Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Australia PM urges Thailand not to extradite Bahraini player

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Asian soccer chiefs called on the Thai government to release footballer Hakeem Al Araibi as prosecutors in Bangkok on Tuesday acknowledged receipt of an extradition request from Bahrain. Bahraini Araibi, who fled to Australia from his homeland in 2014 and was later granted asylum, was arrested in November in Bangkok on an Interpol notice issued at Bahrain's request. NBA roundup: Nuggets' comeback stuns Grizzlies

Nikola Jokic scored 24 points, including a go-ahead basket with 28.9 seconds left, and the visiting Denver Nuggets rallied from 25 points down to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 95-92 on Monday night. Will Barton had 20 points, and Malik Beasley scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter -- when the Nuggets trailed by as many as 19 -- to help Denver win without Jamal Murray. The point guard missed his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Report: Lakers expected to make immediate push for Davis

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to make an aggressive play to acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans before next week's trade deadline, ESPN reported Tuesday. The Lakers are poised to reach out to New Orleans' brass soon, but the Pelicans made it clear Monday that they are in no rush to deal Davis, saying, "we will do this on our timeline." Tennis: Hewitt flays 'ridiculous' changes to Davis Cup format

Australia's Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has criticized Barcelona soccer player Gerard Pique and his Spanish investment group Kosmos for making sweeping changes to the 119-year-old tennis competition. The Davis Cup will be revamped to create a tennis World Cup after the International Tennis Federation (ITF) signed a 25-year $3 billion deal with Kosmos where the home-away system will be replaced by an 18-team tournament played over a week in Madrid. Super Bowl Opening Night turns into the Brady Show

Opening Night turned into the Tom Brady show on Monday as the New England Patriots quarterback once again was the headliner at the media mayhem that kicks off Super Bowl week. The Patriots and Los Angeles Rams will meet in Super Bowl LIII for the National Football League championship on Sunday but from the moment the teams landed in Atlanta until the Vince Lombardi trophy is handed out, Brady will be the man in the spotlight. RAK organizers promise faster times at world's quickest half-marathon

The Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) half-marathon, which bills itself as the world's fastest such race, is set to be even quicker next month because its course has been changed to take in some of the new man-made Al Marjan Island, organizers said on Tuesday. The RAK, to be held on Feb. 8 in the United Arab Emirates, bases its claim of being the world's fastest half-marathon on the average time taken by its top 10 men and women's finishers compared with the top 10 fastest times across all races. Murray undergoes hip surgery in London

Former world number one Andy Murray has undergone a hip resurfacing surgery in London, the 31-year-old Scot said on Tuesday. Murray has struggled to regain form since undergoing hip surgery last year and was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open earlier this month, having said the tournament could be his last as a professional. Russian chess grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik retires

Russian chess grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik, regarded as one of the strongest players in the world, announced on Tuesday he was retiring from professional competition. Kramnik, 43, made waves in 2000 when he defeated defending champion Garry Kasparov at the World Championship. Currently ranked seventh by the World Chess Federation, he became the undisputed world champion in 2006. Golf: Sport's best face tough questions before Saudi debut

Four of the world's five best golfers will compete in the European Tour's new desert destination event in Saudi Arabia, which starts on Thursday, but the tournament has already thrown up uncomfortable questions for the sport. European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley announced a three-year partnership with the kingdom in 2018 aimed at expanding the boundaries of golf in the Middle East. Super Bowl notebook: Gronk unsure about retirement

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said Monday he doesn't know if Super Bowl LIII will be his last NFL game. Asked at Super Bowl media night if he's considering retirement after this season, Gronkowski responded, "Oh ... I don't know. I don't know."