Luka Doncic turns trash talk into first 50-point game with the Lakers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic doesn't need an excuse to pile on points, so when Chicago guard Matas Buzelis started jawing with him Thursday night, it became the fuel for his first 50-point game with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Doncic turned what he called unprovoked trash talk from Buzelis into 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in theLakers' 142-130 victory.

"It always feels special," Doncic said after his eighth career 50-point game. "I obviously haven't had a 50-point game in a year, so it was very special. I mean, in the second quarter, I kind of felt it. You know, somebody started talking to me, so that woke me up."

Doncic would not disclose what was said by Buzelis, a second-year forward, because, "I would say that I would definitely get a tech."

Buzelis was asked if learned any lessons from his exchange with Doncic.

"Probably not to talk to him," Buzelis said.

It wasn't like Doncic needed any extra inspiration, either. The NBA scoring leader got off to a strong start with 12 points in the first quarter and had another 12 in the second by making 5 of 6 shots from the field once Buzelis decided to get garrulous.

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Doncic ripped off 17 points in the third quarter before notching 10 points on just four field goal attempts in the fourth. He finished 17 of 31 from the field, going 9 of 14 from 3, and 8 for 9 on free throws.

Lakers coach JJ Redick described Doncic's ability to direct the unsporting words or deeds of opponents into his own game as a "unique trait.

"It's not just the fact that he response to a rough play or trash talking, it's that he can channel it, and he can channel it while still doing all the other things that needs to be done," Redick said. "That's obviously reflective of, you know, his defensive rebounding, his assists, his steals. Again, another game where he gets a high assist number with low turnovers."

Buzelis picked an especially bad time to challenge Doncic, who had averaged 39.5 points per game during the Lakers' previous three wins with LeBron James out because of right hip contusion and arthritis in his left foot. That included Doncic scoring 44 points against Indiana on Friday.

Doncic has 13 40-point games in 82 regular-season appearances for Los Angeles, moving into ninth in franchise history. Eleven of those have come this season.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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March 13, 2026

Luka Doncic turns trash talk into first 50-point game with the Lakers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic doesn't need an excuse to pile on points, so when Chicago guard Matas Buzelis started ...

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SEC champ Florida starts tourney with deep, dangerous Kentucky

NASHVILLE -- Kentucky chases a third win in three days, with rested and well-tested Florida awaiting in a Friday quarterfinal game in the Southeastern Conference tournament.

The Wildcats (21-12) blew a 16-point second-half lead in Thursday's 78-72 win over Missouri. Otega Oweh's 21 points and big plays on both ends of the floor were instrumental in eighth-seeded Kentucky's victory.

That provided needed momentum for the 'Cats, who lost their last two regular-season games. The last was an 84-77 home loss to SEC regular-season champ and top tournament seed Florida on March 7. It was Kentucky's fifth loss in seven games.

Oweh (18.4 ppg) and Denzel Aberdeen (13.1) have played consistently well for the Wildcats this season. Kentucky is especially tough when Collin Chandler (10.1) gets hot as he did with 15 points in Thursday's win.

Depth is key in making a deep tournament run. The Wildcats have gotten a couple of unexpected contributions. Brandon Garrison had his first double-digit scoring game in nine contests when he tallied 17 against LSU in the tournament opener.

Kam Williams, who missed the last 12 games coming into the tournament due to injury, has given the 'Cats a lift with 30 minutes off the bench in Nashville.

Kentucky's Mo Dioubate didn't hesitate when asked what his team needs to do to pull an upset on Friday.

"We've just got to be the more physical team tomorrow," he said. "We've got to be the one to impose our will early and win the rebounding battle."

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The Gators ran through the league like a buzzsaw, taking home the regular-season title by winning 16 of their last 17 -- 14 of them by double digits.

Two of those wins came over Kentucky.

Finding a Florida weakness isn't easy. The Gators are not great 3-point shooters (31.3%) and in a tight game, foul shooting (70.8%) is decidedly not a strength.

The Gators are dominant in many other areas, including ranking second nationally in offensive rebounding (15.94 per game) and fourth in defensive rebounding (29.58), that those weaknesses rarely mattered.

The three guys who make Florida especially tough are SEC Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu (11.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg), versatile Thomas Haugh (17.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg), a first-team All-SEC player who can score from all over the floor, and third-team All-SEC pick Alex Condon (14.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg).

Guards Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland average 11.6 points per game. Fland plays either guard spot. Top 3-point shooter Urban Klavzar (40.6%) was the SEC's Sixth Man of the Year.

