Luka Doncic fined for making money sign towards refs

Luka Doncic fined for making money sign towards refs

The NBA is taking action after Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic’s latest interaction with officials.

At the 4:35 mark of the third quarter in the Lakers’ 110-97 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, Doncic attempted to draw a charge on Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara on a fast break, but no foul was called and the Knicks got a transition layup.

While still laying on the floor, Doncic rubbed his fingers together on both hands, making the universal money sign.

Two days later, Doncic has been fined $50,000 for “directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official,” NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations James Jones announced via a statement released by the league on Tuesday.

This is the latest instance of Doncic butting heads with referees. On March 6, he received his 15th technical foul of the season, putting him just one call away from an automatic one-game suspension. He’s currently the player with the second-most technicals in the NBA, behind only Dillion Brooks.

Luka Doncic stats

Gesture aside, Doncic played as well as he has all season in Sunday’s game, scoring 35 points on 44% shooting with eight rebounds and four assists. His season averages are on par with his career numbers and his 32.5 points per game leads the NBA, positioning himself to win the scoring title and as a legitimate contender in the MVP race.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Doncic fined for making money gesture towards officials

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Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga: How to Watch, Live Stream & WCC Final Preview

Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga: How to Watch, Live Stream & WCC Final Preview

The neon lights of the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas set the stage tonight as the #3 seed Santa Clara Broncos look to complete a historic tournament run against the #1 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference Championship game.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs (29-3) enter the final as the heavy favorites, having dominated the WCC regular season to secure the top seed. Led by powerhouse forward Graham Ike, who is averaging 19.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, the Zags are seeking their 22nd tournament title. They are anchored by the playmaking of Braeden Smith and a high-octane offense that leads the nation in points in the paint.

The Santa Clara Broncos (26-7), meanwhile, are riding high after a thrilling semifinal upset over Saint Mary’s. Under coach Herb Sendek, the Broncos have found their rhythm behind the scoring of Christian Hammond (15.6 PPG) and the hot hand of Sash Gavalyugov, who poured in 23 points in the semis. With a guaranteed ticket to the Big Dance on the line, this clash between the WCC’s two most explosive offenses is the centerpiece of a high-stakes Tuesday in college hoops.

How to watch Santa Clara vs Gonzaga

Tonight’s WCC Championship game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, with a live stream available via the ESPN app and various streaming platforms for cord-cutters.

National TV ESPN
Radio Broadcast Gonzaga Learfield Network
Live Stream Fubo, ESPN+, DirecTV
Game Time 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT

How to watch Santa Clara vs Gonzaga for free

To watch tonight’s WCC Final for free, fans can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Fubo or DirecTV Stream, both of which carry ESPN as part of their standard channel lineup.

Fubo: The most reliable option for sports fans. Fubo provides high-definition access to ESPN, ensuring you don’t miss a single highlight of the Zags and Broncos battling for the automatic bid.

ESPN+: While the game is on the main ESPN network, many cable-authenticated users can also stream through the ESPN app. Check your provider for access to the live digital broadcast from Las Vegas.

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WAC demands Utah Valley pay $1M or get removed from conference tournament

WAC demands Utah Valley pay $1M or get removed from conference tournament

Utah Valley is the favorite to win the men’s WAC championship and go to the NCAA Tournament, but it may not get a chance to after the conference demanded it pay — or get excluded from the conference tournament.

The WAC announced on Tuesday, March 10 that Utah Valley “has not complied” with a Utah judge’s order that the university place $1 million in escrow with the court. As a result, the conference board of directors has instructed commissioner Rebekah Ray to not include the men’s and women’s basketball teams in the WAC tournaments since “it would be a member not in good standing.”

REQUIRED READING: March Madness bracketology: NCAA tournament bubble predictions, new No. 1 seed

It added Utah Valley must comply with the court directive by 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday or it will release new brackets without the Wolverines.

“The conference regrets that the intentional actions of Utah Valley University have caused uncertainty and harm for institutions, student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans across the WAC — including at Utah Valley University,” it said in the statement.

USA TODAY Sports has reached out to Utah Valley for comment.

A Western Athletic Conference logo is shown on the court prior to the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 12, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Why is WAC demanded Utah Valley pay $1 million?

Utah Valley and the WAC have been at odds with each other ever since the university announced in June it would be leaving the conference to join the Big West beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.

In February, the WAC filed a lawsuit in Texas, alleging Utah Valley refused to pay its contractually obligated exit fee of $1 million. As a result, the WAC barred Wolverines athletics from conference tournaments, NCAA tournaments as well as appearing on conference-sponsored television, radio or other media packages. Utah Valley then sued the WAC seeking an injunction to allow its teams to play in WAC tournaments.

A Utah court granted Utah Valley a temporary restraining order to allow its teams to participate in WAC tournaments, and it was just granted a motion for a preliminary injunction for its basketball teams.

Utah Valley was directed to pay the court $1 million to be held during the dispute.

Utah Valley WAC tournament

If the Wolverines are taken out of the WAC tournament, it will have major ramifications, as they will not be able to get the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The men’s basketball team was the regular season champion and the No. 1 seed in the tournament. It is slated to begin play on Friday, March 13 in the semifinals. The Wolverines are projected to be a No. 13 seed in the latest USA TODAY Sports Bracketology.

