Kyrie Irving scores 4 points as loss to Bulls drops Nets to 2-6  —  Just when you think it can't get any worse, in comes the stark reminder that there's always another level below the basement.  —  Kevin Durant said it best: The coach can only do so much.  It falls on the players to make an impact in a game.

How a Heat ‘leap of faith’ from Spoelstra silenced Stephen Curry, Warriors at moment of truth  —  MIAMI — For Erik Spoelstra, it was a leap of faith.  For Jimmy Butler, it was time to take pause.  And for Kyle Lowry, it was as simple as the rule book.  —  Two weeks into the season …

Harper, Phillies tie World Series mark with 5 HR, top Astros  —  PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper bashed a home run on the first World Series pitch he saw in Philadelphia, and then figured out how the Phillies could hit a few more.  —  The $330 million star offered quiet advice to Alec Bohm — and then it got really loud in Philadelphia.

The top 50 MLB free agents of 2022-23: Carlos Correa, Aaron Judge and more game changers  —  This winter's free agent class has turned out to be a strong one, thanks in no small part to the return of last year's No. 1 free agent, Carlos Correa, who heads up another very enticing group …

Phillies downplay injury concerns for former Mets' pitcher Zack Wheeler  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies insist Zack Wheeler isn't injured, even though they can't seem to tamp down the narrative.  —  The Phillies ace and the former Mets right-hander benefitted …

The upcoming free-agent WR class is weak — so the Chicago Bears acted now to acquire Chase Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers  —  Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles did not wait until the offseason to add needed help for Justin Fields, gifting the quarterback a big-bodied wide receiver …

San Francisco 49ers |  Former 49ers executive John McVay dies at age 91  —  John McVay spent 22 seasons in the 49ers' organization, contributing to five Super Bowl-winning teams  —  John McVay, who helped craft the 49ers' Super Bowl-winning dynasty in the 1980s, passed away Monday.  He was 91.

Chris Sale will not opt out, so he's under contract with Red Sox for two more seasons  —  After the World Series, Chris Sale has the right to opt out of the last two years and $55 million of the five-year, $145 million extension he signed with the Red Sox in 2019.  He won't be exercising it.

Detroit Tigers' Andrew Chafin intends to decline 2023 player option, becomes a free agent  —  If the Detroit Tigers want him, they'll have to get him again on the open market.  —  Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin plans to decline his 2023 player option, worth $6.5 million plus a $500,000 signing bonus …

Sources: White Sox to hire Royals' Pedro Grifol as manager  —  Pedro Grifol is expected to be the next manager of the Chicago White Sox, an announcement that could come later this week, according to multiple sources.  —  Grifol, 52, has been on the staff of the Kansas City Royals since 2013, most recently as the bench coach.

Clippers |  Paul George's clutch jumpers rally Clippers past Rockets  —  After tying the score with a 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining, George hits a go-ahead jumper with 6.2 seconds left, finishing with 35 points as the Clippers prevail, 95-93, to end their four-game losing streak