The Gators might be even better with Haugh healthier. He missed the March 3 game with Mississippi State with a foot/ankle injury. He played 37 minutes and scored 20 in the last game with Kentucky but said that resting in Nashville has been helpful.

"I hurt this (right) leg in the Texas up in my calf area. ... It was like a high sprain," Haugh said. "And then I think in the Arkansas game, I was just putting so much pressure on my left leg to compensate for the right and I pinched two nerves underneath my foot, so I literally couldn't walk the first couple. It's gotten a lot better now."

--Chris Lee, Field Level Media

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March 13, 2026

SEC champ Florida starts tourney with deep, dangerous Kentucky

NASHVILLE -- Kentucky chases a third win in three days, with rested and well-tested Florida awaiting in a Friday quarterf...

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Six Nations closing with a title shootout between France, Scotland and Ireland

France, Scotland or Ireland will clinch the most funSix Nationsin years on Saturday.

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Predictions have been torn up and one last twist in the final round of a gripping championship would not surprise.

France is in pole position to win successive titles for the first time since 2006-07. France leads Scotland in the table only on points difference. Its massive though.Irelandis two points behind.

The French have the advantage of closing the championship at a packed Stade de France against anunderwhelming England, knowing what they will need to do four hours after Ireland hosts Scotland in Dublin.

Scotland blew open the title race afterdestroying France's Grand Slam hopes50-40 in Edinburgh last Saturday.

Scotland's most basic route to a first title since the 1999 Five Nations is beating Ireland and France losing to England. But Scotland hasn't beaten Ireland since 2017 and not in Dublin since 2010. Ireland has been the graveyard of Scotland dreams in their last 11 contests.

Ireland's simplest path to a third title in four years is beating Scotland and also hoping England beats France.

A draw and/or bonus points spin out the scenarios.

Ireland and Scotland are also in the first showdown since 2009 for the Triple Crown, awarded to the home nation which beats the other three home nations. Ireland won it in 2022, 2023 and 2025. Scotland last won it in 1990.

The championship goes into the last round with a first three-way title shootout since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced an October finish.England won on points differenceafter Ireland and France couldn't meet scoring requirements.

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The other Six Nations match on Saturday is also tasty: Wales hosts Italy in Cardiff. Wales is trying to end a 15-match losing streak in the tournament;Italyis trying for three wins in a single championship for the first time.

What do the coaches say?

Fabien Galthié, France: "We don't dwell on what just happened (against Scotland), we focus on what's coming next. What matters to us is that we've earned the right to play for the win on Saturday. We'll assess the tournament with its highs and lows later. In this Six Nations championship everything can change from one day to the next. All six teams have experienced positive periods and more challenging times. But the most important thing is that we have the opportunity to play for the win on Saturday night. And that's what motivates us."

Gregor Townsend, Scotland: "No (I haven't thought of winning the title). It's out of our hands, really. We can only do a certain amount. It's a game against an opponent that's had the upper hand on us for years. It's a challenge but a real opportunity for us to go and deliver an even better performance than we did last week. If we win the game we know there's something at stake. That performance (against France) was close to the best that we've seen from this group and from probably any Scotland team. I think the belief is there that when we get our game right it can put pressure on any defense, and when we get our defense in place we can frustrate opposition. But this is a different challenge. Ireland seem to play very well against us so that's what we're expecting."

Andy Farrell, Ireland: "Of course you would like to dream (of the title) but the rest is out of our hands. But something is in our hands and we will focus on our performance, first and foremost. It would be nice to win something that is pretty special for us and that's the Triple Crown. It's been hard to come by over the years when playing for Ireland so we're desperate to get across that. (Scotland) were outstanding against France and we have been preparing for another Scottish performance like that. We'll have to be at our best to beat them as they are a side we have always respected."

Schedule

Super Saturday

Ireland vs. Scotland, Dublin, 1410 GMT

Wales vs. Italy, Cardiff, 1640 GMT

France vs. England, Paris, 2010 GMT

AP rugby:https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

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March 13, 2026

Six Nations closing with a title shootout between France, Scotland and Ireland

France, Scotland or Ireland will clinch the most funSix Nationsin years on Saturday. Scotland France Six Nati...

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Australian jury convicts Sydney business consultant over deals with suspected Chinese spies

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A Sydney business consultant was convicted Friday of breaking Australia'sforeign interference lawsby providing reports to two people he should have suspected were Chinese spies.

Alexander Csergo, 59, is only the second person to be convicted under Australian laws against covert interference and espionage thatangered Chinawhen they were legislated in 2018.

The jury that heard the trial in New South Wales District Court in Sydney found Csergo should have suspected that a man and woman he knew only as Ken and Evelyn were working for China's ministry of state security.

