With Kobe Bryant's season debut nearing Sunday night, the NBA released a video message on YouTube welcoming the Lakers All-Star guard back from his Achilles' injury.

Kobe Bryant made his season debut on Sunday night, starting for the Lakers at Staples Center against the Toronto Raptors.

Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors' 106-94 victory over Los Angeles

Not only will the Lakers get Kobe Bryant back Sunday night when they host the Toronto Raptors, but the team also recalled rookie forward Ryan Kelly from the D-Fenders.

Fifteen time NBA All-Star, five time NBA champion, and two time NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant will retake the court tonight against the Toronto Raptors. It will mark the first time Bryant has seen NBA action since tearing his left Achilles tendon back in April. Despite the rust and the required physical...

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Miami Heat got good news Sunday night and it had nothing to do with snapping the upstart Detroit Pistons' four-game win streak. It was that Dwyane Wade felt no ill effects from banging knees with the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Martin Saturday night. During the Finals last season, a similar play with Manu Ginobili forced Wade's knee to swell up and it needed to be drained so he could play in Game 7. “It’s OK,” Wade said.

The Heat will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back set, which likely means another night off for Dwyane Wade. Five days ago, the Miami Heat were embarrassed at home against the Detroit Pistons. Will they return the favor Sunday night? What does appear to be certain is that the Heat (15-5)...

The Heat erased a two game losing streak with the blowout 103-82 victory against the Kevin Love-less Timberwolves. Dwyane Wade returned to contribute 19 points and LeBron James was just two assists shy of a triple-double. First Quarter Chris Bosh won the tip, as usual, to LeBron James. After each team...

Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley will not play against the Pistons on Sunday.

Filling in at SG for Dwyane Wade (knees) on Sunday, Ray Allen scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting with a couple of 3-pointers to help Miami earn a 110-95 victory in Detroit.

In Toronto, aside from a few dramatic late-game shots, Gay’s play did not help the Raptors escape mediocrity

Move over Kobe. The Raptors have bigger fish to fry right now.

The Kings took a bold step away from the frugal ways of the last ownership group by agreeing to acquire forward Rudy Gay as part of a seven-player trade Sunday.

The Kings are trading for Rudy Gay, according to Yahoo. Yep. The Kings are nearing a deal to trade for Rudy Gay, reports Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports. UPDATE 1: Woj reports that Johnny Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes are headed to the Raptors. That...

There are, needless to say, massive ramifications for the remaining Kings in the wake of the trade for Rudy Gay. The Kings trading four players for Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy obviously has massive implications for the teams' lineups. Let's go through them one by one. STARTING POINT GUARD:...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It is the type of moment where time seems to stop, an eerie quiet taking over a stadium with 60,000-plus in attendance as the cart comes out for an injured player. Emotions of teammates swirl. “It’s like you’re in a bad dream,” Patriots special teams captain Matthew Slater said, “and you’re hoping you wake up and it wasn’t really happening.” It happened to the New England Patriots and tight end Rob Gronkowski on Sunday.

Shane Vereen was Tom Brady's guy after Rob Gronkowski went down for the final time this season.Vereen had nine receptions for 126 yards following Gronk's torn ACL in the third quarter, and the third-year running back finished with 12 catches and 153 yards in the Pats' 27-26 victory against the Browns....

The Patriots' Rob Gronkowski absorbed a low hit from T.J. Ward and reportedly suffered a torn ACL.

Butch Stearns, Fred Smerlas and Steve DeOssie discuss the Patriots comeback win over Cleveland and the loss of Rob Gronkowski for the season.

While the loss of Rob Gronkowski was foremost on everyone's mind, there was also the matter of this amazing little comeback the Patriots staged, turning what seemed like a sure-loss, into a win largely due to the Patriots refuse-to-lose attitude.Tom Brady, of course, led the charge. He completed 32 of...

