Bucks F Portis hit with 25-game ban

The NBA suspended Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. for 25 games without pay because he tested positive for the painkiller Tramadol, a violation of the league’s anti-drug program. Portis cannot play again until April 8 — the 79th game of the Bucks’ 82-game regular-season schedule — at the earliest. “I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation,” Portis said in a statement released by the team. “During that time, I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved. I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body.” Portis took the painkiller “unintentionally,” said his agent, Mark Bartelstein. Portis thought he was taking Toradol, which is approved, Bartelstein said. The 30-year-old Portis — considered one of the league’s tougher players, and a key part of the Bucks’ rotation — is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Bucks this season, playing mostly off the bench. He will lose $2,858,701 in salary because of the suspension.

Yankees give Boone 2-year extension

Aaron Boone and the Yankees agreed Thursday to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season. Boone is entering his eighth season as manager. The team had exercised his 2025 option in November. He has led the Yankees to a 603-429 record, three AL East titles and one pennant. The Yankees reached the World Series last year for the first time since 2009, losing to the Dodgers in five games. Boone became the third Yankees manager to lead the team to the postseason in six of his first seven years after Casey Stengel and Joe Torre. His .599 career win percentage ranks 10th all time and second among active managers behind Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts. He ranks seventh on the Yankees’ all-time wins list. Boone agreed in October 2021 to a three-year contract that included the team option for 2025. He was a major league third baseman from 1997 to 2009 and an All-Star in 2003, when the Yankees acquired him from the Reds at the trade deadline. His 11th-inning home run off the rival Red Sox’s Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series won the pennant.

US hockey team gets call from Trump

President Donald Trump called the U.S. hockey team on Thursday to wish players good luck ahead of their 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada. USA Hockey posted a photo on social media showing general manager Bill Guerin standing in the middle of the locker room holding up a phone. Players after their morning skate called it an honor to hear from Trump. “It was so awesome to get his support,” U.S. center J.T. Miller said. “... It’s just another one of those things where we’re kind of pinching ourselves this tournament.” Trump posted on Truth Social he would be watching, saying he hoped the U.S. would beat Canada, and again repeating his desire that the country would become America’s 51st state. Fans in Montreal booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to games there as tensions rise over Trump’s 51st state comments and tariff threats. When the tournament shifted to Boston, U.S. fans at TD Garden lightly booed “O Canada” before a game against Finland. The U.S. beat Canada 3-1 in the teams’ round-robin matchup Saturday night. The tournament final ended too late for this edition. —AP