NCAA advocates for elimination of prop bets
The NCAA wants states with legal wagering on sporting events to ban prop bets on college athletes.
“Sports betting issues are on the rise across the country with prop bets continuing to threaten the integrity of competition and leading to student-athletes getting harassed,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said Wednesday in statement posted on social media.
Prop bets — short for proposition bets — allow gamblers to wager on statistics a player will accumulate during a game rather than the final score.
Baker’s statement came tw days after the NBA confirmed it opened an investigation into unusual betting patterns surrounding props involving Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter.
Some NBA players and coaches have been outspoken recently about prop bets and how gamblers react when numbers fail to hit. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said his social media is filled with complaints and Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff revealed he received threats from gamblers last season and reported it to the NBA.
More colleges
Louisville reached an agreement with College of Charleston coach Pat Kelsey to become the Cardinals’ next men’s basketball coach, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
Pro basketball
Rookie Brandon Miller made seven 3-pointers and finished with 31 points, and the Charlotte Hornets handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their fourth loss in five games, 118111. Jarrett Allen scored 24 points for Cleveland, which did not score in the final 3:28. ... In other NBA highlights: The New York Knicks handed Toronto its worst home loss in franchise history, beating the Raptors, 145-101. Miles McBride scored 29 points and Jalen Brunson 26 for the Knicks, whose point total was their highest in a regulation game since 1980. ...
Golden State overcame the ejection of Draymond Green to beat Orlando, 101-93. Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with 23 points. ... Kawhi Leonard completed two threepoint plays late in the game then made a block at the rim on the final possession to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 108-107 win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse said that there is a “good likelihood” that reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid will be back on the court before the postseason. Embiid has missed 27 games after suffering a meniscus injury on Jan. 30.
Hockey
Brayden Point scored his 42nd goal of the season to break a second-period tie and the surging Tampa Bay Lightning beat Atlantic Divisionleading Boston, 3-1. The Lightning improved to 7-0-1 in their past eight games.
Soccer
The Portland Thorns of the NWSL signed Sophia Smith to a contract extension through 2025, with a player option for 2026. While not disclosing terms, Portland says the deal gives Smith, 23, the highest annual salary in the the league.
Pro football
Carolina signed pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to a two-year, $20 million contract. Clowney, 31, tied a career high with 9.5 sacks while with Baltimore this past season.
Tennis
Jannik Sinner won his 20th match of 2024 to reach the Miami Open semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Tomas Machac. Sinner reached his fourth final four of the season and moved to 20-1 overall. On the women’s side, Danielle Collins defeated No. 23 seed Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semifinals. Garcia was coming off consecutive wins against Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaki and Coco Gauff.
Sports business
Negotiations aimed at luring the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards to northern Virginia have “ended” and the proposal to create a development district with a new arena for the teams “will not move forward,” the city of Alexandria announced.