Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will come off the bench Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs, a move Bucks coach Doc Rivers said has more to do with his health and a minutes restriction after he had bilateral ankle surgeries over the summer than his production on the court.

"It's just not improving to the place he wants it or we want it, so we just got to monitor," Rivers said about Middleton's health. "We're cutting his minutes back a little bit and just trying to make sure he gets through this."

Middleton, 33, missed the first 21 games of the season after offseason surgery on both ankles. He has played in 12 games, making his season debut in early December, but had been in the starting lineup in his past seven games before missing Monday's game in Toronto due to ankle tendinitis.

Taurean Prince will take Middleton's place in the starting lineup. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Andre Jackson Jr. will all be available after being listed on the injury report heading into the game.

Middleton is averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 23.8 minutes this season, but the Bucks have not found a consistent rhythm with him on the floor. Milwaukee is just 3-4 this season in games where Middleton has started.

However, Rivers said he has had too small of a sample to judge Middleton yet, especially while he's juggling limited playing time.

"The bottom line is just not moving every night the way you like to," Rivers said. "One night you see, moving great. One night, he's not. Minutes go up and down.

"It's just -- it's a tough go for him."

Magic star Paolo Banchero is expected to return to action in one of Orlando's back-to-back home games Thursday against Minnesota or Friday against Milwaukee, sources told ESPN.

Banchero has been out since Oct. 30 due to a torn oblique after a monster start to the season. The Magic officially upgraded him to questionable on the league's injury report after he participated fully in Wednesday's practice.

Banchero's 29-point average ranked seventh in the league before his injury, and he was also averaging 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists.

Banchero scored a career-high 50 points in an Oct. 28 win over the Indiana Pacers, when he became the second-youngest player in NBA history to record at least 50 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a game behind LeBron James, who accomplished the feat in 2005 against the Toronto Raptors.

The Magic (22-16) are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings despite losing both Banchero and Franz Wagner to torn oblique injuries. Wagner -- headed toward an All-Star season in his own right -- has been sidelined since Dec. 6.

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard left the team and flew to Los Angeles to be with family that was evacuated because of the wildfires that have devastated the area, coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday.

The Clippers played at the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

"You definitely have to take care of home. ... Totally had my support 100%," Lue told reporters. "Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they're well. And he got back, and they're doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that."

Tens of thousands have been evacuated because of the Palisades Fire, with more than 11,800 acres having burned in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, according to ABC News. More than 1,000 structures are estimated to have been destroyed in the fire.

Leonard, who bought a house in the Pacific Palisades in 2021, was set to play in his third game of the season against Denver. The Clippers star made his season debut against Atlanta on Jan. 4 after missing the start of the season with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee.

He is averaging 10 points in 20 minutes per game.

CLEVELAND -- Jarrett Allen scored 25 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers ended Oklahoma City's 15-game winning streak by beating the Thunder 129-122 on Wednesday night in a marquee meeting between the NBA's top two teams.

The Cavs extended their winning streak to 11, improved the league's best record to 32-4 -- 11-0 against the West -- and moved to 19-1 at home. They did it on an off night for leading scorer Donovan Mitchell, who had just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Jalen Williams had 25 for the Thunder in their first loss since Dec. 1.

While it's only January and there's a lot of basketball ahead, the game's intensity had the all vibes of a Finals matchup in June. There were 30 lead changes and neither team led by more than nine.

The matchup was only the third in history between teams riding double-digit winning streaks. The last time it happened was on Jan. 26, 1995, when Seattle and Utah entered their game each on 10-game winning streaks.

Gilgeous-Alexander is the team's undisputed star, but Oklahoma City has some nice pieces. Center Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Cleveland showed its balance, depth and that it can get by when Mitchell isn't on. Mobley and Allen combined for 22 rebounds and 13 assists.

With Cleveland up 125-122, Mitchell was called for a loose ball foul 1:19. The Cavs challenged and the call was reversed by replay review. Mobley then hit a 10-footer in the lane to put Cleveland up by five.

Only four teams have posted a better record through 36 games than Cleveland: Golden State (34-2) in 2015-16, Philadelphia (33-3) in 1966-67, the Los Angeles Lakers (33-3) in 1971-72 and Chicago (33-3) in 1995-96.

