BOSTON -- Celtics All-Star guard Kemba Walker could return to the court Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets after missing Boston's first five games following the All-Star break with left knee soreness.

"I just went through practice as normal," Walker said after participating in the team's practice Monday morning. "The plan for tomorrow is for me to hopefully be out there. I'm looking forward to that."

Walker, who had missed a total of 33 games through the first eight years of his NBA career with the Charlotte Hornets -- including just four over the past four seasons -- has already missed 13 this season, including multiple stretches due to similar bouts with knee soreness.

And while Walker said Monday that the swelling that had built up in his knee has gone away, he said he'll have to continue to monitor the situation for the rest of the season.

"I'll be fine. I'll be fine," said Walker, who's averaging 21.8 points and 5.0 assists per game. "It's really just being cautious. I'm just really taking care of myself. That's really it. I can't take any days off. I can't skip any treatments, any lifts. I've got to just stay off of it. I'll be good."

Walker's knee swelled up after the All-Star Game in Chicago, when he played heavier minutes than he had anticipated because of the frantic nature of the untimed fourth quarter. He then got an injection in the knee to help deal with the swelling, and he hasn't played since.

Coach Brad Stevens said Saturday morning before the Celtics lost to the Houston Rockets that the plan was for Walker to participate in 3-on-3 work Sunday, then to progress to practice Monday if that was successful, and then to play Tuesday -- though on a minutes limit -- if he came out of that all right.

The plan would likely be for the Celtics to sit Walker for Wednesday's game in Cleveland, the second half of a back-to-back, before Boston returns home to face the Utah Jazz on Friday and Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.

Steps 1 and 2 have gone as expected. Now the Celtics will be hoping for the final step to work out as well.

"Obviously, the stats are the stats. But there's eight to 10 points per game that they're not really organized points from anybody ... he's going to play off of pick-and-roll, [and] there's only one guy that can do that at that speed and that pace," Stevens said of what the Celtics have missed in Walker's absence. "He's going to create a play off of his own ability that you just don't have to account for with a playcall or something to that effect. He just has the ability to make plays with very simple spacing because of his speed, quickness and skill. ... You can tell in games like we've had over the last week, where it's hard to score at times, that's when you miss his burst and that motor."

While the Celtics will be hoping to get Walker back on the court, they'll also be hoping to have both Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum alongside him. Smart and Tatum both missed practice Monday due to an illness, and Stevens said he didn't know whether they would be available to play Tuesday against Brooklyn.

"I don't have any idea," Stevens said. "I don't know if [our doctor] saw them right before practice or if he is going over there after."

The team also had a doctor in on Monday to speak to the team about the ongoing situation involving the coronavirus, in order to educate the players about the virus and discuss how to put themselves in the best position to avoid getting sick.

"We just had [the doctor] in here today to talk about it, to give the facts about it," Stevens said. "We're treating it from our standpoint a lot like we would if a player got the flu, if somebody were to come down with it, and he gave all the facts and all the data and the stats and how we treat it, how to avoid it and all that stuff."

After a recent outbreak in the Portland area, Trail Blazers star CJ McCollum took to Twitter to tell fans he wouldn't be signing autographs for the foreseeable future as a result. Walker said it was something he has considered as well.

"I might be with him," Walker said. "I don't know. It's getting serious, I'll tell you that much. Everyone just needs to be a little cautious about that virus. About everything. I'm pretty sure I'm still gonna sign some autographs. [But] maybe I should walk around with my own marker or something."

BRISTOL, Conn. -- Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones has joined the ESPN lineup.

The former Atlanta Braves star will work as a major league analyst, primarily on weeknight and holiday games. He'll debut on Opening Day when San Francisco plays at Dodger Stadium on March 26.

Jones worked twice last year as a guest analyst for ESPN.

"We were instantly impressed," senior coordinating producer Phil Orlins said in a statement Monday. "He is a charismatic storyteller with an authentic and fun-loving personality."

The 47-year-old Jones hit .303 with 468 home runs and 1,623 RBIs in a 19-year career through 2012.

Tampa Bay Rays minor league outfielder Garrett Whitley was struck by a foul ball in the dugout Monday during the team's spring training game with the Orioles.

The team said Whitley has "a right facial injury" and will undergo further testing.

Orioles infielder Renato Nunez fouled a ball off and sent it rocketing toward the Rays' dugout. The baseball bounced off the steps in the dugout and directly hit the right side of Whitley's face. Trainers immediately attended to the 22-year-old outfielder then walked him out of the dugout and into the trainer's room for further evaluation.

PAIGE, Texas – Philip Dietz always wanted his own sprint car team one day. He never planned for it to happen this soon.

