I Dig Sports
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu will undergo surgery on his left shoulder and be out for the remainder of the season, the team announced Sunday morning.
Dosunmu had been dealing with left shoulder instability, which kept him out of three games before returning on Friday night against the Toronto Raptors. He scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds in 23 minutes while wearing a left shoulder sleeve in the game.
But after further evaluation by the Bulls' medical professionals, Dosunmu will shut it down this season to have surgery and address the issue.
Dosunmu, 25, averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds -- all career highs -- in 46 games this season. The fourth-year guard has one more year remaining on a three-year, $21 million contract.
The Bulls (24-36) enter Sunday in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games ahead of the 11th-place Philadelphia 76ers. Chicago visits the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.
Magic's Suggs to stay sidelined for knee surgery
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs will undergo surgery to remove a cartilage fragment in his left knee and is out indefinitely, the team announced Sunday.
Suggs' return will be based on his rehab and he is expected to make a full recovery.
The Magic on Friday announced Suggs would be out indefinitely with a trochlea injury in the knee before discovering the cartilage fragment in the joint.
Suggs left a Jan. 3 game with back spasms and since then has made only one appearance, in a Jan. 25 win over the Detroit Pistons. During his recent ramp-up to return to play, he experienced discomfort in his knee and had further testing.
Known for his defense, Suggs is averaging career highs of 16.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in his fourth season.
After finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings last year and making the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Magic have taken a step back. The team enters play Sunday with a 29-32 record and sits in eighth place.
Orlando's struggles can largely be attributed to injuries knocking out the team's top players. Both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner missed multiple weeks with torn oblique injuries. Suggs, Banchero and Wagner have played just six games together this season and 97 total minutes.
The Magic have lost three of their past four games and have three games remaining on a seven-game homestand that continues Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
ESPN's Shams Charania contributed to this report.
Dubs' Butler faces suit over unpaid rent, damages
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler has been sued for allegedly failing to pay $260,000 in rent and leaving behind more than $127,000 in damages related to a luxury home he leased in Miami Beach, Florida.
Butler was dealt from the Miami Heat to the Warriors last month after requesting a trade.
Five Star Marketing and Promotions, Inc., sued Butler in the 11th Circuit Court in Florida last week, outlining its allegations against Butler.
In the suit, the plaintiff contends Butler failed to pay two months of rent at $130,000 per month for the property. Realtor.com says the contemporary-style, 5,398-square-foot home built in 2016 has five bedrooms and six bathrooms. The home was built on a canal and also has a pool. The website pegs its value at about $10 million.
The lawsuit also alleges that Butler changed the locks and would not give a key to the property owner, keeping maintenance workers from entering the home. Butler also is alleged to have failed to maintain the swimming pool and air conditioning, the latter leading to extensive mold that required the replacement of ceilings and floors on the property.
The plaintiff is seeking payment of $257,282 and the right to keep Butler's $130,000 security deposit.
Butler has not commented on the case.
Thomas hopes the sense that people can "fall back in love with Welsh rugby" will continue when they resume their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in Edinburgh next Saturday.
Sherratt's immediate impact saw him turn Wales around from a team humbled by Italy to one that gave Six Nations title favourites Ireland one of their biggest challenges of this season's tournament.
Although Wales lost 27-18 for a record 15th successive Test match defeat, the performance, and what Thomas calls the "licence to play" Sherratt has issued, highlighted a transformation that augers well for remaining Six Nations appointments with Scotland and England.
"We wanted to bring some positivity back," Thomas said.
"Ultimately, there is a lot that is out of your control in terms of getting results, so we had a big focus on playing a game of rugby and a brand of rugby that would get people excited, to almost fall back in love with Welsh rugby.
"And I suppose it doesn't change next week. The process has to be the same. We will put our best game out on the field and hopefully the result goes our way.
"I wasn't surprised with how he [Sherratt] took to it because he has got a brilliant rugby brain. That is clear for everyone to see by the way he coaches Cardiff.
