
I Dig Sports
Magic rule out Suggs indefinitely with knee injury

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs is out indefinitely due to a trochlea injury in his left knee, the team announced Friday.
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. It was during his ramp-up to return to play that he experienced discomfort and had further testing.
Suggs is expected to make a full recovery. Known for his defense, Suggs is averaging career highs of 16.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in his fourth year.
The Magic (29-32) have lost three of their past four games and entered Friday seventh in the Eastern Conference. Orlando has three more games remaining on its seven-game homestand that continues Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
Lakers' Reaves exits, will undergo test on calf

LOS ANGELES -- Lakers guard Austin Reaves exited Friday night's 106-102 win against the LA Clippers in the first quarter with right calf soreness and did not return.
Reaves will undergo an MRI on the calf Saturday, sources told ESPN.
The fourth-year veteran subbed out with 2:58 remaining in the first quarter with the Lakers trailing 21-13 and went straight to the locker room. He finished with six points on 2-for-4 shooting.
"He was experiencing some tightness in the calf, some soreness," Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. "Was held out as a precaution."
Reaves had been enjoying some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 23.5 points, 6.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 11 games in February entering Friday. L.A. went 9-2 in those games.
The Lakers already came into the night down one starter in Rui Hachimura, who was ruled out because of a left knee strain he suffered Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Hachimura had an MRI on Friday, but did not provide a timeline for the forward to return to game action.
"We're optimistic this is not a serious injury," Redick said. "It's still not quite clear on when he will be available to play. But we're optimistic."
Dorian Finney-Smith started the Clippers game in Hachimura's place. Gabe Vincent started the second half on Friday with Reaves out.
Luka Doncic (31 points, five assists, three steals) and LeBron James (28 points, 13 rebounds) led the way Friday night, with the Lakers' bench outscoring the Clippers' reserves 29-14.
The Lakers have won 15 of their past 18 games to surge to No. 4 in the Western Conference standings, just a half game behind the No. 3 Memphis Grizzlies and a game back of the No. 2 Denver Nuggets.
"We're in a good place, but we're not comfortable at all," James said. "We haven't played our best game we're capable of playing, honestly. We have a couple injuries and things of that nature that we need to attend to as well. And that's always very important to be able to keep it going in this league to have that type of luck, too. So, we'll see what happens."
'Punched in mouth' early, Cavs rally to drop Celts

BOSTON -- Less than five minutes had passed in Friday night's final regular-season showdown between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers and the Celtics, and the game already felt over.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson already had burned his second timeout, the Celtics already had made seven 3-pointers and Boston led 25-3, appearing well on its way to a massive statement win.
"We got punched in the mouth," Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said later. "What are we going to do about it? How are we going to respond?"
As it turned out, the Cavaliers responded rather splendidly. And it was thanks in large part to Mitchell, the six-time All-Star who finished with 41 points and five assists in 35 minutes in what eventually became a 123-116 Cavaliers victory at a sold-out and stunned TD Garden.
"I think they trust each other," Atkinson said. "They trust the message and they trust each other."
Entering Friday, the Cavaliers hadn't lost since falling to these same Celtics on Feb. 4 in Cleveland, a game that came less than 48 hours before the trade deadline. In response to Boston largely controlling that contest en route to a 112-105 victory, the Cavaliers went out and acquired De'Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks for Caris LeVert and Georges Niang.
The move was designed to give Cleveland another big wing to throw at the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But by the time Hunter entered Friday's game, at the 7:11 mark of the first quarter, it looked like his minutes might only come in mop-up duty.
That quickly changed as the first quarter played out. Cleveland cut its deficit to 12 by the end of the quarter. And from there, it kept plugging away at Boston's lead thanks to multiple sustained runs led by Mitchell and a hot shooting night across the board. The Cavaliers finished 17-for-39 from 3-point range, with eight players hitting at least one from deep.
"It means we got grit," said Evan Mobley, who struggled for much of the game but finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds overall, including 11 and 8, respectively, in the fourth quarter. "No matter how down we get, we're going to keep fighting, we're going to keep going all the way to the end of the game, and tonight we kept fighting and they let us back in the game a few times."
The win erased any sliver of hope Boston (42-18) had of chasing down Cleveland (49-10) for the top seed in the East. The Cavaliers moved eight games up in the loss column with 23 to play and evened the season series at 2-2.
It also raised the specter of the Celtics' repeated issue of letting teams back into games.
And while Atkinson repeatedly pointed out that Boston was missing both Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Jrue Holiday (finger), while Cleveland was fully healthy, the depth of the Cavaliers undoubtedly played a factor.
Cleveland used 10 players, with each seeing at least 12 minutes of action. Boston essentially played only seven, was outscored 33-6 in bench points (Payton Pritchard and Luke Kornet were minus-34 and minus-26, respectively) and was extraordinarily reliant on Tatum (46 points on 19-for-37 shooting, 16 rebounds, 9 assists) and Brown (37 points on 13-for-24 shooting).
"That was one of the most incredible shotmaking performances I've seen," Atkinson said of Tatum's performance.
Added Tatum: "Just being aggressive in a good rhythm. I think obviously the start of the game on defense ignited our offense and how we were playing. We did a really good job of what we were trying to do, and the actions and the spacing and we were trying to attack. And guys on both ends tonight were making shots. I think in the second half, they made a run in that third quarter, getting some offensive rebounds. They took more shots than we did, so that just kind of gave them some life. And in the moments that we needed to get a stop, we didn't, and that was tough."
As a result, Cleveland came away with a victory that instilled further confidence in a young, ascendant team a week after it throttled another potential playoff foe, the New York Knicks, at home.
And as both teams walked out of the Garden on Friday night, they already were thinking about what feels like a fated showdown in the Eastern Conference semifinals come late May.
"For sure," Darius Garland said when asked if it was meaningful that the Cavaliers had evened the season series, and how they did so, Friday night.
"It is 0-0. Hopefully, we'll be back here in the summertime, and we'll see it again for seven [more]."
Ohtani eases shoulder concerns, homers in 1st AB

