Bucks top Suns for 14th straight win

Brook Lopez made a tiebreaking layup and a steal in the final 25 seconds as the Milwaukee Bucks edged the Phoenix Suns, 104-101, on Feb. 26 for their 14th consecutive victory.

This nationally televised game didn’t include Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo or Phoenix’s Kevin Durant.

Durant has yet to appear in a game for the Suns and hasn’t played since Jan. 8 because of sprained right medial collateral ligament.

Antetokounmpo was out with a bruised right quadriceps after leaving in the first quarter of the Bucks’ 128-99 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday.

Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday led all scorers with 33 points, while Lopez had 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Middleton added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

MLB PADRES, MACHADO AGREE

TO BIG DEAL >> All-Star slugger Manny Machado has agreed to a new $350 million, 11-year contract that will keep him with the San Diego Padres through 2033, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Machado must pass a physical before the deal, which was first reported by ESPN, is finalized.

Machado was scheduled to bat second Sunday in the Padres’ spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Machado, 30, had said that after this season, he planned to opt out of the $300 million, 10-year deal he signed in 2019.

NASCAR

BUSCH GETS WIN >> Kyle Busch sent Fontana off in style, storming up from the back after an early penalty and earning his first victory for Richard Childress Racing while winning on this Southern California track for the fifth time.

Busch held off Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain in NASCAR’s final race on the two miles of gloriously weathered asphalt at Auto Club Speedway, which will soon be demolished to make room for a halfmile track.

Busch drove his Chevrolet to victory in only his second race with RCR, which scooped him up in December after his 15-year tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing ended.

This win was Busch’s first since Bristol last season on a dirt track, and his first on pavement since Pocono in 2021.

With his 61st career victory, Busch earned a win in his record 19th consecutive Cup season, breaking a tie with Richard Petty.