>>Lakers’ James To Miss Three More Games
(El Segundo, CA) — The Lakers are expected to play at least three more games without superstar LeBron James. The team says “King James” will miss at least another week with his strained left groin. James was hurt on Christmas Day against Golden State and hasn’t played since. LA is 3-and-5 without him.
>>Blues Beat Canadiens
(St. Louis, MO) — Jordan Binnington made 28 saves in the Blues’ 4-1 victory against the Canadiens at the Enterprise Center. Oskar Sundqvist had a goal and an assist for St. Louis, which improved to 18-20-and-4. Jay Bouwmeester, Robert Thomas and Sammy Blais also lit the lamp. The Blues travel to Dallas tomorrow.
>>Illinois Loses To #4 Michigan
(Champaign, IL) — Zavier Simpson scored 16 points to lead number-four Michigan to a 79-69 win at Illinois. Ayo Dosunmu poured in a game-high 23 points for the Illini, who dropped to 4-and-12 overall and 0-and-5 in the Big Ten. Illinois returns to action next Wednesday when the Illini host Minnesota.
>>Colts Facing Chiefs Tomorrow In Playoff Game
(Kansas City, MO) — The Colts will meet the Chiefs tomorrow in a NFL Divisional Round playoff game in Kansas City. The Colts are 4-and-0 against the Chiefs all-time in the postseason, winning in 1996, 2004, 2007 and 2014. Andrew Luck engineered a 45-44 come-from-behind win over KC in their last playoff meeting. The Colts trailed by 28 points in the third quarter. The Colts have as many playoff wins, two, as the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City is forecast to get two to five inches of snow beginning tonight, but should be just flurries by the time of the late afternoon kickoff tomorrow.
>>Bears Khalil Mack To Miss Pro Bowl With Injury
(Lake Forest, IL) — Bears linebacker Khalil Mack will miss the Pro Bowl because of an undisclosed injury. The Giants’ Olivier Vernon will replace him on the NFC roster. Mack recorded 12-and-a-half sacks this season, the second-highest total of his five-year career. Chicago has four other Pro Bowlers in safety Eddie Jackson, cornerback Kyle Fuller, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks and return specialist Tarik Cohen.
>>Steelers’ Rooney: Hard To Envision Brown Remaining On Team
(Pittsburgh, PA) — The Steelers don’t plan to release wide receiver Antonio Brown, but his future in Pittsburgh is uncertain. Team president Art Rooney the Second tells the Post-Gazette that all other options are on the table. Rooney says it would be hard to envision Brown being back on the team next season.
>>Bengals Eyeing Rams’ Taylor As Head Coach
(Cincinnati, OH) — The Cincinnati Bengals have their eyes on Los Angeles Rams assistant Zac Taylor to be their next head coach. ESPN reports the Rams quarterbacks coach is their top choice, but they have to wait until LA’s season is over to negotiate a contract. Taylor would replace the departed Marvin Lewis.
>>NFL Playoffs Resume Tomorrow
(Undated) — The NFL playoffs resume this weekend with the Divisional Round. Tomorrow, the Colts clash with the Chiefs in Kansas City and the Cowboys rumble with the Rams in LA. On Sunday, the Chargers play the Patriots in Foxboro and the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles visit the New Orleans Saints.
>>Mets Reach Deal With Lowrie
(Flushing, NY) — The New York Mets are adding some free-agent depth on the infield. They’ve agreed to a reported two-year, 20-million-dollar contract with veteran infielder Jed Lowrie. The 34-year-old is coming off a career year with Oakland in 2018, setting personal bests with 23 home runs, 99 RBI and 78 walks.