The women’s basketball team is the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament and is scheduled to play Tarleton State in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WAC threatens to strike Utah Valley from conference tournament. Why?

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Luka Doncic fined $50,000 for making money gesture after not getting call he wanted

Luka Doncic fined $50,000 for making money gesture after not getting call he wanted

We have been in peak Luka Doncic barking at the officials season lately, even for one of the notorious complainers in the Association. Even the Lakers’ home broadcast has been calling him out on it lately.

All those words were not what earned Doncic a $50,000 fine announced by the NBA on Tuesday, it was “directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official.” Specifically, making a “money” gesture with his hands after not getting a charge call on Mohamed Diawara in Sunday’s win over the Knicks.

Doncic has been fined $95,000 this season for various incidents, and he also has 15 technical fouls — one more and he faces an automatic one-game suspension.

Catch Doncic and the Lakers tonight against the Timberwolves in the second game of the Coast 2 Coast doubleheader on NBC and Peacock.

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Tyler Herro, Victor Wembanyama Named NBA’s Players Of Week 20

Tyler Herro, Victor Wembanyama Named NBA’s Players Of Week 20

Tyler Herro and Victor Wembanyama have been named the NBA’s Players of Week 20.

Herro averaged 26.3 points and 5.5 rebounds as the Miami Heat went 4-0. Herro also shot 51.7 percent on three-pointers. Herro previously won the award in December 2024.

Wembanyama averaged 26.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.8 blocks as the San Antonio Spurs went 4-0. Wembanyama also won the award in October of this season and December 2024.

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Egor Demin Out For Season With Increased Plantar Fasciitis

Egor Demin Out For Season With Increased Plantar Fasciitis

Egor Demin will miss the remainder of the season due to increased plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Demin is expected to return to basketball activity with the Brooklyn Nets early in the offseason and be a full participant in the summer development program.

DÑ‘min has appeared in 52 games (45 starts) for the Nets this season with averages of 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 25.2 minutes per game. He ranks second among NBA rookies this season with 124 3-pointers, which ranks as the second most by a rookie in franchise history, and his 38.5 percent shooting from 3-point range is the highest 3-point field goal percentage by a qualified rookie in Nets history.

Demin was selected eighth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Brigham Young University.

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James Madison women beat Troy 69-52 for 2nd Sun Belt Tournament title since joining league in 2022

James Madison women beat Troy 69-52 for 2nd Sun Belt Tournament title since joining league in 2022

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Peyton McDaniel scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Ashanti Barnes also had a double-double with 19 points and 12 boards, and No. 4 seed James Madison beat second-seeded Troy 69-52 on Monday to claim its second Sun Belt Tournament championship since joining the league in 2022.

James Madison (26-8) was appearing in its fourth consecutive Sun Belt title game, the first program to do so since Middle Tennessee went to eight straight from 2003-10. McDaniel scored 30 points the last time JMU won the title in 2023.

Four different James Madison starters scored during a game-opening 13-0 run that included six straight made field goals. Troy missed its first 11 shots.

James Madison opened the third quarter on a 14-4 run to take a double-digit lead for good at 48-34. The Dukes added an 8-0 run to begin to the fourth to pull away.

McDaniel, who was named the Sun Belt most outstanding player, finished 11 of 23 from the field, including 5 of 12 from behind the arc. She also had 10 rebounds and four assists for JMU, which became the first four-seed to capture the Sun Belt championship since Troy did so in the 2015-16 season.

Fortuna Ngnawo led Troy (25-7) with 18 points and 12 rebounds before leaving the game late in the fourth with an injury. Emani Jenkins made Troy’s first 3-pointer of the game — in nine attempts — with 5:27 left in the fourth.

The Trojans were seeking a fourth Sun Belt title (2021, 2017, 2016).

Up next

James Madison, which has won 12 straight games, will make the program’s 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

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De Rossi's Genoa upsets Roma 2-1 in Serie A ahead of Milan derby

De Rossi's Genoa upsets Roma 2-1 in Serie A ahead of Milan derby

MILAN (AP) — Portuguese forward Vitinha scored for Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa in a 2-1 upset win over Roma in Serie A on Sunday, dealing the visitors another blow in their quest for Champions League qualification.

Roma and fourth-place Como both have 51 points with sixth-place Juventus a point behind them. Roma’s loss comes after last week’s 3-3 draw with Juventus. The top four qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.

Junior Messias fired Genoa ahead from the penalty spot early in the second half.

Evan Ndicka quickly responded for Roma before Vitinha scored in the 80th, five minutes after going on as a substitute, to give the team coached by former Roma great De Rossi its second straight win at home.

Genoa climbed to 13th.

Also Sunday, Fiorentina drew with Parma 0-0, leaving it just outside the relegation zone, and Verona came from behind to win 2-1 at Bologna.

Earlier, Lecce defeated Cremonese 2-1 at home to leapfrog the visitors and leave them in the relegation zone in their place.

Second-place AC Milan hosts leader Inter Milan in the city derby later Sunday. Milan is the designated home team and will be hoping to reignite its title challenge while Inter is aiming to stretch its lead.

Inter was on 67 points and Milan had 57 with 10 rounds remaining.

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

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