"The challenge would have been trying to get things across in such a small period of time but the way he delivers messages is pretty clear and the boys were able to pick things up quite well."
Wales will arrive at Murrayfield on Saturday with an impressive recent record, having won six of the last eight Six Nations games against Scotland in Edinburgh.
"The mood has been pretty positive," said Thomas.
"It is an exciting way to play rugby to go out there and just try and throw as many punches as possible.
"We probably came off the pitch after the first two matches [against France and Italy] feeling we hadn't fired any shots at the opposition.
"To come off against Ireland, knowing that we had been in the game for the most part - and were able to put our game on the pitch, as opposed to just absorbing what was being thrown at us - was pretty pleasing for us."
Former Ireland captain Peter O'Mahony says he wanted to retire before falling out of the national selection reckoning.
The Munster back row has started two of Ireland's three games in this year's Six Nations but, along with fellow long-serving players Cian Healy and Conor Murray, confirmed on Thursday that he would step away from the side at the end of this championship.
The 35-year-old was named Ireland skipper last year but was succeeded in the role by Caelan Doris in November. There had been speculation that the 2024 Six Nations would be O'Mahony's swansong but ultimately, he decided to play on for another year.
While some critics last season suggested his status as captain was contributing to his continued selection, he has remained a key figure in recent weeks despite others officially leading the team.
"Whether I'm picked or not over the next number of weeks, I've trained really well in this campaign. I've competed, I've pushed guys, guys have pushed me, I haven't been out of place in our training," he said.
"That was the test for me - are you going to be good enough next year to compete with these guys? If that was the last one last week, it was the right call.
"I don't want to get to the point where I'm maybe not selected or not picked for a squad. I didn't want that to happen."
HATTIESBURG, Miss. Mark Smith took his second United Sprint Car Series Presented By Hoosier Racing Tire win of the season in the 30-lap Hub City Sprint Car Shootout, Round 8 of the Winter Heat Series, on Saturday night at Hattiesburg Speedway.
Smith took the lead from Jason Martin on lap 16 and pulled away for the victory.
Martin had to settle for the second spot and USCS points leader Dale Howard finished third. Davie Franek drove to a fourth-place finish and Hall of Famer Terry McCarl was fifth.
The feature got off to a wild start before completing the first lap when Lane Whittington flipped in turn three, collecting Friday nights winner Matt Covington and Corbin Gurley.
Whittington and Covington were done for the evening. For Covington, it was the penthouse to the outhouse, as he was credited with a 24th and last-place finish after winning Friday nights prelim. On the complete restart, Jason Martin took the lead from the pole position, followed by McCarl, Smith, Moss and Howard.
Smith got by McCarl on lap three for second, and Howard passed Moss for fourth. Howard drove up to the third spot, passing McCarl on lap seven, as Jason Martin caught the cars on the tail end of the lead lap. Bowden moved up to the top five on lap ten by getting around Moss for fifth.
Smith was able to chase down the leader in lapped traffic, and set up for a slide job pass on Jason Martin to challenge for the lead in turns one and two. Smith dove to the inside of Martin in turn one, and slide up in front of him coming off turn two to take the lead on lap 16.
Its fun when you can race like that when the track slicks over and is racey, Smith said. I just had to time the pass right in lapped traffic to make sure I had plenty of room to clear Jason coming off the second turn.
The caution flag came out on lap 21 when Harli White of Lindsay, OK spun in turn four. Smith gave up a two second lead over Jason Martin for the restart with Howard, McCarl, and Bowden in third through fifth respectively. Franek got busy when the green flag came out as he raced his way into the top five after restarting in sixth.
