Victor Wembanyama expected to miss remainder of season after blood clot diagnosis, Spurs announce
San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder, the Spurs announced Thursday. It is a massive blow to the Spurs, who are contending for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The condition was diagnosed this week after Wembanyama returned from the All-Star Game, the Spurs said. Wembanyama's situation comes about 3 1/2 months after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke and was forced to take a leave from the sideline.
Victor Wembanyama's season appears to be over. What's next for the Spurs star?
Victor Wembanyama is one of the faces of the NBA, the star of the San Antonio Spurs and already one of the biggest names in basketball around the world. And his season is evidently over, after the Spurs announced Thursday that he has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. The 7-foot-3 center from France was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists this season. Since blocked shots became an official statistic, only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- nearly a half-century ago -- finished a season with all those numbers.
Players 1, Umpires 0: Cubs hurler Cody Poteet makes first ABS challenge in spring training and wins
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Cody Poteet believed the 95 mph fastball he threw to Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy was in the strike zone. Home plate umpire Tony Randazzo disagreed and called it a ball. Instead of arguing, Poteet simply patted the top of his cap, signifying he wanted to challenge the call. After a few seconds, the verdict was ready on the video board in right-center field. Poteet was correct -- it was a strike, just catching the bottom of the zone. The first test of the Automated Ball-Strike System went off without a hitch Thursday, with Randazzo quickly reversing the call.
Milwaukee's Bobby Portis suspended after he mistakenly took painkiller Tramadol rather than Toradol
The NBA has suspended Milwaukee forward Bobby Portis Jr. for 25 games without pay because he tested positive for the painkiller Tramadol, a violation of the league's anti-drug program. Portis cannot play again until April 8 -- the 79th game of Milwaukee's 82-game schedule -- at the earliest. His suspension starts with the Bucks' game Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Portis says "I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved." Portis is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Bucks this season, playing mostly off the bench.
Trump calls US hockey team ahead of 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada
BOSTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump has called the U.S. hockey team to wish players good luck ahead of their 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada. USA Hockey posted a photo on social media showing general manager Bill Guerin standing in the middle of the locker room holding up a phone. Trump posted on Truth Social he would be watching, saying he hoped the U.S. would beat Canada, again repeating his desire that it would become the 51st state. Fans in Montreal booed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to games there as tensions rise over Trump's 51st state comments and tariff threats.
Texas is the latest school to cancel its spring game, a college tradition that appears to be fading
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- College football's annual rite of spring seems to be withering. Texas on Thursday became the latest major program to ditch or change it's annual spring scrimmage that has long been a staple for fans eager to see the rising stars of their program and get a peek into the upcoming season. Coach Steve Sarkisian announced there would be no Orange & White scrimmage this year, citing the wear and tear of playing 30 games over the last two seasons when Texas twice advanced to the College Football Playoff. Texas is among many rethinking and changing spring football traditions.
Tiger Woods joins another White House meeting as PGA Tour moves closer to Saudi deal
Tiger Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan are part of a White House meeting that signals more progress in getting a deal done with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. A person briefed on the meeting tells The Associated Press that President Donald Trump initiated the meeting. It's the second one at the White House in just over two weeks. Woods is on the PGA Tour board. He missed the Feb. 4 meeting that player director Adam Scott also attended because of his mother's death. Monahan has said bringing the game's best players together is the main focus.
Carlos Alcaraz stunned by Jiri Lehecka in Qatar Open quarterfinals
DOHA, Qatar (AP) -- Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz lost for just the second time this year when 25th-ranked Jiri Lehecka beat him 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open. Alcaraz's only other defeat in 2025 was to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The 21-year-old Spaniard won the Rotterdam Open earlier this month. The 23-year-old Lehecka, who is from the Czech Republic, will next face eighth-seeded Jack Draper. Earlier, fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev saved one match point and needed eight of his own to subdue second-seeded Alex de Minaur in three sets. He'll next face Canada's Félix Auger-Aliassime.
Dubai police detain man who caused Raducanu distress at Dubai tournament
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Dubai police detained a man who caused Emma Raducanu distress by exhibiting "fixated behavior" toward the British star at a tennis tournament. The government of Dubai's media office says the 22-year-old Raducanu had been approached by the man at the Dubai Championships where he left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behavior that caused her distress. The government's statement described the unidentified man only as "a tourist." Raducanu ultimately decided to drop the charges against him. The 2021 U.S. Open champion had seen the man in the stands during her second-round match against Karolina Muchova on Tuesday night.
Ex-Spain soccer boss Rubiales found guilty of sexual assault and fined for World Cup kiss
MADRID (AP) -- Former Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexually assaulting player Jenni Hermoso for kissing her after the 2023 Women's World Cup final.. Prosecutors had sought prison time but Rubiales was fined more than 10,000 euros in Spain's National Court. He was also ordered not to get within 200 meters of Hermoso or communicate with her for a year. He was expected to appeal the court ruling. He and three other defendants were cleared of the charge of coercion for allegedly trying to get Hermoso to downplay the kiss.