The Detroit Lions' list of inactives does not include Reggie Bush and Chris Houston. The two players who were listed as questionable on Friday's injury report -- running back Reggie Bush and cornerback Chris Houston -- are both active for the Detroit Lions on Sunday. In fact, both players are in the starting lineup, according to Tim Twentyman. This means that Bush's calf injury will not keep him from playing against the Philadelphia Eagles, just as Houston's foot injury won't force him to miss another week of action. Here's the list of Lions players who are actually inactive for Sunday's...

Tailback Reggie Bush went down before the game could even kick off, injuring his calf after slipping during warmups. Right tackle LaAdrian Waddle left in the first quarter after injuring his elbow and Ezekiel Ansah was forced out in the second half by a shoulder injury.

Good news for the Lions as running back Reggie Bush (calf) and cornerback Chris Houston (knee) will start today at Philadelphia. They were both listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. Obviously the offense is different without Bush, who has missed just one game this season.  Houston’s...

Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush may have aggravated a calf injury by slipping on a snowy field before Sunday's game at the Philadelphia Eagles, according to multiple reports.    

Detroit halfback Reggie Bush will suit up for Sunday's game in Philadelphia. He had been listed as questionable with a calf injury.Fantasy Spin:It's a hugely important game for both teams and the Lions need their star running back to play a pivotal role. He's coming off a successful outing versus Green...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Josh Gordon is playing as well as any receiver in the history of the NFL. But no matter the magnificence of the touchdown or magnitude of the record, the Browns can’t convert them into victories. For three straight games, Gordon has rewritten the record book. For three straight games, the personal accolades Read More...The post Browns WR Josh Gordon sets more records in another loss; QB Jason Campbell sharp in return from concussion appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.Click here to read this story on The Chronicle-Telegram.Content copyright The Chronicle-Telegram....

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Caleb Hanie will serve as the Browns’ backup quarterback today against New England after arriving in Cleveland on Monday. Jason Campbell will start after missing last week’s game with a concussion. Coach Rob Chudzinski picked Hanie over Alex Tanney to back up Campbell. Tanney...

Cleveland quarterback Jason Campbell will get the start Sunday against New England.Fantasy Spin:Campbell missed last week's game with a concussion. Brandon Weeden (concussion) will not be available for this week's game. Campbell's return is good news for owners of Josh Gordon.

Jason Campbell completed 29-of-44 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns in Week 14 against the Patriots.

The inactives for both the Raiders and Jets is out and it isn't good news for the Raiders. They already had Darren McFadden and Jeremy Stewart ruled out for the game, now Rashad Jennings is also out. Here is the entire inactive lists for both teams: Raiders Inactives: WR Denarius Moore, RB Darren McFadden, RB Rashad Jennings, RB Jeremy Stewart, S Tyvon Branch, G Lamar Mady, G Mike Brisiel Jets Inactives: QB David Garrard, LB Jermaine Cunningham, G Will Campbell, T Ben Ijalana, OL Oday Aboushi, TE Chris Pantale, WR Stephen Hill Jennings had practiced all week, passing the first phases of the...

Running back Rashad Jennings traveled to New Jersey with the team in hopes that he would pass his last concussion test in time to play Sunday, but he didn’t. Jennings will be inactive against the Jets, as will backup running backs Darren McFadden (ankle) and Jeremy Stewart (ankle and knee). So Oakland...

Rashad Jennings (concussion) is inactive for Sunday's Week 14 game against the Jets.

DENVER Titans safety George Wilson knocked Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker out of the game with a hit in the first half. Welker remained down for several minutes and was later ruled out with concussion. “I tried to stop. I didn’t try and go for his head or anything,” Wilson said. “I dove to break […]

On yet another routine play up the middle, Wes Welker was hit by Bernard Pollard which bent his neck bent awkwardly and caused his 2nd concussion of the season. #Broncos injury update: WR Wes Welker is out with a concussion. #TENvsDEN — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 8, 2013 The Broncos...