Franek drove by Bowden for the fifth position on lap 22 and then passed McCarl for fourth on lap 25. Smith took a 2.138-second margin of victory over Jason Martin at the checkered flag in a race that featured 24 drivers from 14 different states and took 20 minutes and 23.205 seconds to complete.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 43 Mark Smith, Sunbury, PA (4); 2. 36 Jason Martin, Liberal, KS (1); 3. 47 Dale Howard, Byhalia, MS (5); 4. 28f Davie Franek, Wantage, NJ (10); 5. 24 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (2); 6. 8x Brad Bowden, Hernando, MS (6); 7. 23 Lance Moss, Cherryville, NC (3); 8. 51b Joe B. Miller, Millersville, MO (11); 9. 16g Austyn Gossel, Fort Collins, CO (7); 10. 10 Terry Gray, Bartlett, TN (13); 11. 4 Danny Smith, Chillicothe, OH (16); 12. 13 Van Gurley Jr., Valparaiso, IN (17); 13. 01 Shane Morgan, Gulfport, MS (8); 14. 67 Hayden Martin, Olive Branch, MS (24); 15. 12 Corbin Gurley, Hebron, IN (15); 16. 13x Jake Brashier, Denham Springs, LA (14); 17. 122 Lane Warner, Bloomfield, MO (19); 18. 21 Butch David, Geismar, LA (20); 19. 83 Blake Carrier, Amite, LA (23); 20. 94 Parker Davis, Mobile, AL (22); 21 5h Harli White, Lindsay, OK (18); 22. 28 Jeff Willingham, Ripley, MS (21); 23. 9 Lane Whittington, Denham Springs, LA (9); 24. 95 Matt Covington, Glenpool, OK (12).
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. Saturdays CARS PLM Tour opener at New River All American Speedway saw Jade Avedisian cement herself into the series record books, albeit in an unorthodox manner.
T.J. DeCaires infraction in post-race inspection allowed Avedisian to inherit the victory, making her the first woman to win a CARS Tour-sanctioned event. The moment carried plenty of emotions for Avedisian, who was primarily satisfied to see her hard work with Donnie Wilson Motorsports pay off with a checkered flag.
I wanted to cross the finish line first, but a win is a win, and well take it, Avedisian said. Well keep our head down, keep going and see how many more we can get.
The past few years have seen Avedisian develop a reputation as a standout dirt track racing prospect. Among her achievements include qualifying for the Chili Bowl Nationals in her first attempt, ultimately finishing 18th in the A-Main.
Avedisians transition from dirt tracks to pavement has been seamless. In only her second Pro Late Model appearance, Avedisian found her way to victory lane at Hickory Motor Speedway, which provided her some momentum as she focused on a busy 2025 that included starts in the PLM Tour.
Running a Pro Late Model in the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway provided Avedisian a preview of what to expect on Saturday evening. Even though it only took her one race to become a PLM Tour winner, Avedisian wants to keep learning so she can be prepared to contend for more victories throughout the year.
We logged our laps [at New Smyrna], now its time to deliver, Avedisian said. Im still learning, but I feel like I have a great group of guys behind me and great partners with everyone at Toyota believing in me. I just want to win, but Im going to stay hungry and do the best I can.
PERRIS, Calif. Regaining the lead from Charles Davis Jr. on lap 18, Ricky Lewis led the rest of the way to earn Saturday nights Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA sprint car victory at Californias Perris Auto Speedway.
Racing his No. 41 Coyote Candle Company / Mesilla Valley Transportation DRC, Lewis shook free from late race challenges by Jake Swanson and KTJ Kevin Thomas Jr. to earn the fifth win of his USAC CRA career.
Swanson, Thomas, Cory Williams and Davis rounded out the top five.
Swanson began the night by posting the 23rd Woodland Auto Display / WC Friend Company Fast Qualifying award of his career. The pilot of the Tom and Christy Dunkel No. 17x DRC recorded a time of 16.271 seconds over the 25-car roster.
