No appetite

for 18 games

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Don’t add to the regular season as well as provide well-maintained natural grass surfaces for NFL players. That was a main message from the NFL Players Association to the league. NFLPA interim executive director David White pointed out that several teams had significant injuries in mid-December: Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons tore ACLs in Week 15.

Last week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft made it seem inevitable that the league would eventually expand the regular season from 17 to 18 games. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pulled that back on Monday, saying it’s “not a given.” The current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players’ union expires in 2030.

Celtics add

Nikola Vucevic

(AP) — The Boston Celtics are adding depth for the playoff run by acquiring Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls. The trade involves guard Anfernee Simons and a package of second-round draft picks. Vucevic, 35, is joining his fourth team after stints with Philadelphia, Orlando, and Chicago. He has averaged 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds this season.

Simons, who joined Boston last summer, averaged 14.2 points this season. The move reduces Boston’s tax bill significantly and offers financial flexibility for future deals. Both players are set to be free agents this summer.

Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. has been traded to the Utah Jazz in an eight-player, multiple-pick deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Jackson, Jock Landale, John Konchar, and Vince Williams Jr. are heading to Utah. In exchange, Memphis will receive Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks. The Grizzlies also gain three first-round picks. Jackson, a former defensive player of the year, averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds this season.

Koepka gets

warm reception

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Brooks Koepka was grateful and relieved to get such a warm reception in his return to the PGA Tour after four years chasing Saudi riches on LIV Golf. Strange about that vibe at Torrey Pines is that Koepka was never this beloved even before he left for LIV.

He was more admired for his five majors than he was adored. Perhaps it was summed up by a voice in the stands during the opening round. The spectator welcomed him back and said the PGA Tour was better with him. More than a major champion, Koepka perhaps was viewed as a symbol of moving past the disruption.

All-Star

rosters set

(AP) — Stephen Curry will be joining Olympic teammates LeBron James and Kevin Durant once again, this time at the All-Star Game.

The NBA announced the rosters for this season’s midseason showcase event on Tuesday night, splitting 25 names onto three squads. It’s the debut of another new All-Star format — this one U.S. vs. The World, on Feb. 15 at the Los Angeles Clippers’ home in Inglewood, California.It’s a concept that Commissioner Adam Silver thinks will tap into national pride for the players and comes at a fitting time. The game will be aired on NBC, which is also broadcasting the Milan Cortina Olympics that start later this week and run through Feb. 22.

The U.S.-vs.-World concept was talked about for years before becoming a reality this season. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association unveiled the long-awaited plan in their latest attempt to spark renewed interest in the game following a largely panned tournament format last season.

The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, likely the most deserving name left off the original list of 24 All-Stars, was added to the pool of U.S. players Tuesday shortly before the rosters were unveiled. And that move likely was what sent New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns to the World team.