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with infielder Amed Rosario on a one-year contract Wednesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed, however MLB.com reported the deal is worth $2 million.

Washington also designated right-hander Joan Adon for assignment on Wednesday.

Rosario, 29, batted .280 with three home runs, 32 RBIs and 13 steals in 103 games between the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds in 2024.

A versatile defender, Rosario manned several different positions -- including playing 27 games at second base, 26 in right field, 15 at third base and 14 at shortstop last season.

Rosario is a career .273 hitter with 63 homers, 366 RBIs and 449 runs scored for the New York Mets, (2017-20), Cleveland Guardians (2021-23), Dodgers (2023-24), Rays (2024) and Reds (2024).

Adon, 26, posted a 6.75 ERA without recording a decision in eight games (one start) last season.

He is 3-16 with a 6.66 ERA in 35 career games (26 starts) with the Nationals.

MIAMI -- Miami Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett will miss the 2025 season after undergoing revision surgery with an internal brace on the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, the team said.

The 27-year-old made just seven starts in 2024 after being limited by arm injuries. He went 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 37 innings.

He began last season on the injured list with a left shoulder impingement and didn't make his debut until May 12. He went down again in June with a left forearm flexor strain, which ultimately ended his season after he experienced a setback after several rehab starts.

Garrett had the UCL surgery in December. The news was first reported by SportsGrid.

A first-round pick by Miami in 2016, Garrett had a breakout season in 2023, going 9-7 in a career-high 30 starts and 159 innings with a 3.66 ERA.

His is the latest of many injuries to the Marlins rotation. Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, had Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his elbow in October 2023 and missed the 2024 season.

Marlins President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix has repeated he is confident Alcantara will be available on Opening Day, when the Marlins host Pittsburgh on March 27.

NEW YORK -- David Wright is rooting for Juan Soto and the New York Mets to win the World Series title that eluded him.

"It seems like the will to win within the organization is incredible," the former Mets captain said Wednesday during a Zoom news conference that followed the team's announcement that his No. 5 will be retired on July 19.

New York, which won its only titles in 1969 and 1986, has become baseball's biggest spender since Steve Cohen bought the team from the Wilpon and Katz families ahead of the 2021 season. Soto was given a record $765 million, 15-year contract last month.

"It's a win-at-all-costs, do-whatever-you-can-to-win type mentality, and that's something that I love," Wright said. "It's something that the city loves. It's something that the fan base certainly loves. ... The goal is not just set now to win one championship. It's hey, let's go on a run and win multiple championships."

Wright's number will be the 10th retired by the Mets, the sixth under Cohen. Wright spent his entire 14-season big league career with the Mets and will enter the team's Hall of Fame, joining Tom Seaver as the only players to receive both honors on the same day.

He had some advice for first baseman Pete Alonso, a free agent after spending his first six seasons with the Mets. Wright cited the Yankees' Derek Jeter and Atlanta's Chipper Jones, who also played for only one organization.

"It's a different feeling when you're drafted, developed and playing for the team that gave you your first opportunity," Wright said. "There's a little more -- maybe a lot more pride when you put that jersey on every night. And I hope he remembers that and doesn't lose sight of that. With that being said, I've never, ever faulted a player for maximizing his earning potential."

Speaking from his home near the California wildfires, Wright discussed his career as a seven-time All-Star. He hit .296 with 242 homers, 970 RBIs and 196 stolen bases from 2004-18, slowed by neck, back and shoulder injuries that required surgery. He credited his success to his father, a police officer, and his mother, an elementary school teacher's assistant.

"That blue-collar, bring your-lunchpail-to-work mentality stuck with me my entire career," Wright said. "I knew that I wasn't the most talented, most gifted player on the field, but I always felt like I was the most prepared."

Wright, who turned 42 on Dec. 20, will join Dwight Gooden, Keith Hernandez, Jerry Koosman, Willie Mays, Mike Piazza, Seaver and Darryl Strawberry as Mets players with retired numbers. Managers Gil Hodges' and Casey Stengel's numbers also were retired. After the Mets made the announcement Monday, Wright received a text from Hernandez.

