SMU with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 18 points and Boopie Miller had 15 for the Mustangs, who haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 1988.
March 19, 2026 4:33 am
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Dontae Horne scored 25 points and Cory Wells had 19 points and 11 rebounds as Prairie View A&M earned its first NCAA Tournament victory, 67-55 over Lehigh in the First Four. Lance Williams added 10 points for the Panthers, who advance as the No. 16 seed in the South Region to face top seed and defending national champion Florida on Friday night in Tampa, Florida. Lehigh leading scorer Nasir Whitlock went scoreless for more than 26 minutes and finished with five points. He was 2-of-15 shooting. Hank Alvey led Lehigh with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
March 19, 2026 4:31 am
Quarterback Andy Dalton is heading to the Philadelphia Eagles to provide depth behind Jalen Hurts, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced, said the Carolina Panthers will receive a seventh-round pick in 2027. Dalton joins Hurts and backup Tanner McKee, who could become available for a trade. The 38-year-old Dalton made three Pro Bowls during his first nine seasons in Cincinnati. He’s also played for Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans and spent the past three seasons with the Panthers.
March 18, 2026 2:04 am
South Fayette extended its winning streak to 21 straight games, rolling past Peters Township on the way back to the PIAA championship game. The defending state champions led 14-5 after one quarter, then throttled the Indians, 20-8 in the second, on the way to a running-clock win and a third title game berth in the past four seasons. Ella Vierra led the Lions with 19 points. Haylie Lamonde and Ryan Oldaker combined for 27 more. Taylor McCullough led Peters Township with 11. The season came to an end for Chartiers Valley (5A boys) and Upper St. Clair (6A boys), each with close loses. The PIAA Finals open Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey. PIAA Brackets
PIAA Semifinals
Tuesday, Mar. 17 (PIAA District – finish)
5A Girls 7-1 South Fayette > 7-4 Peters Township, 67-24 Watch/Listen Here
5A Boys 3-1 West York > 7-1 Chartiers Valley, 45-44 Watch/Listen Here
6A Boys 3-1 Central Dauphin > 7-1 Upper St. Clair, 55-52
March 18, 2026 5:38 pm
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sidney Crosby is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 38-year-old captain has been out a month after sustaining a lower-body injury while competing for Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The Penguins went 5-3-3 during Crosby’s 11-game absence to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot with less than a month to go in the regular season. Crosby leads the Penguins with 59 points in 56 games. Crosby says he’s feeling good and has been impressed with how the club performed while he recovered from the injury.
March 18, 2026 4:33 am
MIAMI (AP) — Venezuela has won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 on Eugenio Suárez’s tiebreaking double in the ninth. Maikel Garcia’s third-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu’s fifth-inning homer off rookie Nolan McLean built a 2-0 lead before a roaring pro-Latin America crowd in Miami. Eduardo Rodríguez and lights-out relievers limited the Americans to two hits before Bryce Harper’s two-out, two-run homer in the eighth tied it. Daniel Palencia retired the side in order in the ninth, finishing a three-hitter.
March 18, 2026 4:34 am
The Denver Broncos have acquired standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster deal that sends three draft picks to the Miami Dolphins, including a first-rounder, according to two people with knowledge of the trade. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. The Dolphins will receive the 30th-overall pick in next month’s NFL draft along with picks in the third and fourth rounds. Denver will get Miami’s fourth-rounder along with Waddle. Waddle gives Bo Nix another main playmaker along with Courtland Sutton, boosting a passing offense that finished 11th in the NFL last season.