Denver receiver Wes Welker suffered another concussion in the game against Tennessee.Fantasy Spin:That's his second this season. It's going to be tough for him to be ready for the Broncos' Week 15 game against San Diego which is scheduled for Thursday night.

Robinson Cano's massive deal with the Mariners isn't official yet, but that didn't stop Brian Cashman from discussing it for the first time since losing the second baseman Friday morning.

The Yankees know what they lost when Robinson Cano took the Mariners’ $240 million and bolted The Bronx for Seattle. Cano is a premier hitter who plays Gold Glove defense...

When Robinson Cano was deciding between staying in New York and heading out to Seattle—still hilariously preposterous to think about—many attempted to examine the external factors that clouded the straight difference in the contract offers. Seattle fans would say that, with Washington's lack of...

ESPN released a report saying that Mike Shanahan cleared out his office in advance of last season's playoff game against Seattle.

According to a media report, some in the Redskins' front office believe that the relationship between Dan Snyder and Mike Shanahan is damaged beyond repair.

It doesn’t matter whether Mike Shanahan was the source of an ESPN report Sunday that he strongly considered quitting last season because of owner Daniel Snyder’s relationship with quarterback Robert Griffin III. What is significant is that many within the Redskins organization believe the report...

The sting of seeing Carlos Beltran sign with the Yankees is still fresh for the Royals as the Winter Meetings commence their four-day run Monday at a Disney resort. All indications suggest general manager Dayton Moore might now be content to make only minor tweaks to the roster before the Royals convene in mid-February for spring training.

The Kansas City Royals reportedly offered OF Carlos Beltran a three-year deal worth more than ...

Updating a previous report, New York Yankees OF Carlos Beltran's three-year, $45 million deal features ...

ESPN's Marc Stein states in his latest column that the Sixers could be the landing spot for disgruntled Rockets center Omer Asik. While the Sixers are sure to be engulfed in rumors come the February 20th trade deadline, Philadelphia has now been placed at the forefront of a deal likely to happen rather soon. Since Houston's offseason acquisition of Dwight Howard, Omer Asik, now relegated to a backup role, has made his desire for a trade rather clear. The Rockets initially balked at his trade demands but have now opened up, and multiple reports site that Daryl Morey would like to move the...

While the Phoenix Suns might not want Houston Rockets center Omer Asik for themselves, the Suns do have exactly the return that Houston is looking for: a stretch four and lotto picks. Setting aside for the moment that the Phoenix Suns might want Omer Asik for themselves (because I don't think they...

The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly not interested in trading center Robin Lopez to the Houston Rockets for center Omer Asik. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that the Portland Trail Blazers are not interested in trading center Robin Lopez to the Houston Rockets...

Seven or eight teams – including the Mets – have inquired about free agent LHP Johan Santana, according to someone with knowledge of the situation (Castillo). Santana’s agent – Chris Leible of the Legacy Agency – recently said on Twitter Santana is throwing from 150 feet on flat ground with no pain. Santana has not […]

Johan Santana's agent, Chris Leible, said that seven or eight teams have reached out to express interest in his client.

For the Vikings, Adrian Peterson is active and will play. Dennis Pitta will make his season debut Sunday afternoon against the Vikings. With the snow coming down and the temperature teetering around freezing level, Pitta will suit up for the first time this season after dislocating and fracturing his hip during training camp. With Pitta active for the first time this season, fellow tight end Dallas Clark is inactive and will not play against the Vikings. The Ravens have also ruled out outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil due to a sprained ankle sustained a week ago against Pittsburgh. With...

Dennis Pitta is officially back. The Ravens tight end is active for today's game against the Vikings after being moved from injured reserve to the 53-man roster on Saturday. Just how much he plays remains to be seen and it's...

Making his 2013 debut, Dennis Pitta (hip) caught six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore's Week 14 win over the Vikings.