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- As much as Shohei Ohtani relished the opposite-field home run he crushed Friday night in his first at-bat this spring, the reigning National League MVP left the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels feeling even better about how his surgically repaired left shoulder withstood its biggest test yet.
"Regardless of the results, I think the biggest takeaway was being able to go through my three at-bats without any issues," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. "Physically, it felt really good."
Ohtani's first-inning homer off countryman Yusei Kikuchi electrified the crowd at Camelback Ranch that packed the stands to see the 30-year-old in his first action since the Dodgers won the World Series. He spent the winter rehabilitating after arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder suffered diving into second base during Game 2.
The hope for Ohtani to be at full strength before the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs kick off the Major League Baseball season March 18 in his home country of Japan grew closer to reality Friday. When Ohtani ascended the dugout steps at 6:08 p.m. local time, fans greeted him with a cheer and watched him take three practice swings before stepping into the batter's box accompanied by a louder ovation.
He started the at-bat from Kikuchi, who graduated from the same high school as Ohtani, by staring at a 95 mph fastball for a strike. Ohtani took a curveball for a ball, swung through another for a strike, stared at one more low and didn't bite on an outside fastball before taking a 94 mph fastball into the Dodgers' bullpen in left field.
"Obviously he's fine," Kikuchi said. "After that first home run he was able to hit that far, yeah, I'm sure he's going to be able to put up the same numbers this year."
Those numbers in 2024 -- .310/.390/.646 with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases -- helped Ohtani win his third MVP. While the first two came in years when he served as designated hitter and starting pitcher, Ohtani did not pitch last year following Tommy John surgery.
The shoulder injury complicated a rehab that already was difficult after a second elbow reconstruction. In-game swings were a significant mile marker for Ohtani, and he said he felt "no discomfort," a comforting feeling for him and everyone else in the clubhouse of the team hoping to be the first club this century to win back-to-back World Series.
"You would assume there'd be some residual soreness or pain or lack of strength," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "but he's put in a lot of work, so it's good to hear."
Batting leadoff and playing DH, Ohtani popped out to shortstop in his second at-bat against Kikuchi and struck out against Chase Silseth before exiting the game following the fifth inning. Ohtani said between in-game action and simulating live arms against the Trajekt pitching robot, he would like to have 50 at-bats before the opener in Japan. For now, he said, his swing is in a good place.
"It's a constant feedback between how I feel and how the swing actually looks," Ohtani said. "So today was pretty good. I felt like it was pretty consistent with what I felt. So as I'm doing my rehab as well, I'm going to continue to do that."
The rehab on Ohtani's elbow, in the meantime, will continue, as he targets returning to a big league mound sometime in May. Ohtani will sit out the Dodgers' game Saturday, Roberts said, and is expected to be back in the lineup Sunday when a split-squad Chicago White Sox team will try to figure out what the Angels couldn't: how to keep Ohtani in check.
"He does not cease to amaze," Roberts said. "I was telling [Dodgers free agent signing Michael] Conforto, every time Shohei gets up to bat, you've got to watch because something special could happen. And obviously there was a lot of anticipation for this night, and for him to homer his first at-bat off Kikuchi was pretty special."
Newcastle & Bath reach Premiership Cup semi-finals

