Bobby Hull passes away at 84

Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull died at the age of 84, the NHL Alumni Association confirmed Monday.

Hull is the Chicago Blackhawks' all-time leading goal scorer with 604 in 1,036 games. He also played 18 NHL contests with the Winnipeg Jets and nine more with the Hartford Whalers, in addition to suiting up for seven seasons with the Jets in the WHA.

The former winger, who earned the nickname "The Golden Jet," amassed 610 goals and 560 assists over 16 NHL campaigns, notching another 303 tallies and 335 helpers across 411 WHA contests.

LeBron James 37 points

LeBron James said the Lakers had a choice when trailing by 25 points at halftime against the Trail Blazers.

"I guess it's only one or two ways, you can either go out and you can lay down and get ready for the next game or you can see what happens in the third quarter, make a game of it," James said. "And for us as competitors, and our team and our makeup this year, we're not a lay-down team. That's just not the makeup of our club."

James finished with 37 points and 11 rebounds, and the Lakers rallied in the second half to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 121-112 on Sunday night.

49ers defeat Cowboys to advance to NFC

Christian McCaffrey scored on a go-ahead 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and San Francisco's defense did the rest, sending the 49ers to their second straight NFC title game with a 19-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The 49ers (15-4) used back-to-back long scoring drives in the second half to wear down the Cowboys (13-6) and win their 12th straight game. San Francisco advanced to play the Eagles in the NFC title game next Sunday in Philadelphia after losing in that round to the Rams a year ago.

Brooke Henderson wins Hilton Grand

Brooke Henderson sets a goal of winning multiple LPGA Tour titles at the outset of each season. She didn't wait long to collect her first trophy of 2023.

Henderson was dominant throughout and delivered a 2-under 70 on Sunday at Lake Nona to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

Patrick Mahomes suffers high ankle sprain

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he'll be ready to play in the AFC Championship Game after fighting through an ankle injury in Saturday's divisional-round win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"X-rays were negative. They haven't diagnosed anything yet, but I'll be good to go," he told NBC's Melissa Stark postgame, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

Mahomes had his right ankle rolled up on by Jaguars linebacker Arden Key in the first quarter. The star signal-caller stayed on the field for several more plays but was clearly hobbled and went to the locker room in the second quarter.

Chargers fire Joe Lombardi

The Los Angeles Chargers have fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shane Day, the team announced Tuesday.

Lombardi and Day have been with the team for the last two seasons.

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley hired Lombardi in January 2021. Many have criticized Lombardi for failing to maximize the potential of star quarterback Justin Herbert, who ranks 33rd out of 37 quarterbacks in air yards per pass attempt over the last two seasons.

Edmonton Oilers activate Evander Kane

The Edmonton Oilers activated winger Evander Kane off long-term injured reserve ahead of Tuesday's matchup with the Seattle Kraken.

Kane has missed the last 31 games after his wrist was cut by a skate on Nov. 8 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 31-year-old power forward tallied 13 points in 14 games before the injury. He recorded 35 goals and 21 assists in 58 contests in 2021-22 (regular season and playoffs) after signing with Edmonton as a free agent midseason.

Tom Brady shakes off Wild Card loss

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said Monday he'll take his time before deciding on what's next for his legendary football career.

"I'm going to go home and get a good night's sleep," Brady said after the Buccaneers' 31-14 wild-card loss to the Dallas Cowboys. "This has been a lot of focus on this game. It'll just be one day at a time, truly."

In his possible final career game, Brady completed 35 of 66 pass attempts for 351 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. The Buccaneers fell behind early, and didn't get their first points until the Cowboys were up 24-0.

Tua Tagovailoa ruled out for Wild Card game vs. Bills

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel ruled out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.

McDaniel said Wednesday that Tagovailoa still hasn't been cleared to resume football activities. The signal-caller entered concussion protocol Dec. 26 after suffering a concussion against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 25.

Damar Hamlin is heading home from hospital

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlinhas been released from a Buffalo hospital and is headed home, the team announced Wednesday.

Hamlin arrived in Buffalo on Monday after being discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He underwent a series of cardiac, neurological, and vascular testing on Tuesday before being released.

Auston Matthews out vs. Nashville Predators

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe announced star Auston Matthews will miss his first game of the season Wednesday against the Nashville Predators, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

Matthews is dealing with an undisclosed injury. He participated in the optional skate Wednesday morning after not practicing Tuesday.

Keefe said that Matthews' ailment has "been bothering him for a while," according to SI Media Group's David Alter.

Arizona Cardinals plan to trade DeAndre Hopkins

The Arizona Cardinals plan to trade former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, sources tell Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

Hopkins has two years and $34.36 million left on his contract but will likely seek a new deal, according to Schultz.

Owner Michael Bidwill plans to express the idea of moving Hopkins to general manager candidates, adds Schultz.