Along with his full-time position as crew chief for the No. 41 Jason Johnson Racing team, Dietz will also crew chief his own No. 14 Dietz Motorsports car for about half of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season.

While it’s a daunting challenge, it’s one the two-time and defending Knoxville Nationals winning crew chief is excited to take on. And will take on next at the Texas doubleheader on March 13 at Cotton Bowl Speedwayand on March 14 at LoneStar Speedway.

“I really enjoy it,” Dietz said. “I enjoy the challenge. It’s fun. It keeps me busy. It keeps me on my toes.”

The birth of his new sprint car team grew out of David Gravel’s opportunity to run six NASCAR Truck Series races this year. At the end of 2019, Dietz said he and JJR owner, Bobbi Johnson, knew Gravel was going to run some Truck Series races, they just didn’t know how many. At times it ranged from one race to 12.

No matter the number, Dietz said it was apparent a fill-in driver was needed. Parker Price-Miller was at the top of the list. He was initially high on JJR’s list of drivers it considered to fill the No. 41 car for the 2019 season.

“I see a lot of potential in him,” Dietz said. “He’s a great guy. Not only does he do well on the track, but off the track he carries himself very professionally. He speaks very well. He actually came down right after Chili Bowl and spent two weeks with us at the shop, getting things prepared and cars built.”

They initially didn’t know how many races they could offer Price-Miller but knew it wouldn’t be many. Johnson approached Dietz with the idea of having a second part-time JJR car that he would also crew chief and Price-Miller would drive, giving the young driver more seat time and the pair more time to mesh for the few times they work together on the No. 41 car.

“I told them (the JJR team) that it would be a tough order,” Dietz said. “At first they wanted to order all new cars and run everything through their operation. I told them it was going to be extremely tough for me to have everything built and ready for Volusia.

“So, I proposed to them to use two rollers that I had purchased from JJR in the past. Kind of have control over those cars, be able of over see it, because all of the cars are currently housed at JJR. In return, I wanted naming rights and the authority to overlook the team a little more. They were all about it and very receptive. We ended up putting a schedule together of roughly 42 races this year. It’s going to be a challenge, no doubt. I’m looking forward to it.”

He added that the decision to start his own team is not a reflection on Jason Johnson Racing. It was an opportunity for him to build his reputation and build a side business with his wife, Brooke, who co-owns the team. With her marketing degree, she helps handle the sponsorship, public relations and social media side of Dietz Motorsports.

Owning a sprint car team was something Dietz always kept in the back of his mind. When he was younger, he wanted to be a driver. He’s gotten the opportunity to drive a Sprint Car and he has a Micro Sprint he’ll occasionally run. But over time he gravitated toward the crew chief role and said he actually enjoys it as much as driving.

That passion was evident during the five days of Sprint Car racing at the season opening DIRTcar Nationals. Dietz became a pong ball, bouncing back and forth between the #41 JJR car and his No. 14 Dietz Motorsports car parked next to each other.

While he and Gravel had a lot of success in their first year together in 2019 ­– earning 21 Quick Time awards and 12 wins, including the Knoxville Nationals – there’s still more for both of them to learn as JJR purchased new cars for the 2020 season and has two new crew members.

“It’s a learning process,” Gravel said. “We put new cars together for the 41. The 14 is kind of the cars we ran last year. And we’re just finding some things different with the 41 car. So, we can’t do the same thing we did last year. We’ve got some new people on the 41 and new people Phil has never worked with on the 14. It’s a learning process right now. We’ve just got to sort through it.”

They sorted through it in prime fashion during the DIRTcar Nationals with Price-Miller and Gravel earning top-five finishes in the first World of Outlaws race of the season. Gravel also earned Quick Time in his first two races of the year.

Some thought the addition of a second car might take away from the performance of the No. 41 car, but Dietz said having the second team actually helps get both cars up to speed quicker with the two drivers able to share feedback.

“We actually spent the first two races of the season trying setups, just seeing what’s best for each car,” Dietz said. “So, to roll out the first Outlaw race and have speed is pretty cool. Hopefully we can keep that momentum going.”

Price-Miller’s comfort level with the car and team grew each race, he said. To him, driving for JJR and Dietz Motorsports is one of the biggest opportunities of his career.

“I’d say [JJR] is one of the top three Sprint Car teams out there right now,” Price-Miller said. “Philip, in my book, is probably the number one crew chief out there right now. He’s very particular in what he does. If it’s a 32nd off, he’s going to get it so it’s exactly on point. It’s nice to work with a guy like that. Yeah, I’d say it’s one of the biggest opportunities and I’ve just got to take advantage of it.”