Newcastle consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"They've clearly got a very good group of young players coming through. We could have been better but it's what cup rugby is about.
"They got into the game and we couldn't shake them off. We had to go back to basics and the driving maul to win the game.
"We never got more than a score in front and it kept them in the game but a win's a win."
Bath assistant coach Andy Robinson told BBC Radio Bristol:
"It was a really pleasing second half and we knew with the players coming on we could dominate and that's what we did.
"We played a good power game, found the field position through penalties and put the power on in their 22.
"We wanted to give some of the senior guys game time because they haven't played for four weeks and we're delighted how they played with the younger players."

Zebre: Geronimo Prisciantelli; Scott Gregory, Fetuli Paea, Damiano Mazza, Simone Gesi; Giacomo Da Re, Gonzalo Garcia; Muhamed Hasa, Luca Bigi (capt), Ion Neculai Rusiate Nasove, Leonard Krumov, Giacomo Ferrari, Bautista Stavile, Giovanni Licata.
Replacements: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Luca Rizzoli, Juan Pitinari, Matteo Canali Davide Ruggeri, Alessandro Fusco, Giovanni Montemauri, Jacopo Trulla.
Sin-bin: Fusco 71
Dragons: Huw Anderson; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (capt), Ashton Hewitt; Will Reed, Dane Blacker; Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, George Nott, Ryan Woodman, Taine Basham, Shane Lewis-Hughes.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Owain James, Paula Latu, Steve Cummins, Barny Langton-Cryer, Che Hope, Harri Ford, Scott Williams.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Filipo Russo & Lorenzo Negro (FIR)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU).
Edinburgh back in play-off places with Munster win

A Matt Currie hat-trick helped Edinburgh to a 34-28 victory over Munster at Musgrave Park.
With the game played in Cork rather than Thomond Park, Sean Everitt's side became the first United Rugby Championship (URC) visitors to Munster's lesser used home ground to win since 2019.
Backed by a dominant scrum, Edinburgh had their four-try bonus point wrapped up by half-time and were deserving winners despite Munster closing the gap late on.
The hosts, in the first game since it was confirmed Clayton McMillan will take charge next season, secured two bonus points in defeat through Sean O'Brien's late try and Billy Burns' subsequent conversion.
The win lifts Edinburgh into sixth place in the standings, one place and three points behind Munster.
Fly-half Ross Thompson struck the first points of the game from a penalty after his side earned a scrum penalty.
The visitor's dominance at the set-piece became a theme of the game but Munster did take a brief lead shortly after.
Attacking off a backpedalling scrum, Brian Gleeson carried strongly off the base before centre Alex Nankivell finished strongly.
That was to be as good as it got for Munster, however.
Edinburgh's response came after back rows Ben Muncaster and Magnus Bradbury both displayed good power before putting Thompson across the whitewash for the side's first try.
It was after yet another dominant scrum that they got their second, scrum-half Ben Vellacot kicking over the top with penalty advantage before McCarthy misjudged the bounce allowing Currie to get in for the try.
The wing had his second soon after, doing well to finish despite the attention of Nankivell who tried to get underneath the ball.
And in the final play before half time, Edinburgh had their bonus-point try when, after another scrum penalty, Currie picked a brilliant line off the subsequent line-out and offloaded to send Bradbury underneath the posts.

LONG BEACH, Calif. Jim Dunn Racing and Funny Car driver Buddy Hull will start the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series with the return of Florida-based True Brand as their primary sponsor for the historic Gatornationals March 7-9 at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.
Last year True Brand made their primary debut with Jim Dunn Racing at the Texas Fall Nationals and the success of that promotion led to an expansion of the program.
True Brand will be a season long partner with the team and primary partner at multiple events.
I am thrilled to be in the True Brand Funny Car for Jim Dunn Racing, said Hull. They are amazing partners. Last year we did a ton of great things around the Texas Fall Nationals with the National Breast Cancer Foundation. We have big plans for 2025, and I cant wait to wheel this True Brand Funny Car into the staging lanes on Friday of the Gatornationals.
True Brand performance additives and treatments can be used in all types of engines, fuel systems, gear/transmissions and hydraulic systems.
Additionally, joining Jim Dunn Racing at the Gatornationals will be Tillamook Country Smoker.

