Memphis Grizzlies fire Taylor Jenkins, franchise’s winningest coach

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 and waited until Friday night to announce assistant Tuomas Iisalo as their interim head coach for the remainder of this season.

Iisalo only joined the NBA as Jenkins’ lead assistant before the start of this season, becoming the first Finnish-born coach in the NBA.

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.

Liu delivers U.S. first women’s world title in nearly 2 decades

BOSTON>> Alysa Liu became the first American women’s figure skating world champion in nearly two decades Friday night, dethroning three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto with a brilliant free skate that earned her a standing ovation inside TD Garden.

With her gold dress shimmering in the lights, Liu landed all of her jumping passes to a rendition of “MacArthur Park” by Boston native Donna Summer, and finished with 222.97 points to culminate a remarkable comeback from a two-year retirement.

Sakamoto finished with 217.98 points to add a silver medal to her three previous golds. Her Japanese teammate, Mone Chiba, was third with 215.24 points while Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn gave the Americans three of the top five.

Lilia Vu has bogey-free day, leads a pack of LPGA stars

CHANDLER, Ariz.>> Lilia Vu didn’t feel her best on the range. She made up for that on the golf course Friday with an 8-under 64, giving her a two-shot lead over a group that includes Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul in a Ford Championship packed with LPGA stars.

Korda and Thitikul, the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the women’s world ranking, were grouped together in the morning and put on quite a show at Whirlwind Golf Club.

Thitikul had a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie start and was 6 under through six holes. She shot 29 on her opening nine, with Korda at 31. Thitikul wound up with a 64, Korda with a 65.

Arizona, Pfaadt agree to $45 million, 5-year deal

PHOENIX >> Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt agreed to a $45 million, five-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday as the team continues its push to secure its young standouts on long-term contracts.

Pfaadt’s deal begins in 2026 and includes a club option for 2031 and a mutual option in 2032.

Blues sign Gophers star Snuggerud to 3-year deal

ST. LOUIS >> The St. Louis Blues signed University of Minnesota forward Jimmy Snuggerud to a three-year contract Friday. He’s expected to join the team for practice Monday.

The 20-year-old Snuggerud was selected by the Blues at No. 23 overall in the first round of the 2022 draft. The signing comes a day after the Gophers were ousted from the NCAA Tournament with a 5-4 overtime loss to Massachusetts in the regional semifinals.