Carlos Correa signs 6 years with Twins

Carlos Correa is back where he started after a free-agent saga filled with twists and turns.

The Minnesota Twins and the star shortstop are finalizing a six-year, $200-million contract with a vesting option that could make the pact worth $270 million, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The reported deal has four vesting years valued at $70 million. He also gets a full no-trade clause, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Kevin Durant out with MCL injury

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant suffered an MCL sprain in the third quarter of Sunday's win against the Miami Heat and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the team announced Monday.

He's expected to miss about a month, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Durant went down after Heat wing Jimmy Butler landed on his knee. He attempted to stay on the floor for a couple of possessions before heading to the locker room.

Toronto Blue Jays sign Brandon Belt

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a one-year contract with veteran first baseman Brandon Belt, a source told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

The deal, which is expected to be finalized Tuesday, is worth $9.3 million, a source told Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic. 

The contract will take Toronto's payroll above the first competitive balance tax threshold, per Cot's Contracts.

Belt was limited to 78 games with the San Francisco Giants in 2022 due to persistent knee issues. He underwent knee surgery in September and is now back to full health, according to Slusser.

John Coppolella reinstated by MLB

Major League Baseball has reinstated former Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella from his lifetime ban, the commissioner's office confirmed to The Athletic's Jayson Stark.

Coppolella was originally placed on the permanently ineligible list back in 2017 for circumventing international signing rules between 2015-16. He had resigned from his post as Braves GM the month prior.

As a result of the investigation, the Braves forfeited numerous international signees from their system, including Kevin Maitan, and were also banned from signing Robert Puason, a shortstop now in the Oakland Athletics organization. The team was unable to make any international signings above $10,000 for two years and stripped of its third-round selection in the MLB Draft.

Houston Texans fire head coach Lovie Smith

The Houston Texans fired head coach Lovie Smith after going 3-13-1 this season, the team announced Sunday.

Smith, who still had three years left on his contract, is the second straight Houston coach to be fired after just one season on the job. 

UPDATE: Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own and able to talk after having his breathing tube removed, his agent said Friday — the latest step in his remarkable recovery in the four days since going into cardiac arrest and being resuscitated on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bills said on Twitter that Hamlin even joined the Friday morning team meeting by FaceTime, and told them "love you boys." In a statement, the team said Hamlin's "neurologic function remains intact and he has been able to talk to his family and care team."

Team Canada wins Gold

Dylan Guenther scored the golden goal as Canada won the World Junior Hockey Championship for the second year in a row, defeating Czechia 3-2 in overtime in Thursday's gold-medal game.

Red Sox avoid arbitration with Rafael Devers

The Boston Red Sox and third baseman Rafael Devers agreed to a one-year, deal, avoiding arbitration, the team announced Tuesday.

The deal is reportedly worth $17.5 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Devers, 26, is in the final year of arbitration before being eligible to hit free agency for the first time next winter. The two sides have reportedly been discussing long-term extensions and this deal does not prevent that from happening in the future, Passan adds.

Damar Hamlin Toy Charity raises $4M

Fans have raised more than $4 million for Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin's charity toy drive in the hours after he suffered a cardiac arrest during Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 24-year-old Hamlin's initial goal for the fundraiser, which he started in 2020, was to raise $2,500. The foundation had brought in just over $2,900 prior to Hamlin's collapse. More than 150,000 people have now donated to the charity.

Damar Hamlin in critical condition…. prayers!

"The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin," the players' union said in a statement. "We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar's health and well-being."

Hamlin, 24, joined the Bills as a sixth-round selection in the 2021 draft after a five-year college career at Pitt.

Bruins defeat Penguins at a Fenway Park Winter Classic

Boston goaltender Linus Ullmark raised his arms in jubilation when the final buzzer sounded and the party was complete for the sellout crowd at Fenway Park.

Jake DeBrusk scored his second goal of the third period with just over two minutes remaining and the NHL-leading Bruins rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Winter Classic on Monday at Fenway.

Connor Bedard OT Winner!

Connor Bedard continues to amaze.

The 17-year-old phenom scored a sensational OT winner Monday in the quarters of the World Junior Hockey Championship, leading Canada past Slovakia.

Canada will play the United States in the semis. Czechia will play Sweden in the other final-four contest.

Bedard has already rewritten the Canadian WJHC record book, setting new benchmarks for most goals and points all time, as well as most points and assists in a single tournament. Now, he's an overtime hero.

He recorded a pair of goals and an assist in the contest, bringing his tournament totals to eight tallies and 13 helpers in five games.

Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field

Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin was administered CPR after collapsing on the field in the first half of Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hamlin, who fell to the ground after making a tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, remained on the field to receive medical attention for over 10 minutes before being taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The ESPN broadcast initially suggested that both sides would take five minutes to warm up before play resumed. Following a conversation between head coaches Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor, however, teams were removed from the field and the game was temporarily suspended.