Sports News Roundup: NBA roundup: Luka Doncic pours in 73 as Mavs nip Hawks; NHL roundup: Jonathan Marchessault's hat trick carries surging Knights and more

Vegas improved to 5-0-1 in its past six games following a 4-9-0 slide. Rangers D Jacob Trouba to have hearing with NHL New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba will have a phone hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Saturday after elbowing Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NBA roundup: Luka Doncic pours in 73 as Mavs nip Hawks

Dallas guard Luka Doncic scored a franchise-best 73 points, the most in the NBA this season, and helped the visiting Mavericks end their three-game losing streak with a 148-143 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Doncic's point total ties for fourth most in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain twice scored 73 and David Thompson also had a 73-point game.

Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) out vs. Clippers

Boston Celtics power forward/center Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out of Saturday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers due to a left ankle sprain. Porzingis sustained the injury in the third quarter of Boston's 143-110 road victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday.

NHL roundup: Jonathan Marchessault's hat trick carries surging Knights

Jonathan Marchessault registered his fifth career hat trick and the visiting Vegas Golden Knights continued their surge with a 5-2 victory over the slumping New York Rangers on Friday night. Vegas improved to 5-0-1 in its past six games following a 4-9-0 slide.

Rangers D Jacob Trouba to have hearing with NHL

New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba will have a phone hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Saturday after elbowing Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev. Trouba, a defenseman, was not assessed a penalty at the time of the incident during the second period of New York's 5-2 loss to the visiting Golden Knights on Friday. Dorofeyev did not return to the game after he was elbowed in the head by Trouba while the two were jockeying for position following a faceoff.

Motor racing-Cassidy wins in Diriyah to take Formula E lead

New Zealand's Nick Cassidy earned Jaguar a first win of the season in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and in his 50th Formula E race, to take the lead in the all-electric championship. Cassidy has a 19-point advantage over Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein, winner of the opening race in Mexico City, after three rounds.

Bears hire Eric Washington as defensive coordinator

The Chicago Bears named Eric Washington as their defensive coordinator on Saturday. Washington, 54, will assume the position previously overseen by head coach Matt Eberflus, who handled the coordinator responsibilities after Alan Williams resigned for personal reasons in September. Eberflus was the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-21 before becoming the head coach of the Bears.

Report: Cubs, RHP Hector Neris agree to 1-year, $9M deal

Right-handed reliever Hector Neris is signing a one-year, $9 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, multiple outlets reported Saturday. ESPN said the contract has a $9 million option for 2025. It is a team option that will convert to a player option once Neris makes 60 appearances. The total maximum value, with incentives, is $23.25 million.

NFL-San Francisco 49ers undergo puppy therapy before NFC Championship Game

The San Francisco 49ers soothe their nerves getting some tender love from furry friends in puppy therapy before their NFC Championship game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday for a berth at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. San Francisco, which last played the Super Bowl in 2020 after beating the Green Bay Packers, received a visit from the puppies on Friday courtesy of the Humane Society Silicon Valley.

France's Matthieu Pavon makes history at Farmers Insurance Open

Not only will Frenchman Matthieu Pavon remember his first victory on the PGA Tour, but his country will, too. Pavon made history on Saturday, firing a 3-under par 69 to become the first golfer from France to win on the PGA Tour in the modern era with his victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.

Tennis-Dominant Sabalenka overpowers Zheng to retain Australian Open crown

Aryna Sabalenka produced an utterly dominant display to become the first woman in 11 years to retain the Australian Open title and send out a warning to her rivals with her second Grand Slam title on Saturday. The Belarusian blew away Zheng Qinwen 6-3 6-2 in 76 minutes with a show of power that overwhelmed the Chinese 12th seed, emulating compatriot Victoria Azarenka's 2012-13 feat by winning the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup back-to-back.