(Undated) — Here is the latest sports news: NFL Divisional Round set. Titans not firing Mularkey. Georgia and Alabama square off in title game. LaVar Ball verbally attacks Luke Walton. Mavs’ Carlisle criticizes ESPN and Ball.
>>NFL Wild Card Weekend Recap
(Undated) — The NFL’s Wild Card Weekend is in the books. On Sunday, the Saints held off the Panthers 31-26 and the Jaguars defeated the Bills 10-3. The Titans rallied to beat the Chiefs 22-21 and the Falcons took down the Rams 26-13 the day before. The Divisional Round pits the Eagles against Atlanta and the Vikings versus New Orleans in the NFC. The AFC features the Steelers opposite the Jaguars and the Patriots battle Tennessee.
>>Titans Sticking With Mularkey
(Undated) — The Titans beating the Chiefs is helping head coach Mike Mularkey keep his job. Controlling owner Amy Adams Strung released a statement backing Mularkey after the Wild Card round victory. There had been rumors if Tennessee lost that Mularkey would get fired.
>>Georgia, Alabama Clash In CFB National Championship Tomorrow
(Atlanta, GA) — It will be an All-SEC title game tonight as the Georgia Bulldogs meet the Alabama Crimson Tide in College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Third-seeded Georgia knocked off two-seeded Oklahoma, 54-48, in the semifinals on New Year’s Day, while Alabama ripped Clemson, 24-6 to advance. The Crimson Tide have won four championships under Nick Saban since 2009.
>>LaVar Ball Rips On Luke Walton
(Birstonas, Lithuania) — LaVar Ball is making waves within the Lakers’ universe again. Ball told ESPN in an interview from Lithuania that the Lakers’ players aren’t giving it their all for head coach Luke Walton anymore. Lonzo Ball, LaVar’s oldest son, is a rookie for Los Angeles. LaVar complained about how Walton was using Lonzo in the rotation. He also claimed the Lakers are currently a good team despite their 12-and-27 record.
>>Mavs Head Coach Rick Carlisle Criticizes ESPN For Ball Coverage
(Dallas, TX) — Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has had enough of the LaVar Ball sideshow. Carlisle criticized ESPN for posting a story about Ball going after Lakers head coach Luke Walton. Carlisle spoke before Dallas played the Knicks at home on Sunday night. He defended Walton’s track record going back to his time filling in for Steve Kerr with the Warriors.
>>SUNDAY’S SCOREBOARD
NFL Playoffs (Wild Card Round)
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Jacksonville Jaguars 10, Buffalo Bills 3
New Orleans Saints 31, Carolina Panthers 26
NBA
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Miami Heat 103, Utah Jazz 102
New York Knicks 100, Dallas Mavericks 96
Phoenix Suns 114, Oklahoma City Thunder 100
Portland Trail Blazers 111, San Antonio Spurs 110
Los Angeles Lakers 132, Atlanta Hawks 113
NHL
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Philadelphia Flyers 4, Buffalo Sabres 1
New York Islanders 5, New Jersey Devils 4 (SO)
Washington Capitals 4, St. Louis Blues 3 (OT)
Winnipeg Jets 4, San Jose Sharks 1
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Edmonton Oilers 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Florida Panthers 2 (SO)
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Detroit Red Wings 2
Montreal Canadiens 5, Vancouver Canucks 2
Pittsburgh Penguins 6, Boston Bruins 5 (OT)
Vegas Golden Knights 2, New York Rangers 1
Top-25 College Basketball (“USA Today” Coaches’ Poll)
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Ohio State Buckeyes 80, #1 Michigan State Spartans 64
#6 Arizona State Sun Devils 80, Utah Runnin’ Utes 77
#9 Wichita State Shockers 95, South Florida Bulls 57
#17 Miami (FL) Hurricanes 80, Florida State Seminoles 74
#20 Cincinnati Bearcats 76, SMU Mustangs 56
>>MONDAY’S SCHEDULE (All times are Eastern)
Top-25 College Football (CFP Rankings)
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8:00 p.m. – #3 Georgia Bulldogs vs. #4 Alabama Crimson Tide
(College Football Playoff National Championship at Atlanta, GA)
NBA
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7:00 p.m. – Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers
7:30 p.m. – Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets
8:00 p.m. – Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves
8:00 p.m. – Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls
8:00 p.m. – Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Pelicans
10:00 p.m. – San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings
10:30 p.m. – Atlanta Hawks at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. – Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors
NHL
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7:00 p.m. – Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs
Top-25 College Basketball (“USA Today” Coaches’ Poll)
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No Games Scheduled
