The Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins, their winningest coach, on Friday with the team struggling down the stretch and at risk of losing home-court advantage for the postseason.

Still sitting at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings, the Grizzlies decided to dump Jenkins anyway without immediately announcing an interim coach.

Jenkins led the Grizzlies for six seasons. He was let go with the team on the verge of playing three home games in a four-day span starting Saturday — first the Lakers, then Boston on Monday, then Golden State on Tuesday.

Jenkins was the fifth longest-tenured coach with his current club in the league, behind only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Denver’s Michael Malone — all of them having won NBA titles.

College football

Deion Sanders’ contract at Colorado extended through 2029 >> Deion Sanders brought back the glitter — and the wins — to a downtrodden program in just two seasons.

For that, the Colorado Buffaloes rewarded the charismatic coach with a contract extension through the 2029 season, making him the highest-paid football coach in the Big 12 Conference and among the most lucratively paid across the country.

His five-year, $54 million extension includes $10 million in each of the first two seasons, $11 million in the next two and $12 million in Year 5. The deal was reached with three years remaining on Sanders’ existing five-year, $29.5 million deal he signed when he was brought in from Jackson State.

Women’s basketball

Okananwa, Duke beat North Carolina >> Oluchi Okananwa recorded her third double-double of the season to lead ACC Tournament champion Duke past North Carolina 47-38 and into the Elite 8 of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Blue Devils will make their 12th Elite 8 appearance in program history and will play No. 1 seed and defending champion South Carolina.

Okananwa scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half along with 10 rebounds off the bench for Duke, which got 26 points from its bench compared to North Carolina’s six.

Golf

Scheffler ties his own course record >> Scottie Scheffler opened with two straight birdies and was on his way in the Houston Open, tying the Memorial Park course record he set in 2021 with an 8-under 62 for a one-shot lead among the early starters.

It was the most complete round of the year for Scheffler, who missed the first month of the season recovering from a glass puncture in his right palm that required minor surgery.

The only green he missed was on No. 2 — his 11th of the round — and he holed that from just inside 30 feet for birdie.

Tennis

Djokovic advances to Miami Open final >> Novak Djokovic had some company for another Miami Open victory.

With Lionel Messi watching from a suite, Djokovic cruised into the Miami Open final by routing 14th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 at Hard Rock Stadium.

The fourth-seeded Djokovic is trying for his seventh Miami Open title in his first appearance in the event since 2019. The 37-year-old Djokovic, who won six times at the tournament’s previous venue at Key Biscayne, also is going for his 100th professional title.

Next up for Djokovic is the winner of Taylor Fritz-Jakub Mensik semifinal.

Soccer

Brazil fires coach >> Brazil’s soccer confederation has fired coach Dorival Júnior after 14 months amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team.

Júnior’s sacking came three days after a 4-1 defeat at Argentina, Brazil’s worst defeat in a World Cup qualifier.

His replacement has yet to be picked.

Brazil is fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The top six qualify automatically.