Sports News Roundup: Thunder G Diallo avoids serious injury; Roach, Texas down No. 7 UNC

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Motor racing: F1 audience levels out, some races show strong growth

Formula One's global television viewing figures have levelled out but some races saw strong audience growth this year with the showcase Monaco Grand Prix leading the way, according to Nielsen Sports. A review by the sports analytics company ahead of Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix put the cumulative global audience after 15 of 21 races at an unchanged 1.3 billion compared to 2017.

Ugandan women fight their way out of the slums, dream of boxing glory

Nineteen-year-old Lydia Nantale makes her way home from work through the squalor of the Katanga Slum in central Kampala, Uganda's capital. But there's only time for a quick change of clothes as her coach is waiting. Nantale is headed for the Rhino Boxing Club, the makeshift gym where she and a handful of other young pugilists are learning to pack their punches.

NBA notebook: Thunder G Diallo avoids serious injury

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle and will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days, the team announced Thursday. The update was encouraging for the 20-year-old rookie, who left the Thunder's 123-95 victory against the Golden State Warriors on a stretcher Wednesday after landing awkwardly on his lower left leg.

Top 25 roundup: Roach, Texas down No. 7 UNC

Kerwin Roach II scored a career-high 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting as Texas outlasted No. 7 North Carolina 92-89 on Thursday in the opening round of the Las Vegas Invitational. Jaxson Hayes added 15 points, including a pair of crucial free throws with 21 seconds left, to help Texas (5-0) advance to a championship showdown Friday with No. 11 Michigan State. The Tar Heels (5-1) will oppose No. 17 UCLA in the consolation game.

Jackson's pick-6 lifts Bears over Lions on Thanksgiving

Eddie Jackson returned an interception 41 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with six minutes remaining, and the Chicago Bears held on for a 23-16 Thanksgiving Day victory over the host Detroit Lions. Chicago quarterback Chase Daniel, who had not started a game since Dec. 28, 2014 when he played for Kansas City, completed 27 of 37 passes for 230 yards and two scoring passes. Daniel filled in for Mitchell Trubisky, who missed the game with a shoulder injury but is reportedly expected back in Week 13.

Villanova snaps 2-game skid in routing Canisius

Sophomore forward Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree had career highs with 15 points and 13 rebounds for his first double-double and Phil Booth had 15 points when Villanova beat Canisius 83-56 in the first round of the AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday. Freshman Saddiq Bey had 11 points and eight rebounds, freshman Cole Swider had 11 points including three 3-pointers off the bench and seven different players made treys for the Wildcats (3-2). Villanova, who lost their top four scorers from the 2018 NCAA title team, had lost two in a row to fall out of the AP Top 25 for the first since Dec. 2013. They had been ranked for 75 consecutive weeks.

NFL notebook: Packers TE Graham aims to play with broken thumb

Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham returned to the practice field on Thursday on the heels of breaking his thumb in last week's game against Seattle. Graham had not practised yet this week but is set to attempt to play with a heavily bandaged broken thumb when the Packers return to the field Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings. Graham, who was officially limited, was seen at practice sporting a bulky wrap around the thumb.

NFL roundup: Saints win 10th straight

Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes, and the New Orleans defence forced four turnovers and suffocated the Atlanta running attack as the Saints won their league-best 10th consecutive game with a 31-17 victory over the visiting Falcons on Thursday night. Brees didn't have to throw often -- he completed 15 of 22 for 171 yards -- because the Saints (10-1) controlled the ball on the ground with 150 yards, including 89 by Alvin Kamara and 52 by Mark Ingram II.

Motor racing: Ferrari appoint Mekies as sporting director

Laurent Mekies will be Ferrari's Formula One sporting director next season, team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said on Friday. The last person to carry out the role was Massimo Rivola, who left in 2016.

Golf: Rai hits course record to surge clear in Hong Kong

Aaron Rai fired a course-record nine-under-par 61 to surge into a four-shot lead after the second round of the Hong Kong Open on Friday. The 23-year-old Englishman took full advantage of perfect scoring conditions for the early starters in Fanling, sinking six birdies in his first nine holes.