His goal is to win three races this year between the two teams. He acknowledged it’s a tough goal but also believes it’s a realistic one.

For Dietz, he’s taking it race by race. His main priority, he said, is JJR. Whether he ever wants to take Dietz Motorsports full-time or not has yet to cross his mind. He’s just happy to be doing something he’s always wanted to do. Even if it is a little sooner than expected.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – American Flat Track officials announced Monday that Falken Tires has been named the official light truck tire of American Flat Track.

For more than three decades, the California-based company has been known as a forerunner of high performance radial tire production in the world. With six strategically placed distribution centers across the United States, Falken’s efficiency and speed of distribution to its retailers and customers is unparalleled.

No stranger to motorsports, the Falken Motorsports team competes annually in the world famous 24 Hours of Nürburgring – one of the hardest endurance races in the world. Stateside, Falken participates and competes in Formula Drift, Lucas Off Road Racing Series, Ultra 4, USCA and supports grassroots racing in SCCA.

Falken Tires will leverage its partnership with AFT in order to display its catalog of products to AFT’s audience of automobile enthusiasts and light truck owners. Most notable of Falken’s products would be its Wildpeak A/T3W and Wildpeak M/T tires.

Engineered for all types of terrain and all weather conditions, the Wildpeak lines use a unique tread design and specifically-formulated compound to achieve aggressive off-road ability and rugged terrain driving without compromising performance on the pavement. For those looking for maximum off-road traction on the roughest terrain, the Wildpeak M/T and A/T3W tires are built for optimum performance in the harshest conditions.

“Falken Tires is excited to support American Flat Track and is the first opportunity to share a space with our sister brand, Dunlop Motorcycle Tires,” said Nick Fousekis, Director of Advertising and Promotions for Falken Tires. “We look forward to not only increase our brand awareness to the AFT fans, but also help promote this exciting series by airing races directly to over 2,000 Falken retailers through our proprietary streaming service, Falken Digital TV.”

American Flat Track will join Falken Digital TV’s current programming of automotive racing, the latest automotive news and tech videos on Falken’s hottest products.

“Falken Tires is a brand associated with high performance and competition and we are delighted to welcome them into the AFT family,” said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. “Our fans are strong users and enthusiasts of trucks, so Falken is a great fit for that lifestyle.”

SOLON, Ohio – Permatex, a leading innovator in chemical technology for automotive maintenance and repair, will continue as a sponsor of StarCom Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

This marks the second consecutive year that Permatex will support StarCom’s No. 00 Camaro, and the first year supporting StarCom’s new driver, Quin Houff.

Permatex will provide the primary sponsorship for StarCom Racing during four races, the O’Reilly 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on March 29, the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, the Foxwoods 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19 and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6.

Permatex and StarCom Racing are planning a special throwback scheme for the Southern 500 that will pay homage to the rich Permatex heritage in motorsports and the company’s lasting impact on the cutting edge of automotive maintenance.

“With the second year of our partnership with StarCom Racing about to begin, Permatex could not be more excited to bring its message to a new generation of motorsports fans,” said Paco Agrafojo, Permatex Director of Marketing. “Permatex’s racing roots trace back to the early 1900’s when Permatex sealants were used to service endurance race cars. With this sponsorship, we hope to showcase the incredible product innovations that Permatex has developed, which will be used by racing enthusiasts for years to come.”

“We are extremely excited to team back up with Permatex in 2020 as our 00 primary sponsor for four races starting at Texas Motor Speedway,” said Mike Kohler, StarCom Racing CEO. “It has been a pleasure working with and getting to know the Permatex team over the last two seasons, and we look forward to continuing to represent their brand, this year with rookie driver Quin Houff at the helm of the sharp and fast blue and orange Permatex Chevy.”

In an extraordinary move due to the coronavirus outbreak, the International Ice Hockey Federation has canceled six upcoming world championship tournaments scheduled for March and April.

The announcement was made on the advice of the IIHF Medical Committee at an emergency meeting of the IIHF Council on Monday in Hungary. The cancellation affects men's under-18 and women's world championship tournaments in lower divisions.

The IIHF said that its signature annual events in the top divisions -- the men's world championship set for May in Switzerland and the women's world championship set for April in Canada -- both "currently remain on the schedule." The 2020 U18 world championship in the top division scheduled for April 16-26 in Michigan also has not been canceled.

The tournaments in lower divisions determine which teams join next year's world championships.