The finish:
Feature (30 laps): 1. Ricky Lewis (2), 2. Jake Swanson (6), 3. Kevin Thomas Jr. (5), 4. Cody Williams (7), 5. Charles Davis Jr. (4), 6. Austin Williams (10), 7. Brody Roa (13), 8. Tommy Malcolm (1), 9. Logan Williams (14), 10. Cole Wakim (11), 11. A.J. Bender (9), 12. R.J. Johnson (8), 13. Eddie Tafoya Jr. (3), 14. Blake Bower (16), 15. Connor Lundy (18), 16. Connor Speir (20), 17. Shane Sexton (21), 18. Blake Hendricks (19), 19. Verne Sweeney (17), 20. Gary Marshall Jr. (22), 21. Elexa Herrera (23), 22. Logan Calderwood (12), 23. Jeff Dyer (15).
King Crowned $150,000-to-Win World Series Of Pro Mod Champ
BRADENTON, Fla. Fans at Bradenton Motorsports Park were treated to a modern-day David vs. Goliath battle Saturday night, with the self-proclaimed underdog Steve King outrunning two-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion Stevie Fast Jackson.
King took home the $150,000 winner-take-all payday at the sixth Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod, the third and final event of the DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service. Kings 3.629 seconds at 204.82 mph run defeated Jacksons 3.653-second pass at 203.55.
Its tough when you come down here with 83 of the baddest cars on the planet, said King. We know were bringing a good car, but you gotta have a little luck along the way. Weve done really well in the Winter Series, but just had no luck. But today was our day.
Meanwhile, Ken Quartuccio secured the inaugural DI Winter Series points championship with his second-round victory over Australian John Ricca. The win, along with early exits from the rest of the top five in points Kye Kelley, Mark Micke, Kurt Steding and Melanie Salemi gave Quartuccio the $25,000 awarded to the series champion.
For 30 years of racing, Ive tried to treat everyone as best as I can, Quartuccio said. To do this with my wife, Denise, and my daughters Kelsey and Kaitlinthis (championship) is important, but the friendships and families Ive made, its unstoppable. Its because of Scott Tidwell, Dustin Nesloney, Steve Petty, Brandon Stroud, you can go down the list. People dont realize how hard this series is to race, and how much heart and soul every team out here puts into it.
The World Series of Pro Mod also included the third annual Mountain Motor Pro Stock Invitational and the second annual Pro 10.5 Challenge, which both paid $25,000 to win. Two-time PDRA Extreme Pro Stock champion Johnny Pluchino earned the Mountain Motor Pro Stock win, while reigning PDRA Pro Street champion Ethan Steding was victorious in Pro 10.5. Brazilian Roderjan Busato won the Chicago-Style Pro Mod Second-Chance Shootout, which paid $10,000 to win.
A pair of $50,000 paydays went to the winners in the second annual Intercontinental Top Sportsman Championship and the second annual Intercontinental Top Dragster Championship. Ronnie Proctor (Top Sportsman) and Hailey Hawkins (Top Dragster) collected those big checks. Tom Gunner, better known as Jimmy Dale, won the $30,000 Lil Gangstas class, while David Braskett took home the win in the $5,000 Super Pro Shootout.
PRO MOD
In an incredible final round Saturday night, King continued the time-honored WSOPM tradition of winning the event as an underdog. Two years after Spencer Hyde was victorious from the No. 32 spot, King ran through the 32-car field from the 30th position in the Gene Pilot-owned screw-blown Savage 18 Corvette to take home the massive $150,000 payday.
While he may not have had the quickest car on the property all weekend, King used a consistent string of passes in the 3.60s to reach the final round, where he faced off against two-time NHRA Pro Mod world champion, and fan favorite, Stevie Fast Jackson. Jackson was first off the line with a .029 reaction time to Kings .052, but Kings 3.629 at 204.82 was enough to drive around Jacksons 3.653 at 203.55 mph at the stripe a miniscule .001 margin of victory in the closest final round in WSOPM history.
I dont even know where to start, King admitted. We didnt have the fastest car all day long, but we had a consistent car. We came here knowing we had a good car. But when youre racing against guys like Stevie Fast and Jason Harris, all these guys here are badass. Weve been flying underneath the radar, but this weekend, we capitalized and came out hereI mean, its unbelievable to beat 80 of the baddest guys on the planet.