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He was found guilty of the charge of reckless foreign interference and was released on bail for the weekend to return to court Monday, when prosecutors will argue for him to be placed in custody. He faces a potential prison term of up to 15 years when he is sentenced.

Csergo's lawyers argued he used open-source information as research. He also lied to the suspected spies about interviewing several individuals includingKevin Rudd, the former prime minister who is currently Australia's ambassador to the U.S.

Csergo was working in Shanghai as a communications and technology consultant in 2021 when he was approached through the professional network platform LinkedIn by Evelyn, who said she was from a Chinese think tank.

He provided handwritten reports to Evelyn and Ken in return for cash on topics including defense, security, politics and mining. Subjects included theAUKUStrilateral partnership in which Britain will help provide Australia with a fleet of submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology.

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March 13, 2026

Australian jury convicts Sydney business consultant over deals with suspected Chinese spies

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A Sydney business consultant was convicted Friday of breaking Australia'sforeign interfer...

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Kazakhs to vote on new constitution in referendum on Sunday

By Felix Light and Mariya Gordeyeva

ALMATY, March 13 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan holds a referendum on Sunday on a new constitution that some critics say could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to ‌remain in charge of Central Asia's largest economy beyond his current term limit of 2029.

Tokayev, ‌a former diplomat who has maintained good relations with Russia, the U.S. and China, has called the referendum "a truly historic moment" ​that moves Kazakhstan, an energy and minerals giant, away from a "super-presidential" system towards a greater separation of powers.

But some analysts say the draft retains an excessively powerful presidency.

"[It] significantly increases the powers of the head of state and does not create a system of checks and balances," said political analyst Dosym Satpayev.

The proposal merges ‌parliament's two chambers into one and ⁠restores the post of vice-president, abolished in 1996, who would be picked by the president.

Kazakh presidents would remain limited to a single term of seven years, a ⁠change Tokayev himself introduced in 2022.

Tokayev, 72, has said he will step down in 2029, but some observers say a new constitution could reset his term limit, a tactic used by the leaders of several other ex-Soviet ​republics, ​including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

RETURN TO THE UN?

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Referring to ​a rumour widespread in Kazakhstan that Tokayev ‌may run for the post of United Nations secretary-general this year, Satpayev said the vice-presidency would allow Tokayev to anoint a successor before leaving office early.

A Kazakh diplomatic source told Reuters that Tokayev, who headed the UN's Geneva office in 2011-2013, is considering both being a candidate for secretary-general and seeking a possible second presidential term.

Tokayev has said he does not want to return to the UN.

State-approved pollsters say ‌a large majority backs the new constitution, while public opposition ​to it has been subdued.

The vote comes at a fraught ​time for Kazakhstan, whose economy is closely intertwined ​with Russia's, and which has suffered from the Ukraine war fallout.

Economic growth has ‌accelerated but so has inflation, hitting 11.7% in ​February, while interest rates ​are at 18%, a record high. A tranche of tax rises has deepened discontent.

Asya Tuligenova, who sells horsemeat, a Kazakh delicacy, at a bazaar in the commercial capital Almaty, said traders ​were shouldering rising costs to avoid ‌passing them on to consumers.

"We're kind of afraid. If we raise prices, it will be ​difficult for our regular customers."

She did not say whether she would vote on Sunday.

(Reporting ​by Felix Light and Mariya GordeyevaEditing by Gareth Jones)

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March 13, 2026

Kazakhs to vote on new constitution in referendum on Sunday

By Felix Light and Mariya Gordeyeva ALMATY, March 13 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan holds a referendum on Sunday on a ...

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A US military refueling plane crashed in Iraq. Here's what to know

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Irancrashed in western Iraqand rescue operations are underway.

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TheU.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in "friendly airspace," and that the other plane landed safely.

Here's what is known so far about the tanker, which is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft to crash during the war against Iran:

The KC-135 is a long-serving tanker plane

The KC-135 Stratotanker is a U.S. Air Force aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair, allowing them to travel longer distances and maintain operations longer without landing. The plane is also used to transport wounded personnel during medical evacuations or conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.

Based on the same design as the Boeing 707 passenger plane, the tanker has been in service for more than 60 years, supporting the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as allied aircraft, according to an Air Force description. The aging plane is set to be phased out as the air force receives a full complement of next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers.

Despite upgrades over the years, the KC-135s' age has fueled concern about their reliability and durability.

"The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s," said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea's Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve.

A basic KC-135 crew has three people: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Nurses and medical technicians are added in aeromedical evacuation missions.

