Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he expects P.J. Tucker to be available for Saturday's game against San Antonio barring any last-minute setbacks.

Tucker, 35, participated in a significant part of Friday's practice after his trade from the Houston Rockets became official earlier in the day.

"The situation is perfect," Tucker said. "I think I fit in well."

During practice, Tucker said he embraced Giannis Antetokounmpo, with each player telling the other how happy they were to be teammates and not have to compete against each other anymore.

According to Tucker, Milwaukee was at the top of his list for trade destinations. He "for sure" feels like he's the missing link for the Bucks to win a title. Milwaukee has won 10 of its past 11 games.

"My main goal is to win a championship. That's easy," Tucker said. "That's the only reason I'm here. I feel like we've got a chance to win a championship and do something special."

The move to Milwaukee has rejuvenated Tucker.

"Man, you have no idea. It's gave me that boost and 15 years in, you look for anything," Tucker said. "There are days where I talk to myself or talk junk to people just so they can talk junk back and I can get myself going. This has been one of those things where now, I'm just recharging my battery."

Tucker's deal to Milwaukee included forward Rodions Kurucs in exchange for D.J. Augustin and D.J. Wilson. Milwaukee also announced a return of its own 2022 first-round draft pick and a Houston 2021 second-round draft pick in exchange for Milwaukee's 2021 and 2023 first-round draft picks.

Tucker hasn't played since March 3 as Houston rested him ahead of the March 25 trade deadline. But the Bucks are confident that he can come in and contribute immediately, especially during the postseason.

"He's a pro. I think he's been taking care of his body, I think he's in a good place," Budenholzer said. "It is a stretch that he hasn't played, but at the same time I think to possibly get him going and start that ramp-up process is something that we think is important. It's probably gonna happen sooner rather than later."

Colchester race walker takes 24 seconds off 31-year-old national mark held by five-time Olympian Chris Maddocks

Chris Maddocks’ British 50km race walks record of 3:51:37 has survived since 1990 and for much of the way in the Dudince 50km on Saturday (March 20) it looked like Cameron Corbishley was going to shatter the mark.

The 23-year-old led the race into the final 20km and was on course for a 3:45 clocking which would have obliterated Maddocks’ long-standing national record and also easily have been inside the Olympic qualifying standard of 3:50:00.

But he began to slow dramatically and fell outside of British record pace as he slid back through the field. Finishing strongly, though, Dominic King charged through to finish in 3:51:13, taking 24 seconds off Maddocks’ mark.

Behind, Corbishley clocked 3:54:15 after a painful final 10km, whereas Daniel King, the twin brother of Dominic, clocked 4:06:09 – his fastest time for 13 years despite having a five-minute penalty zone visit.

Erick Barrondo of Guatemala won the historic annual race walking event in 3:47:01 with Artur Mastianica of Lithuania runner-up in 3:48:24 and another Guatemalan, Angel Luis Sanchez, third in 3:48:56.

Corbishley had been No.2 on the UK all-time rankings with 3:53:20 from the same event in 2019, but he attacked this race with venom, taking the lead at 31km as he set a furious pace. At 40km he was still in the lead and on pace for 3:45 but at 43km he slipped back to third place and then fifth with 5km to go.

Not only was the British record was in his sights but also the standard for Tokyo. But he struggled in the latter stages as King, 37, used his greater experience to finish strongly as he race-walked his way into the history books.

#Dudince50kms Well done @DomKingOlympian @BritAthletics 3.51.14 British record ? Top effort @camcorbishley 3.54. Watched whilst indoor exercising ? pic.twitter.com/SaNj176j7T

— Chris Maddocks BEM (@CrisMaddocksNBC) March 20, 2021

King is used to following in the footsteps of Maddocks. In 2012 he became the first British athlete to qualify for the men’s 50km walk in the Olympics since Maddocks did so in Sydney 2000. And now he has broken the legendary race walker’s national record.

The Colchester athlete was 51st in those London Games – although his position was later amended to 48th after three Russians were disqualified due to doping – and he went on to qualify for the Rio Olympics, but he was disqualified for breaking race-walking technical rules in the event in Brazil. The same happened at the World Championships in Doha, where he was part of the British team.

