National

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard will play against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night after missing the last three games with a sore shoulder.

The Islanders have acquired goaltender Tim Thomas in a trade with the Boston Bruins, a source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com.

The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors have engaged in exploratory trade discussions on a deal that would swap the Bulls' Carlos Boozer for the Raptors' Andrea Bargnani, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said on Thursday that despite rumors to the contrary, he doesn't expect to trade Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told ESPN he believes it's in the "interest of everybody" to have the Fighting Irish and the other nine schools leave the Big East "sooner rather than later."

Dwight Howard is fed up and let it be known that he is tired of other people trying to assess the severity of his shoulder injury.

Felix Hernandez has agreed to a new seven-year, $175 million contract with the Seattle Mariners, USA Today Sports reported Thursday.

ESPN 150 running back Alex Collins signed his letter of intent with Arkansas on Thursday, nearly 24 hours after he intended to because his mother refused to sign the paperwork.

Get used to the sight of a bushy beard on Dirk Nowitzki's face. It isn't going away until the 21-28 Dallas Mavericks get back to .500.

Chris Johnson will return to the Tennessee Titans under his current contract in 2013, a league source told ESPN.

Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson had surgery Thursday to repair a sports hernia, the team announced.

The alleged use of deer antler spray by professional athletes was the hot topic of Super Bowl week, but former defensive lineman Tony Casillas said "that's nothing" compared to what players used during his playing career.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he's "optimistic" that the team will get a long-term deal done with quarterback Joe Flacco.

Curt Schilling says performance-enhancing drugs were raised as a recovery option for him in the 2008 Red Sox clubhouse.

The NFL has reinstated Gregg Williams after suspending him for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal, and the Titans have added him to their coaching staff.

Hugh Freeze knows the rumors are out there, but the Ole Miss coach insists his program is doing things the right way.

Garlon Green scored 20 points and TCU held on for a 62-55 upset of fifth-ranked Kansas on Wednesday night for the Horned Frogs' first Big 12 victory.

Police said Wednesday night they are looking for a former Los Angeles police officer suspected in the shootings of a Cal State Fullerton basketball coach and her fiance, and they say the man is armed and dangerous.

Kobe Bryant once again has urged Dwight Howard to play through some pain while claiming that the Los Angeles Lakers center "worries too much" about media and fan criticism.

A rare 148-year-old baseball card discovered at a rural Maine yard sale has been auctioned for $92,000.