Storts

Luck: Return was 'worth it'; no NFL preference
T-Mac, Hawks hand Heat first loss
Staples: Fiesta Bowl meant everything to two turnaround programs
NFL playoff questions by the dozen
Jets expect turbulence after forgettable season
Brees and others rewrite record book many times over
Mavericks deal Thunder first loss
Mandel: Oregon was last team standing at Rose Bowl
Missed FGs help Cowboys win Fiesta in OT (AP)
Okla. St. nips Luck, Stanford in OT Fiesta thriller
Oklahoma State wins Fiesta Bowl in OT
Weeden hits Blackmon for 3 TDs in OSU's Fiesta win
10 questions for NFL's non-playoff teams
Nowitzki, Mavericks deal Thunder first loss
Ginobili suffers broken left hand, out indefinitely
Ginobili breaks left hand in Spurs loss (AP)
Heat suffer first loss, 100-92 to Hawks (AP)
No. 4 Baylor now 14-0, beats Texas A&M (AP)
Hawks' late run ends Heat's perfect start
Spurs' Ginobili out indefinitely with broken hand

Luck: Return was 'worth it'; no NFL preference

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 01:08 AM PST

Andrew Luck said after Monday's 41-38 loss to Oklahoma State that he regrets nothing about returning to Stanford for his all-but-official final season with the Cardinal.

T-Mac, Hawks hand Heat first loss

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 01:18 AM PST

MIAMI (AP) Atlanta played zone defense. Tracy McGrady found his zone.

Staples: Fiesta Bowl meant everything to two turnaround programs

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 12:55 AM PST

Oklahoma State rallied past Stanford 41-38 in a wild Fiesta Bowl shootout that ultimately was decided by a heartbreaking duel of field-goal kickers in overtime, writes Andy Staples.

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NFL playoff questions by the dozen

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 11:51 PM PST

The playoffs open this weekend and 12 teams remain on the road to Super Bowl XVLI. All have questions.

Jets expect turbulence after forgettable season

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 11:52 PM PST

Team points to a fragmented locker room as a key to its disappointing 8-8 season. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes is expected to return.

Brees and others rewrite record book many times over

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 12:20 AM PST

The New Orleans Saints broke more than a dozen records alone, including most yards, passing yards and first downs.

Mavericks deal Thunder first loss

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 01:18 AM PST

DALLAS (AP) In their sixth game, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks finally looked like the reigning NBA champions.

Mandel: Oregon was last team standing at Rose Bowl

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 12:20 AM PST

Oregon may not quiet its skeptics, but the Ducks showed a new resilience with their 45-38 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin and could be even better next season, says Stewart Mandel.

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Missed FGs help Cowboys win Fiesta in OT (AP)

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 11:26 PM PST

The BCS system left Oklahoma State bitter. After a thrilling win in the Fiesta Bowl, the Cowboys have a chance to throw stick in the spokes. Surviving a missed field goal at the end of regulation and getting a big kick of its own in overtime, No. 3 Oklahoma State opened the door for the chance at a split national championship with a wildly entertaining 41-38 win over No.

Okla. St. nips Luck, Stanford in OT Fiesta thriller

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 01:11 AM PST

Quinn Sharp hit a 22-yard field goal in overtime to give No. 3 Oklahoma State a 41-38 win over Andrew Luck and No. 4 Stanford in a wildly entertaining Fiesta Bowl on Monday night.

Oklahoma State wins Fiesta Bowl in OT

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 10:47 PM PST

No. 3 Oklahoma State needed overtime before it finally pulled ahead of No. 4 Stanford to win the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 41-38.

Weeden hits Blackmon for 3 TDs in OSU's Fiesta win

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 01:18 AM PST

Oklahoma State never led -- until it counted. After Stanford's Jordan Williamson missed two late FGs, Quinn Sharp made a 22-yarder in OT to clinch a wild 41-38 Fiesta Bowl victory.

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10 questions for NFL's non-playoff teams

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 09:03 PM PST

Indianapolis fires vice chairman Bill Polian, and USA TODAY looks at 10 pressing matters around the league.

Nowitzki, Mavericks deal Thunder first loss

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 10:28 PM PST

Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points as Dallas finally looked like the reigning champs in handing Oklahoma City its first loss of the season.

Ginobili suffers broken left hand, out indefinitely

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 07:31 PM PST

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has left the game against Minnesota in the second quarter with an injury to his left hand.

Ginobili breaks left hand in Spurs loss (AP)

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 08:30 PM PST

Rick Adelman was wondering how his young Minnesota Timberwolves would handle their first taste of prosperity. He couldn't have been much happier after watching them thump the San Antonio Spurs, who now find themselves knee deep in adversity with the loss of star guard Manu Ginobili. Kevin Love had 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to their second win in a row, 106-96 Monday...

Heat suffer first loss, 100-92 to Hawks (AP)

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 08:16 PM PST

Atlanta played zone defense. Tracy McGrady found his zone. And with that, Miami's unbeaten start came to an end. Joe Johnson scored 21 points, McGrady hit a pair of big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Hawks recovered from early 10-point deficits to beat the Heat 100-92 on Monday night. McGrady and Al Horford each scored 16 for the Hawks (4-1), who opened the final period on a 15-3 run to...

No. 4 Baylor now 14-0, beats Texas A&M (AP)

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 06:46 PM PST

Perry Jones III had 14 points with 12 rebounds and fourth-ranked Baylor remained undefeated with a 61-52 victory over Texas A&M in the Big 12 opener for both teams Monday night. The Bears (14-0) have started the season with the first 14-game winning streak in school history. Baylor led throughout after scoring the game's first eight points, and led by as many as 19 points in the second half.

Hawks' late run ends Heat's perfect start

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 10:35 PM PST

Joe Johnson scored 21 points, Tracy McGrady hit a pair of big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Atlanta Hawks ended Miami's perfect start by beating the Heat 100-92 on Monday night.