"I don't think it's hit me. I don't think it's ever going to hit me," Wright said. "I truly feel like it's a bit undeserved given the skill and accomplishments of some of the numbers that I'll be amongst up there. I joke that I think there should be a special section maybe for my number because it's probably not deserving being amongst the really, really good players in the organization."

Wright recalled getting constructive criticism from Strawberry during his playing days.

"When I knew Darryl was there I wanted to play well because I wanted him to come high-five me and I didn't want to have that conversation about why I stunk that night," he said.

Wright said the transition from playing was eased by family duties. He coaches the soccer team of 8-year-old daughter Olivia, the softball team of 6-year-old daughter Madison and the baseball team of 4-year-old son Brooks and takes them to occasional Mets games.

"I enjoy the look in their eyes when they see Francisco Lindor or Brandon Nimmo come over and say hello in full uniform," he said. "They look at me and they're like, 'Daddy, you used to do that?'"

He played just two games for the Mets after 2016, returning to be honored with a pair of cameos at the end of the 2018 season.

"I felt like I was crying all the time, so I'm going to try to tough it up a little bit this go-around," he said.

Wright had realized he no longer could play at a major league level.

"I remember my rehab assignments," he said, "just hoping that the game would go as fast as possible and that they wouldn't hit me any balls at third base because I didn't want to bend over funny or dive funny or have to make a weird off-angle throw because something might hurt."

Former Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, the No. 4 pick in the 2008 MLB draft who spent almost his entire eight-year career with the Orioles, died Tuesday at age 37.

Matusz pitched in 279 games for Baltimore, making 68 starts. The only other major league team he played for was the Chicago Cubs, making a three-inning start on July 31, 2016.

"A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-16, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched," the Orioles said in a statement. "He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he could, was a cherished teammate and always had a smile on his face."

Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz.

A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he... pic.twitter.com/wNN3WkO8l4

Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) January 8, 2025

No cause of death has been disclosed.

Matusz, who eventually became a reliever, was most known for his success against Hall of Famer David Ortiz, who went 4-for-29 (.138) with 13 strikeouts in his career against Matusz.

He pitched in both the 2012 and 2014 postseasons for the Orioles.

Baltimore traded Matusz, who had a 12.00 ERA in seven games, to the Braves in May 2016, and Atlanta released him a week later. He signed with the Cubs, where he pitched in the minors except for the one big league start. His pitching career ended in 2019.

Matusz originally was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth round in 2005, but he decided to go to the University of San Diego, where he won West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He finished his college career as the school's all-time leader in strikeouts, with 396.

Matusz would have been 38 on Feb. 11.

Newcastle are bottom of the Premiership, with the team finishing in that position set to contest a two-legged play-off with the winners of the Championship to decide who plays in the top flight next season.

However, the situation is complicated. The team who finishes first in the Championship must meet the strict criteria to be able to play in the Premiership and the deadline for submitting applications is next week.

Coventry, the team in second, have announced that they are applying, but Ealing Trailfinders, the side 12 points above them at the top, have not said anything publicly about their intentions.

And if the criteria are not met by the Championship winners, there will be no play-off at the end of the season.

This means Newcastle must wait before things become clearer.

"Once the decision is made of who can come up and who can't, how I will gear the season, is if there are three or four clubs in the mix to come up, then I'll be working on a mindset of strengthening the squad slightly and making sure we can win two games against whichever Championship side it is," said Diamond.

"I'm an advocate of promotion and relegation. If we get ourselves in a play-off, so be it, we'll crack on."

Ulster's victory over Connacht ended a run of five defeats in a row after a difficult run of form.

That run included two heavy losses in Europe at the hands of Toulouse and Bordeaux.

Leicester lost their European opener to Bordeaux before bouncing back with a big win over South African side Sharks.

The Welford Road side are fourth in the Premiership with six wins in 10 matches.

Murphy admitted: "We're going there and nobody probably gives us a chance.

"If we want to stay in the competition we need to win our last two games.

"Leicester is a very difficult place to go. They have a massive pack and set piece, and their big back three are all very talented in the air.

"There is a massive test coming in regards to that but we are going there with confidence.

"We want to try and put our game out in front of them and see where we get to."