Fans here waited eight long years to boo Eli Manning again, then made up for lost time with a torrent of abuse that started before yesterday's game and lasted throughout the Chargers' 37-14 rout of the Giants.

Eight years ago, Eli Manning dolls were hung in effigy in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium. Fans held signs expressing their hatred of the second-year quarterback. Almost every time he touched the ball in the early stages of that game, the stadium echoed with chants of “Eli ...    

SAN DIEGO — The Giants have Eli Manning and the Super Bowl hardware to validate that infamous draft-day quarterback swap they made with the Chargers a decade ago when they...

The Cardinals will avoid starting backup quarterback Drew Stanton on Sunday. The Arizona Cardinals will likely have their starting quarterback in the lineup on Sunday. Carson Palmer took the all of the first-team reps in Saturday's walkthrough and is expected to start for the Cardinals against the St. Louis Rams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Palmer injured his elbow in Arizona's Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. More: For more on the Cardinals, go to Revenge of the Birds Palmer was listed as questionable on the team's official injury report on Friday. He has played in...

No real surprises with the Arizona inactives. The Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams announced their inactive lists for their game here at University of Phoenix Stadium. The biggest question coming in for Arizona was whether or not Carson Palmer would be active and start. He is active and will start,...

Sandy Alderson told reporters on Sunday he hopes to be able to announce and introduce OF Curtis Granderson at the Winter Meetings this week. “Hopefully we’ll be able to announce something in the next couple of days,” Alderson said. The Mets reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract with Granderson on Friday.

Curtis Granderson – who the Mets reportedly agreed to sign to a four-year, $60 million contract on Friday – will earn $13 million in 2014, $16 million in 2015, $16 million in 2016, and $15 million in 2017 (Heyman).

BY ANTHONY SLATER, Staff Writer, aslater@opubco.comToward the end of Wednesday's loss in Portland, after another hard fall, Russell Westbrook was noticeably limping. Then, two days later in New Orleans, he missed shootaround with an illness. Among the Thunder masses, with Westbrook's two offseason knee surgeries still fresh in mind, there seemed a sprouting seed of concern. Consider it squashed, thanks to his best back-to-back performances of the season, culminating in a near triple-double during Sunday night's dominant 118-94 throttling of the NBA-best 18-3 Indiana Pacers. “Best game of...

Russell Westbrook torched George Hill and the Pacers for 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting on Sunday, adding seven rebounds and a season-high 13 assists for another near triple-double.

Here's your weekly dose of fantasy football advice as many of you have vital fantasy play-offs to win for them all important bragging rights! Start: QB Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles To our dismay last Sunday, Nick Foles continues to ride his unprecedented hot-streak of late in the Eagles' four-game win streak, and today they take on the Detroit Lions and their abysmal pass defense. So I'll say this: Ride Nick Foles. Sit: QB Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers Kaepernick is enjoying a little bit of a renaissance of late, but expect that to end today. Despite seeing his main weapons...

Behind first-year head coach Chip Kelly and an ever-growing Nick Foles at quarterback, the Philadelphia Eagles are on fire.

Tight end Jordan Reed will miss a third consecutive game despite saying on Friday that he was feeling better after being plagued by concussion symptoms the last two weeks and hoped to play this week. Meanwhile, fullback Darrel Young also remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Reed suffered the concussion in Week 11 against the […]    

Despite sustaining an ankle injury two weeks ago, Daniel Thomas was a workhorse, rushing for 105 yards, including a career-long 55-yard run.

The 49ers and Seahawks released their Week 14 inactives. We break down the notable names. The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks released their inactives, and as expected, Joe Staley is ACTIVE for the Week 14 contest. Staley suffered a sprained MCL last week against the Rams, but it clearly was a modest sprain. He sat out Wednesday's practice, but was back in limited form Thursday and Friday. Staley and the rest of the 49ers offensive line face a solid challenge from the Seahawks defensive front depth. We'll see how his knee holds up to the challenge. Wide receiver Quinton Patton is...