Now, this coming Friday (March 26), the King brothers and Corbishley are set to join Tom Bosworth, Callum Wilkinson and others at the British Olympic marathon and 20km walks trials at Kew Gardens in London.

On a big day for race walking, Yang Jiayu takes 49 seconds off the women’s world 20km mark in China

Yang Jiayu sliced 49 seconds off the world record to win the 20km race walk in 83:49 at the Chinese Race Walking Championships in Huangshan on Saturday (March 20).

The 25-year-old, who won the 2017 world title in London, finished comfortably ahead of the Olympic champion and previous world record-holder Liu Hong, whose 84:27 in second place was also inside her own world mark.

With world silver medallist Qieyang Shenjie clocking 84:45 in third it led to the one-two-three all breaking the 85min barrier.

Russian Elena Lashmanova clocked 83:39 at the Russian Race Walking Championships in Cheboksary in 2018 but it is not recognised by World Athletics as the world record.

In the men’s race Wang Kaihua set a Chinese record of 76:54, a time that moves him to third on the world all-time list.

The event fell on the same day as the Dudince 50km race walking event in Slovakia where Dominic King broke the 31-year-old UK record – CLICK HERE for more.

Wales rugby fans are all set for another potential Grand Slam Saturday - but it will be a day unlike any others.

A win would clinch Wales' fifth Grand Slam of the Six Nations era.

But because of Covid-19 this would be the first without fans at the game or in pubs and rugby clubs across Wales.

Whether events will be resolved on 'Super Saturday' remains to be seen with Scotland still to travel to Paris on 26 March, six days after the anticipated end of the tournament.

The original game in February was called off because of Covid-19 cases in the France camp which has potentially spoiled the concept of everything being finalised on the last day.

Wales draw and they are crowned champions while there is a scenario where they could lose but still claim the title, if they pick up a bonus point and France do not. After that it could get complicated and go to the final fixture.

What is not in doubt is Wayne Pivac's men can take away all the uncertainty by triumphing in Paris and winning a 13th Grand Slam to equal England's tally.

Grand plans

There has been something special about Six Nations finales in Wales. After all, Cardiff has had a lot of practice in hosting this defining day in recent years, with Wales winning more Six Nations Grand Slams than anybody else.

The pubs would normally be full and streets thronging with supporters celebrating the achievements of their rugby heroes.

Few will forget the sun-soaked magical March day in 2005 when hundreds of thousands of people crammed into Cardiff.

There were supporters clambering up trees outside City Hall to get a glimpse of the game on a large screen as the nation went crazy to mark the end of a 27-year wait for a Grand Slam.

Not on this occasion. No congregating in the Principality Stadium, on the city streets or rugby clubs across Wales.

No hugging random strangers decked in red, no singing the plethora of Welsh rugby anthems, no shoes sticking to the floor of packed pubs.

Instead, witnessing the prospect of a fifth Grand Slam victory in 16 years, fans will be confined to their living rooms across the country for this sofa-bound rather than stadium-bound Six Nations spectacular.

It is 50 years since Wales last completed a clean sweep away from Cardiff when all-time greats Barry John, Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams helped the class of 1971 defeat France in Paris.

Since those heady times, the Grand Slam carnival days have all been at home, with six successes in the Welsh capital from 1976 to 2019.

Four of those wins came against France, with two victories in 2005 and 2019 against Ireland, and they made legends of favourites such as Edwards, Phil Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams, Martyn Williams and Alun Wyn Jones.

Today the streets in cities, towns and villages in Wales will be largely quiet with Pivac's team having to travel to Paris achieve the Grand Slam goal.

They will have to complete the feat in the intimidating Stade de France stadium, although minus the 81,000 French crowd. The arena will be only populated by players, backroom teams, stewards and a handful of media.

Wales captain Jones says the players will be thinking about the country when singing the anthems.

"It's not lost on you, there is a slight difference with it being away," said Jones.

"I, as an individual, and the team have not needed reminding of what everyone is facing and what we are representing."

Wayne's world

It is also a Grand Slam day few had expected after a disappointing 2020 where Wales finished fifth in the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup, and only won three out of 10 games.

Pivac found it tough replacing fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland, who had overseen three Grand Slam successes and two World Cup semi-finals.