In the first round of eliminations, King was paired up with Cameron Hensley in the ProCharger-powered Coast Packing 69 Camaro. Both drivers were nearly identical on E.T., but Kings slightly better reaction time .088 to .099 and 3.649-second pass at 204.85 mph was enough to get by Hensleys 3.650 at 200.98. King faced Jeff Rudolf and his Ghetto Sleigh 69 Camaro in the second pair of round two. While Rudolf slowed to a 4.826 at only 116.05, King ran a 3.681 at 203.98 for the victory. The win was his slowest pass of eliminations, a testament to how consistent he was all day long.
Were always the underdog, said King. Im sure at every chip draw, guys were going, I want him, because we were the slowest of the round. But they cant say that anymore. We just go A-to-B every run. My guys worked their asses off with engines, transmissionsevery round we had stuff tore apart. Theyre gonna be tired tonight, but they really put the work in.
From there, King faced a gauntlet of multi-time world champions from a multitude of classes. In the quarterfinals, King took out six-time NHRA Pro Stock world champion Erica Enders with a 3.654 at 203.34 to Enders 3.836 at 184.47. He would then meet his longtime friendly rival, and reigning back-to-back PDRA Pro Boost world champion, Jason Harris, in the semifinals. Harris suffered parts breakage, while King stayed in the .60s with a 3.638 at 203.80, setting up a final-round matchup with Jackson.
I dont think theres been a tougher (path through eliminations), King said. I didnt have lane choice one time on race day. When you look over and see Erica Enders in the other lane, that right there is unbelievable. Then the next round you got Jason Harris, and then the next round you got Stevie Fast, who can draw that up? You cant draw that type of script up. Today was just our day.
Jackson defeated Pro Mod veteran Stan Shelton in the opening round, and Ty Tutterow in round two. Jackson then essentially benefitted from a bye run in the quarterfinals against No Prep Kings star Scott Taylor, who broke immediately as his car launched. Jackson, meanwhile, went 3.625 at 206.67. In the semifinals, Jackson won a close side-by-side race with 2017 WSOPM champion Mike Bowman.
After being doused with champagne and beer in the winners circle party after the race, King was quick to credit the entire crew that he was busy celebrating with.
Jeff Millers been with me for 25 years, said King. The G-Force [Race Cars] guys, Jon and Evan Salemi, Eddie Whalenall those guys helping us put engines in, pistons, transmissions as soon as somethings broke, here they come. That means a lot not only to me, but to Gene Pilot. He preaches a team atmosphere, and thats what we have. This is all for Gene. He didnt make it this weekend. I dont know what hes doing in New Jersey tonight, but I guarantee its pretty loud.
Despite having just claimed the biggest win of his career before the regular season even starts, King said he and his team have no plans of slowing down in 2025.
Were gonna go run PDRA this year, King said. Gene wants to win a championship, and weve got the right guys in place to do it, if I can drive the car halfway decent. Thats where were headed.
It was a brother act as the MotoGP season opened Sunday with Marc and Alex Marquez taking center stage during the Grand Prix of Thailand.
Six-time world champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) rallied past his younger brother Alex (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) during the closing laps to secure the victory.
Marc Marquez started from the pole and led early, but lost the lead to his brother on lap seven. Alex Marquez led the way until Marc Marquez pounced on lap 23 and raced away for the victory.
I realized the front tire pressure was dropping, Marc Marquez said. I was behind Alex [Márquez] with three laps to go, and I saw the pressure was right, so I attacked. I had a bit more today, which allowed me to manage the situation. Yesterday, I was happy, but today I am ecstatic. This is a dream. To start like this with Ducati in Thailand, where I won my last championship, and with my brother on the podium, is incredible.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) finished third, with Franco Morbidelli and Trackhouse Racings Ai Ogura completed the top five.
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
