AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:15 a.m. EDT

Grizzlies' Ja Morant, on criticism: 'I feel like Ive been the villain for the last two years now' MIAMI (AP) It was the sort of moment that Ja Morant craves.

He hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer to lift the Memphis Grizzlies past the Miami Heat, then skipped down the court listening to the silence he created.

He was the villain.

And he doesnt mind.

Morant has certainly spent plenty of time in that role.

His ability to take over games was on display Thursday night; the game-winner capped a 30-point night and helped Memphis snap a four-game losing streak.

That could have been the story.

It wasnt.

At least, not the whole story.

Curry scores 37 points and Warriors beat Lakers 123-116 in a potential first-round playoff preview LOS ANGELES (AP) Stephen Curry scored 37 points, Brandin Podziemski added 28 and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 123-116 for their fourth win in a row in a potential first-round playoff preview.

LeBron James had 33 points and nine assists to lead the Lakers.

Austin Reaves added 31 points, including nine 3-pointers, Rui Hachimura had 24 points and Luke Doncic had 19 points, missing all six of his 3-point attempts.

Podziemski had a career-high eight 3-pointers on a night when Curry was 4 of 11 from long range.

F1's Japanese GP has storylines that may be as fleeting as the country's cherry blossoms SUZUKA, Japan (AP) The Japanese Grand Prix is only the third Formula 1 race of the season, but several storylines are developing that promise a few twists.

And they could be as fleeting as the cherry blossoms seen all over Japan at this time of the year.

Watch McLaren, which has won the first two races of the season.

Keep an eye on Lewis Hamilton as he chases his first win with Ferrari.

And Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda will be the crowd favorite as he drives for Red Bull's main team for the first time.

Once pariahs, now winners, Final Four coaches Pearl, Sampson a reflection of a changing game SAN ANTONIO (AP) A decade ago, Bruce Pearl of Auburn and Kelvin Sampson of Houston were looking to resurrect their careers after being handed show-cause penalties by the NCAA for recruiting violations.

This week, theyre coaching at the Final Four.

Their return is a sign of the success theyve enjoyed since their comebacks but also the shifting priorities that have overtaken college sports.

These days, when coaches go job hunting, they need the school to not only be able to pay them, but the players they hope to land for their rosters.

'Time to say goodbye': Kevin De Bruyne to leave Man City at the end of season MANCHESTER, England (AP) Kevin De Bruyne says he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

In an emotional post on X, the Belgium playmaker confirmed these are his final months as a Manchester City player.

De Bruyne joined City in 2015 from Wolfsburg and has won every major honor with the club, including the Premier League and Champions League.

USC star JuJu Watkins is the AP Player of the Year and just the fourth sophomore to earn that honor TAMPA, Fla.

(AP) JuJu Watkins, the sensational sophomore who led Southern California to its best season in nearly 40 years, is The Associated Press womens college basketball Player of the Year.

Watkins, whose Trojans won the Big Ten regular-season title for their first conference crown in 31 years, received 29 votes and Notre Dames Hannah Hidalgo got the other two.

Watkins is the first USC player to win the award and just the fourth to do it as a sophomore, joining Oklahomas Courtney Paris and UConn stars Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart.

Trump again says he wants to see PGA Tour, LIV Golf merged DORAL, Fla.

(AP) President Donald Trump arrived at his Doral resort Thursday for a LIV Golf event, shortly after reiterating to reporters aboard Air Force One that he wants to see the two mens professional tours united.

The president has spoken out on the subject before, and Trump has been involved in some of the talks that may eventually unify the PGA Tour and Saudi-funded LIV.

Those talks have gone on for at least a year and how or if a deal can be struck is unclear.

Trump told reporters that having them merge would be a great thing.

Giannis' NBA 1st of 35 points, 20 assists, 17 rebounds sends Bucks past 76ers 126-113 PHILADELPHIA (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history to have 35 points, 17 rebounds and a career-high 20 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113.

Brook Lopez scored 17 points, Kyle Kuzma had 16 and AJ Green hit four 3-pointers for 12 points for the Bucks.

Rookie Adem Bona led the 76ers with a career-high 28 points on 13-for-15 shooting.

Quentin Grimes had 24 points with 10 assists, and Guerschon Yabusele added 22 points.

Judge gets 500th extra-base hit, 3rd-fastest Yankee to reach mark behind DiMaggio, Gehrig NEW YORK (AP) Aaron Judge became the third-fastest New York Yankees player to reach 500 extra-base hits with a three-run homer in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, trailing only Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig.

Judge lined a 1-1 fastball from Merrill Kelly to the opposite field and into the Yankees bullpen for a 3-0 lead.

The two-time AL MVP has five homers and 15 RBIs in six games this season.

Judge has 320 homers, 175 doubles and five triples in 999 games.

DiMaggio reached 500 extra-base hits in 853 games and Gehrig in 869.

Demand for viral 'torpedo' baseball bats has sent a Pennsylvania factory into overdrive KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.

(AP) Torpedo bats drew attention over the weekend when the New York Yankees hit a team-record nine homers in one game.

Using a strikingly different model in which wood is moved lower down the barrel after the label and shapes the end a little like a bowling pin, the bat has become baseball's latest fad.

All-Star and even amateur hardball players all want to take their swings with the bat.

The torpedo bat took the league by storm in only 24 hours, and days later, the calls and orders, and test drives -- from big leaguers to rec leaguers -- are humming inside Victus Sports.

The company is the official bat of MLB and has seen sales and interest spike in the bat..

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