Difficult calls have been made. Pivac parted ways with his defence coach and long-time ally Byron Hayward last November with Gethin Jenkins taking over.

He dropped George North in the autumn campaign and then brought him back into the fold and switched him from wing to centre.

In this tournament North has surpassed 100 Wales caps and today is part of the nation's most experienced side in history led by world record cap holder Alun Wyn Jones.

The coach also blooded young players such as Kieran Hardy, Louis Rees-Zammit, Callum Sheedy and James Botham who have featured in this Six Nations campaign.

Pivac will also admit Wales have had their share of luck with some labelling it the "Jam Slam" and questioning the quality of their campaign so far.

The opening two victories against Ireland and Scotland were achieved against 14 men with Peter O'Mahony and Zander Fagerson sent off, while there were two controversial tries awarded against England.

The fortune argument fails to recognise the 17 tries scored in four games or a record 40 points amassed against Eddie Jones' 2020 champions.

Wales' 2021 Six Nations success so far is due to firmer foundations with a solid set-piece, clinical finishing and outstanding discipline. And they have a remarkable record in recent Grand Slam showdowns.

The stars continued to align for Wales when England managed to do them a favour by defeating France, leaving Pivac's side as the only team that could complete the clean sweep.

So despite all the doubters and detractors, if events unfold in Wales' favour in Paris, a Six Nations Grand Slam will still be wildly celebrated. Just perhaps not in the same traditional fashion as years gone by.

LOXLEY, Ala. – NASCAR Cup Series star Ricky Stenhouse Jr. returned to his sprint car roots Friday night and won the opening night of the Gulf Coast Shootout at Deep South Speedway with the United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour.

Stenhouse started from the pole and never looked back, holding off fellow front-row starter Max Stambaugh early and longtime 410 sprint car veteran Greg Wilson late for the victory in the 25-lap feature.

It marked Stenhouse’s 10th career USCS win and he became just the 16th driver in series history to achieve double-digit victories with the 360ci winged sprint car tour.

Wilson came home second after starting fifth, with Stambaugh setting for the final spot on the podium. Four-time season winner and series point leader Mark Smith crossed fourth.

National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Danny Smith filled out the top five, followed by two-time USCS champion Jordon Mallett, defending titlist Terry Gray, Kyle Amerson, A.J. Maddox and Brandon Blenden.

Todd Fayard, Wilson and Stenhouse won heat races, while Danny Smith topped the six-lap Hoosier Speed Dash that supplemented the sprint car portion of the program.

The USCS season continues Saturday with another full program at Deep South Speedway.

The finish:

1. 17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2. W20-Greg Wilson, 3. 5m-Max Stambaugh, 4. M1-Mark Smith, 5. 4-Danny Smith, 6. 14-Jordon Mallett, 7. 10-Terry Gray, 8. 29-Kyle Amerson, 9. 3a-A.J. Maddox, 10. 88-Brandon Blenden, 11. 28-Jeff Willingham, 12. 13-Todd Fayard, 13. 20-A.J. Moeller, 14. 7j-Gregg Jones, 15. 52-Cody Karl, 16. 43-Terry Witherspoon, 17. 188-Stefen Oakes, 18. Riley Goodno, 19. 83-Mark Ruel Jr., 20. 121-Roy Schnebelen (DNS), 21. 7e-Eric Gunderson (DNS), 22. 3-Dennis Misuraca (DNS).

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Buddy Kofoid picked up his domination of the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League right where he left off last year in Friday night’s season opener at Monarch Motor Speedway.

Kofoid, who won a series-best seven POWRi features in 2020, stormed past his Keith Kunz/Curb Agajanian Motorsports teammate Daison Pursley on a lap-eight restart and never looked back from that point on.

Despite a bevy of caution flags and pursuers on restarts, Kofoid was never shaken and led the rest of the way for his eighth career POWRi national midget win and first at Monarch’s quarter-mile dirt oval.

Kofoid held off a late charge from Pursley, who rallied back from fourth to second over the final six-lap run to the finish, to take the checkered flag first by .448 seconds in the No. 67 Mobil 1 Bullet-Toyota.

It was a big moment early in the outdoor season for Kofoid, who is in his second year under the guidance of team owner Keith Kunz and crew chief Jarrett Martin.