At the next IIHF meeting is in mid-March in Zurich, officials will determine the impact of the cancellations, including financial compensation for costs and "the sportive impact" of the canceled tournaments. There will also be an update on the spread of coronavirus and a reevaluation of "the capability of tournament organizers to host IIHF championships in April" based on the most recent developments.

"I would like to thank the Medical Committee for their recommendation after very intense discussions over this weekend, I also thank our Council Members for their support of this recommendation in such challenging times," said IIHF President René Fasel to IIHF.com. "We will carefully evaluate on a daily basis the developments within our member countries."

The following tournaments were canceled due to coronavirus:

MEN's UNDER-18 category:

• 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division II Group A -- March 22-28 in Tallinn, Estonia
• 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division II Group B -- March 23-29 in Sofia, Bulgaria
• 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division III Group A -- March 16-22 in Istanbul, Turkey
• 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division III Group B -- March 29-April 04 in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg

WOMEN's category:

• 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship Division I Group B -- March 28-April 3 in Katowice, Poland
• 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship Division II Group A -- March 29-April 3 in Jaca, Spain

Local officials in Kyrgysztan also canceled the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division IV tournament scheduled for May due to coronavirus.

This news comes after the Swiss National League and its lower-tiered league played games in empty arenas last weekend after the nation's government put an immediate ban on events involving more than 1,000 people.

"This is a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. All stadium entrances are closed and controlled by the security services," the league announced.

The National Hockey League, which traditionally allows its players to compete in the IIHF world championship tournament, has been monitoring the outbreak.

"We are in regular communication with our clubs on the issue and have passed along best practices being recommended by CDC and Public Health Canada medical experts,'' deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Associated Press. "Most of these steps are common sense precautions, but there definitely involves consciousness raising.''

Dustin Johnson became the first player to announce he wouldn’t play this year’s Olympics, according to Golfweek.com.

Johnson’s manager, David Winkle, confirmed that the world’s fifth-ranked player plans to focus on the FedExCup playoffs, which begin a week after the men’s Olympic competition in August.

“Dustin gave the Olympics a great deal of thought and we discussed the pros and cons of him participating at length,” Winkle wrote in an e-mail to Golfweek.

“At the end of the day, it’s a matter of personal preference and priority. As much as he would be honored to be an Olympian, the FedEx Cup Playoffs are also very important to him. Having had a few close calls in the playoffs, he really wants to win them before his time is done and feels that he wouldn’t be giving himself the best opportunity to do so if he added lengthy international trip just prior to their beginning (and shortly after returning from two weeks in Europe).”

This year’s schedule includes The Open in late July in England followed by the men’s Olympic competition the last week of July. The FedExCup postseason begins Aug. 13 at The Northern Trust in Norton, Massachusetts.

The U.S. currently has four players qualified for the Games, including Johnson. If he doesn’t play the Olympics, he would be replaced by the next American in the rankings (currently, that’s Patrick Reed).

Brooks Koepka was recently asked about playing in the Olympics, and he didn’t sound completely committed: “We’ll see where everything else falls,” he said.

After questioning Tommy Fleetwood's European Tour resume and highlighting his lack of a PGA Tour victory heading into the final round of the Honda Classic, NBC golf analyst Paul Azinger has responded to some criticism his comments received from two noted Europeans.

Azinger was setting the scene for the final round at PGA National, where Fleetwood teed off with a one-shot lead. While he has won five times in Europe, including the season-long Race to Dubai title in 2017, he was seeking his first PGA Tour victory.

"These guys know, you can win all you want on the European Tour, the international game and all that, but you have to win on the PGA Tour," Azinger said. "They all know that, and I think Tommy knows that. And it's put a little pressure on Tommy, but this is where they want to be. They want to come here and prove they can make it at this level."

Fleetwood ultimately finished third, rinsing his approach on the 72nd hole when a birdie would have forced a playoff with eventual winner Sungjae Im. While he didn't respond directly to Azinger's comments, his fellow Englishmen Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood both took to Twitter to criticize Azinger's stance.

"One minute Paul walks down the range wishing you good luck before you play, the next he's condescending (sic) to the tour you play on and disrespects the tournaments you've won around the world," Westwood wrote Monday, one day after he tied for fourth at PGA National. "I've won in 19 different countries over 4 decades. That is disrespecting a lot of people!"

Azinger noted during the broadcast that Westwood "took offense" to his premise, having won 44 times around the world but only twice on the PGA Tour, but when reached by Golfweek he backed up his view on the importance of winning on this side of the Atlantic.

"I wasn't trying to be malicious. I didn't mean to disrespect anyone," Azinger said. "But professional golfers choke for two things: cash and prestige. And the PGA Tour has the most of both."