SPORTS SHORTS
NFL: Commanders cut bait on Wentz
The Commanders released Carson Wentz on Monday, an expected move that puts an end to the one-season experiment with the veteran quarterback that did not work out.
After giving up draft picks to acquire him in a trade with Indianapolis last March, the Commanders were able to get out of the final two years of Wentz’s contract without any salary cap penalty.
● The Chargers have promoted Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator. He was the secondary coach on Brandon Staley’s staff the past two seasons and takes over for Renaldo Hill, who left to join Miami’s staff as pass-game coordinator. NBA: Butler, Heat sink Sixers
Jimmy Butler hit an acrobatic reverse layup in the final minutes, and his 23 points led five Miami players in double figures as the Heat edged the 76ers, 101-99, Monday night in Philadelphia.
● LaMelo Ball’s frustrating, injuryplagued season could be over after the point guard broke his right ankle in the Hornets’ 117-106 win over the Pistons in Charlotte, N.C.
● In New Orleans, Paolo Banchero capped a 29-point performance with three clutch mid-range jumpers in the closing minutes, and the Magic defeated the Pelicans, 101-93.
● Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam have agreed to purchase Marc Lasry’s 25 percent stake of the Bucks in a deal that puts the value of the NBA franchise at $3.5 billion, two people with knowledge of the negotiations said.
SOCCER: Top FIFA honor for Messi
World Cup champion Lionel Messi edged Kylian Mbappé again, this time to take FIFA’s best men’s player award on Monday. The best women’s player was Spain’s Alexia Putellas for a second straight year.
● French prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into a rape accusation against Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, a judicial official said. ETC.: Leafs land pair from Chicago
● The Maple Leafs acquired forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe and conditional fifth-round picks in 2024 and ’25 from the Blackhawks on Monday in exchange for a conditional 2025 firstround pick, a second-rounder in 2026, prospect Pavel Gogolev and forward Joey Anderson. Chicago is retaining half of McCabe’s salary.
● In Stillwater, Okla., LJ Cryer and Dale Bonner each scored 15 points, and No. 7 Baylor held off Oklahoma State for a 74-68 victory on Monday night.
● Former Astros general manager James Click was hired by the Blue Jays as vice president of baseball strategy. The 45year-old helped build the Houston teams that went to three straight AL Championship Series and back-to-back World Series, winning it all last year.
● Novak Djokovic broke the record for the most time spent at No. 1 in the professional tennis rankings by a man or woman, beginning his 378th week in the ATP’s top spot to surpass Steffi Graf’s 377 leading the WTA.
● Terry Holland, who elevated Virginia basketball to national prominence during 16 seasons as coach and later had a distinguished career as an athletic administrator, has died, the school announced. He was 80.