Refueling typically happens at the back of the plane, where the boom operator is located. A fuel boom is lowered to connect with fighters, bombers or other aircraft. On many of the planes, the boom operator works lying face down while looking out of a window on the underside of the plane.

Some KC-135s can also refuel planes from pods on their wings. The tankers also have room above the fuel stores to carry cargo or passengers if needed.

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Refueling tankers could play an increasingly important role if the Iran war drags on, as U.S. aircraft may need to fly longer missions to pursue Iranian forces retreating deeper into the country, said Yang.

Cause of crash and condition of crew not immediately known

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties from the crash in Iraq. A U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the developing situation, said the plane was carrying at least five crew members.

A second U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the other plane involved in the incident was also a KC-135. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., wrote on X that the other plane landed safely in Israel.

The U.S. Central Command did not elaborate on the circumstances of the crash, but said it "was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."

Yang said it would be rare for a refueling tanker to be downed by enemy fire because such operations are usually conducted in the rear of combat zones.

The crash came after three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly downed last weekby friendly Kuwaiti fire.

Past accidents

KC-135s have been involved in several fatal accidents. The most recent happened on May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R crashed after takeoff south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan while taking part in the war in Afghanistan.

In that crash, the crew experienced problems with the plane's rudder, according to a U.S. Air Force investigation. While they struggled to stabilize the plane, the tail section broke away and the plane exploded midair, killing all three crewmembers onboard.

The most serious mid-air collision involving the plane happened in 1966, when a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs struck a tanker near Palomares, Spain.

The accident caused the tanker to crash, killing four onboard. The disaster led to an extensive decontamination effort to clean up nuclear material dispersed when conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated after hitting the ground.

Schreck reported from Bangkok. AP writers Ben Finley and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed.

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March 13, 2026

A US military refueling plane crashed in Iraq. Here's what to know

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Irancrashed in...

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No. 6 UConn blasts Xavier in Big East tourney romp

NEW YORK -- Solo Ball scored 19 points as No. 6 UConn led by double digits most of the way and cruised to a wire-to-wire 93-68 rout of 10th-seeded Xavier in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament on Thursday night.

The second-seeded Huskies (28-4) led by double digits for the final 28:35 and advanced to the semifinals for the sixth straight season since rejoining the Big East for the 2020-21 season. UConn will face 11th-seeded Georgetown, which upset third-seed Villanova 78-64 in the quarters.

Ball shot 34.1% (15 of 44) in his final five regular season games and made 5 of 12 shots, including four 3s.

Tarris Reed collected 17 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for his 10th double-double this season. Reed had a trio of dunks as part of an 8-of-12 showing from the floor and his effort helped the Huskies get a 40-28 rebounding edge.

Alex Karaban bounced back from a two-point showing in the Huskies' six-point loss at Marquette on Saturday and added 15 on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor.

UConn shot 57.4% and made 12 of 32 3s after missing 21 of 24 triples in the regular season finale. The Huskies also thrived at the rim as they went 13 of 18 on layups and converted all six of their dunk attempts while finishing with 22 second-chance points.

Filip Borovicanin led Xavier with a career-high 22 points, but the Musketeers lost the three meetings with UConn by a combined 80 points. Roddie Anderson III added 15 and Tre Carroll struggled and shot 2 of 10 in a 12-point showing.

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Xavier also saw the duo of Malik Messina-Moore and Jovan Milcevic struggle all night. Messina-Moore was held to five points on 1-of-7 shooting and Milecevic finished with six on 2 of 9.

Xavier shot 37.3%, was 9 of 28 from behind the arc and missed 12 of its 33 free throw attempts.

Karaban's open corner 3 following an offensive rebound put the Huskies up 22-10 with 12:28 remaining. The Huskies ripped off a 12-1 run by converting two dunks and three layups and another Karaban hoop extended the lead to 39-19 with 5:03 left.

UConn finished the half with a 50-30 lead after Ball hit three free throws with 35 seconds left.

Xavier scored the first seven points of the second half and cut the lead to 50-37 on two free throws by Borovicanin with 16:59 left.

UConn gradually pulled away again and took a 59-41 lead when Reed and Jayden Ross converted dunks in a span of 32 seconds. The Huskies regained their 20-point lead when Ross got a corner 3 to roll in with 8:50 left and took an 80-55 lead with 5 1/2 minutes to go when Reed had a one-handed slam and Ball hit a corner 3.

--Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media

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March 12, 2026

No. 6 UConn blasts Xavier in Big East tourney romp

NEW YORK -- Solo Ball scored 19 points as No. 6 UConn led by double digits most of the way and cruised to a wire-to-wi...

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