“The whole crew gave me a really good race car,” said the victorious Kofoid. “I’m glad to be able to get the first win of the season in USAC and then the first win in POWRi. But I couldn’t do this without Toyota Racing Development, Mobil 1 and Keith Kunz Motorsports. Hopefully, we can repeat tomorrow.”

Four cautions in the second half of Friday’s 30-lapper created multiple shifts of momentum among the frontrunners, but it was Pursley that found some steam on the top of the track late in the going.

He ripped past Brent Crews and Cannon McIntosh following the final restart and got to Kofoid’s back nerf bar coming to the white flag, but couldn’t make anything happen on the final lap.

“It was a really tough race with a lot of yellows,” relayed Pursley. “The track changed quite a bit during the race. Overall, it was a good night in being able to fall back out of the top five and then come back and finish second. I thought I had a car fast enough to win at the end, but we just came up short. Thanks to Toyota, KKM and IWX for giving me this opportunity.”

McIntosh completed the podium ahead of defending POWRi champion Jake Neuman and Crews, who scored a top-five finish in his series debut with CB Industries.

Emerson Axsom, outside polesitter Kaylee Bryson, Keith Martin, Brenham Crouch and Rees Moran filled out the top 10.

In all, the marathon feature – which had nine total yellow flags and several flips that necessitated red-flag periods for cleanup – took one hour, five minutes and four seconds to complete.

Thanks to all the attrition, just 12 of the 26 starters made it to the checkered flag.

The POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League season continues Saturday night with another complete program at Monarch Motor Speedway.

RESULTS: POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League; Monarch Motor Speedway; March 19, 2021

Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. Emilio Hoover, 2. Karter Sarff, 3. Bryant Wiedeman, 4. Ryan Timms, 5. Tyler Thomas, 6. Jake Neuman, 7. Cade Lewis, 8. Trey Gropp, 9. Cade Cowles.

Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. Daison Pursley, 2. Cannon McIntosh, 3. Emerson Axsom, 4. Brenham Crouch, 5. Keith Martin, 6. Brent Crews, 7. Gavin Stout, 8. Scott Evans, 9. Taylor Reimer.

Heat #3 (8 laps): 1. Jade Avedisian, 2. Buddy Kofoid, 3. Kaylee Bryson, 4. Trey Marcham, 5. Kyle Jones, 6. Pierce Urbanosky, 7. Rees Moran, 8. Dylan Postier.

A Feature (30 laps): 1. 67-Buddy Kofoid, 2. 71k-Daison Pursley, 3. 08-Cannon McIntosh, 4. 3n-Jake Neuman, 5. 86-Brent Crews, 6. 15-Emerson Axsom, 7. 71-Kaylee Bryson, 8. 79-Keith Martin, 9. 97-Brenham Crouch, 10. 10-Rees Moran, 11. 116-Scott Evans, 12. 85t-Ryan Timms, 13. 32-Trey Marcham, 14. 91t-Tyler Thomas, 15. 19u-Pierce Urbanosky, 16. 7u-Kyle Jones, 17. 21k-Karter Sarff, 18. 70-Cade Cowles, 19. 84-Jade Avedisian, 20. 15x-Gavin Stout, 21. 01-Bryant Wiedeman, 22. 21-Emilio Hoover, 23. 67k-Cade Lewis, 24. 21ks-Trey Gropp, 25. 10p-Dylan Postier, 26. 25-Taylor Reimer.

Lap Leader(s): Daison Pursley 1-7, Buddy Kofoid 8-30.

There could be some fiercely-contested training sessions among the Australia squad in New Zealand over the coming days as players stake their claims for a spot in the side for the first T20I later this month.

Having now reached the stage where the squad can train during their managed isolation in Christchurch, there will be a number of centre-wicket sessions ahead of the series in lieu of any practice matches - Australia complete their isolation the day before the first T20I in Hamilton.

Coach Matthew Mott has said how tough it will be to select the final XI with Tayla Vlaeminck and Ellyse Perry available again after injury, comments echoed by captain Meg Lanning, while the need for an enlarged squad in the current era means there is no shortage of options including the uncapped seamers Darcie Brown and Hannah Darlington.

It is the competition for bowling slots that could make for some challenging sessions for Australia's batters as the young pace bowlers look to make an impression.