AMARILLO, Texas New Mexico native Stormy Scott is looking forward to getting back to his racing roots this season, having moved his racing operations to Amarillo, Texas, with a returned focus to the modified ranks.
Ive had a lot of fun in the super late model ranks over the past several years, but the time has come for me to turn my focus. Im currently shifting my attention back to where it all started for me in the Modified ranks, Stormy Scott shared.
For the New Mexico native several factors played into the decision.
Everybody knows that super late model racing has gotten really expensive, so its a factor, but honestly its not the biggest factor in me making this change. Ive spent a lot of time away from home the past several years, and Im looking forward to being home more with my wife Ashley and my stepdaughter Zoe. Modified racing within a six-hour radius of our home in Amarillo gives me countless options to race throughout the year, while sleeping in my own bed a lot of nights, Scott continued.
While Stormy has relocated from Kentucky to Texas, any Category 5 Race Cars clients needing equipment, repairs, or support can still get what they need at Jason Durhams shop in Kentucky.
Turning over a new leaf with his return to modifieds, gives Scott a chance to finally work with a great friend.
Cade Dillard and I have been good friends for a long time, and Im excited to finally get to race one of his CDR Race Cars. Hes a sharp dude and has a great product, and this is cool to see it all come together, Scott said.
Scott plans to run a mixture of American Racer Modified Series, Touring Outlaw Modified Series, and United States Modified Touring Series events throughout the 2025 season.

AUSTIN, Texas Eighteen-year-old Connor Zilisch will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut Sunday at Circuit of The Americas driving the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing.
Zilisch competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series full time with JR Motorsports.
Zilisch made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut last fall at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Intl and won in his debut.
With a background in road racing, Zilisch could be a contender in his Cup Series debut.
Going into my first Cup race at COTA, its going to be a big challenge for me, Zilisch said. A lot of question marks, but I just want to go in and enjoy it and have fun. You only get to make your debut in the Cup Series once.
I feel like its going to be a good experience for me to go learn and run all the laps. I think thats what Im honestly looking forward to the most, just running all the laps and making the most of the experience.
23XI Racing announced a multi-year expansion of its relationship with Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles.
Last year, the collaboration debuted with Upper Deck featured on the No. 45 Toyota Camry at Darlington Raceway, as Tyler Reddick raced his way to the regular season championship. The expanded collaboration will continue to see Upper Deck highlighted on-track with 23XIs drivers and feature Upper Deck Authenticated memorabilia and race-used collectibles.
Upper Decks first race will be this coming weekend at Circuit of The Americas with Corey Heim in the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Heim, who was recently announced as 23XIs first development driver, will be making his first start at COTA in the Xfinity Series. Later in the summer, Upper Deck will be featured on the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE when Tyler Reddick competes at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
For the third consecutive year, Kaulig Racing has teamed with Blacks Tire Service to celebrate grassroots racing in NASCAR. BTS, a longtime partner in NASCAR, will be the primary sponsor onboard Kaulig Racings No. 16 Chevrolet with driver Christian Eckes for the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races at Darlington Raceway and Rockingham Speedway.
Michael McDowell made up seven laps in the process of posting a 13th-place finish in the Spire Motorsports Chevrolet at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
That was an eventful day for the No. 71 Group 1001 Chevy team. We had an issue early on with the power steering pump. We actually lost the hose; came in the garage and went down seven laps, McDowell explained. We got all of our laps back, nothing short of miraculous, and capitalized there at the end.
The NASCAR Cup Series will utilize the venues shorter track layout, the National Course as opposed to the Full Course, which had been used in previous years. The new layout will consist of 20 turns with a total track length of 2.4 miles. Additionally, 27 laps will be added, making the total number of laps 95, 27 more than in previous years.
Officials from Track Enterprises and FirstHealth of the Carolinas, the private, not-for-profit health care system, headquartered in Pinehurst, N.C., announced FirstHealth will serve as the Official Health Care Provider for NASCARs highly awaited return to Rockingham Speedway.
The worlds top-ranked decathlete and Olympic medalist Leo Neugebauer, who starred at the University of Texas at Austin, will serve as Honorary Starter for Sundays Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas.
-Rebel Bourbon the Official Bourbon of Richard Childress Racing announced the limited-edition release of Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon. Every barrel was selected by two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Rowdy Busch and bottled at 108 proof (54% ABV) in honor of Rebels sponsorship of RCR.