AP Sports SummaryBrief at 8:34 a.m. EST

Record 5 1st-year coaches lead teams into postseason

Coaching changes paid off in a big way for several teams this season. From impressive turnarounds for Jacksonville and the New York Giants to big boosts for Minnesota and Miami, a record-setting five of the 10 teams that hired new coaches for the 2022 season made the playoffs. Jacksonville’s Doug Pederson, the Giants Brian Daboll, Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell, Miami’s Mike McDaniel and Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles did it. That broke the previous record of four coaches getting to the postseason in their first season with a team set in 1997.

AP source: Correa spurns Mets, reaches $200M deal with Twins

A person familiar with the negotiations says Carlos Correa has agreed to a $200 million, six-year contract that keeps him with the Minnesota Twins after failing to complete deals with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. The deal for the All-Star shortstop is subject to a successful physical. Correa agreed Dec. 13 to a $350 million, 13-year contract with the Giants, who called off a news conference a week later over concerns with a right ankle injury. Correa agreed that night to a $315 million, 12-year deal with the Mets, who also had concerns about the ankle. The agreement with the Twins could be worth $270 million over 10 seasons if Correa remains healthy.

Damar Hamlin’s toy drive: What’s the plan for the $8.6M?

NEW YORK (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin plans to support young people through education and sports with the $8.6 million in GoFundMe donations that unexpectedly poured into his toy drive fundraiser after he suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of a game last week. The Giving Back Fund is a nonprofit that helps athletes and celebrities manage their charitable giving. They will host the “The Chasing M’s Foundation” Charitable Fund. A GoFundMe spokesperson said they will transfer the donations that have come in since Hamlin’s injury. Hamlin’s marketing representative, Jordon Rooney, said he and his family are humbled by the “tremendous support” and will communicate with donors over time.

Doctors: Bills’ Hamlin in good spirits, undergoing testing

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Bills safety Damar Hamlin is described as being in good spirts, while undergoing testing for a second day at a Buffalo hospital to determine what led to him going into cardiac arrest during a game last week. Hamlin posted a note on social media saying he’s not quite home yet, a day after being transferred from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to Buffalo General Medical Center. The tests being conducted on Hamlin also will determine when he can be discharged.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023: Unvaccinated Djokovic back, year later

Novak Djokovic will be back in action at the Australian Open when the 2023 Grand Slam season begins next week. He was not able to play in the tournament he’s won nine times a year ago because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19 and was deported from the country. He still has not gotten the shots but a pair of government decisions allowed him to return this time. Rafael Nadal is the defending men’s champion at Melbourne Park and owner of a men’s-record 22 major championships. But Djokovic will be the main focus of attention and the title favorite at the hard-court tournament.

Bridges leads undermanned Suns past Curry, Warriors 125-113

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mikal Bridges had 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists and the undermanned Suns dominated in Stephen Curry’s return from injury as Phoenix beat the Golden State Warriors for a third time this season, 125-113 on Tuesday night to snap a season-worst six-game skid. Former Warriors guard Damion Lee received his championship ring in a pregame ceremony from brother-in-law Curry, then scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds against his former team. Duane Washington Jr. scored 21 points, Dario Saric contributed 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and Torrey Craig had 12 points and 14 rebounds for Phoenix. Curry came back from an 11-game absence with a partially dislocated left shoulder to score 24 points on 8-for-22 shooting. Klay Thompson had 29 points.

Butler, Heat set NBA free throw record, beat OKC 112-111

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler’s three-point play with 12.9 seconds left capped an NBA-record performance by the Miami Heat and gave them a 112-111 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. Butler’s free throw made the Heat 40 for 40 from the foul line, breaking the 39-for-39 mark by Utah against Portland on Dec. 7, 1982. Butler was 23 for 23 from the line, tying the second-most makes without a miss in NBA history. Butler had 35 points for Miami, which had used only eight players and was down to seven when Dewayne Dedmon was ejected in the second quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points for the Thunder. Josh Giddey had a triple-double — 18 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

Mitchell scores 46 in Utah return, but Jazz rally past Cavs

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 46 points in his return to Utah, but the Jazz rallied late behind Jordan Clarkson to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114. Clarkson scored 32 points, including five 3-pointers, and poured in nine straight down the stretch to fuel a decisive 13-0 run. Lauri Markkanen had 25 points and 16 rebounds for the Jazz. Malik Beasley, Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 13 apiece as Utah won for just the second time in nine games. Mitchell, who spent his first five seasons with Utah, also had six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Darius Garland added 21 points and six assists for Cleveland.

‘100 or more’: Shiffrin’s idol expects her to keep winning

FLACHAU, Austria (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin is set to continue her quest for a record-setting 83rd women’s Alpine skiing World Cup win next week. But her biggest idol sees even larger milestones coming up for the American. Marlies Raich is the Austrian standout who dominated women’s slalom under her maiden name Schild before retiring in 2014. She believes the the 27=year-old Shiffrin’s tally of victories will likely have reached a three-digit figure by the time she retires. Schild says Shiffrin can reach “100 or more” wins. Shiffrin and Raich share a special friendship since the American’s breakthrough at top-level racing in 2011.

Dawgs for 3?: Georgia has chance to make football history

Kirby Smart didn’t really want to discuss his Georgia Bulldogs’ chances for a three-peat on the morning after they won their second straight College Football Playoff championship game. He couldn’t deny that he’s already thinking about next season and and Georgia’s chance to do something unprecedented. The Bulldogs have more national championships than total losses over the past two seasons, and they’re headed into 2023 with the opportunity to be the first team in the AP poll era to win three straight title.s