"We've got a couple of centre-wickets coming up where everyone will have a chance to push their case and see what they've got," Lanning said. "They'll certainly be a few spots up for grabs, a little bit will be dictated by conditions and where we are playing. The next 10 days really does give us an opportunity to see some players, see Darcie Brown, Hannah and Tayla, where they are at and how they can fit in and play a role for us."

There is no huge changing of the guard taking place in the Australia squad ahead of a 2021-22 season that includes a visit by India, the Ashes and the 50-over World Cup, before next year's Commonwealth Games and the defense of the T20 World Cup in early 2023, but one eye is being kept on ensuring the group does not stagnate.

The depth available to the selectors has been further highlighted by a record number of centuries in this season's WNCL and Lanning hopes the competition for places pushes those in possession to improve their games.

"I think it shows we are keen to evolve our squad and keep bringing new skillsets in," Lanning said. "We have been successful over the last few years with that squad but it's important that we are able to add some new things. We feel like we are adding different skillsets all the time and that's challenging the players who are in the team to keep getting better.

"I think it's really important as a team that we continue to challenge ourselves by adding new members to the team, especially young players with so much energy and no real fear. If it means the senior players have to take their game to another level then that's only going to be a good thing."

Tasmania 7 for 258 (Paine 61*, Wade 57, Starc 3-65) v New South Wales

Matthew Wade and Tim Paine struck fighting half-centuries but New South Wales chipped away on the opening day in Hobart as Mitchell Starc took three wickets in the final session.

Starc and Trent Copeland shared five on a day where they had to shoulder an added workload after Sean Abbott was forced off during his seventh over having split the webbing of his right hand fielding a drive off his own bowling. New South Wales were also without David Warner, Moises Henriques and Josh Hazlewood who had been rested and won't play another Shield match this season due to IPL commitments.

They began narrowly behind leaders Queensland and put Tasmania into bat but there was only one wicket to show for their morning efforts with Copeland producing a good delivery to find Jordan Silk's outside edge.

Copeland struck again straight after lunch when Charlie Wakim edged low to Starc at fourth slip but the Blues had to work hard for their successes.

Wade reached his fifty from 128 balls with a textbook straight drive, in his first first-class match since the India Test series, and added 66 with Caleb Jewell but both fell in the space of eight balls to put a different complexion on the innings.

Jewell nicked behind against Harry Conway and then Wade was angry at himself for being lured into a drive by Nathan Lyon which he edged to slip.

It meant that Paine and Jake Doran were both fresh to the crease but for a period either side of tea they held firm until a brute of a delivery from Starc brushed Doran's glove through to the keeper.

Paine then found a solid partner in Beau Webster as the pair added 67 for the sixth wicket, the best stand of the day, during which Paine went to his fifty off 92 balls with slashing square cut.

However, Tasmania's hopes of crossing 300 were set back when Starc struck twice in three balls with Webster edging a drive to slip and Jarrod Freeman fending to short leg.

Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell responded to a pair of angry fans who he said sent him threatening messages following the Buckeyes' first-round exit from the NCAA tournament Friday, writing in part on his Twitter account, "What did I do to deserve this? I'm human."

Liddell and the No. 2-seeded Buckeyes fell 75-72 in overtime to No. 15 Oral Roberts in the first major upset in the tournament in two years.

Afterward, he shared screenshots of messages he said he received from the two disgruntled fans, including one who threatened to find and physically attack him.

Another fan wrote to Liddell: "You are such a f---ing disgrace. Don't ever show your face at Ohio State. We hate you. I hope you die I really do."

"Comments don't get to me but I just wanna know why," Liddell wrote on Twitter. "I've never done anything to anyone in my life to be approached like this.

"This is not me saying anything negative about Ohio State fans. I love you all dearly and I've felt nothing but appreciated since the first day I stepped on campus."

Former Buckeyes star Jared Sullinger was among those who threw their support behind Liddell, writing that some people "don't see you as a human more like entertainment."

"Keep being the young man that you are bro," Sullinger wrote to Liddell. "Proud of you. Use these messages to fuel your fire."

Liddell, a sophomore, had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Buckeyes, who were runners-up in the Big Ten tournament and entered Friday's first-round game as 16-point favorites.