Journeyman Berry breaks through

Josh Berry spent much of his career content as a journeyman racer who probably would never make it beyond the local short-track scene. When he got a break in NASCAR — Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has believed in Berry for years — he made the most of it by winning five Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports. That led to a shot in the Cup Series, then a full-time job last year with Stewart-Haas Racing. But when SHR decided to shutter at the end of last season, Berry was dumped into the free agent market and immediately grabbed by Wood Brothers Racing. In his fifth race with his new team, Berry scored the first Cup Series victory of his career by taking NASCAR’s oldest team to victory lane Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “I’m just thankful to be in the situation I am driving fast race cars,” Berry said. Berry, driving the famed No. 21, had the first victory for a Ford team through five races this season. The Wood Brothers are celebrating their 75th season in NASCAR. It was the 101st victory for the organization spanning 20 drivers. Berry, 34, won in his 53rd Cup race.

76ers’ George to miss rest of season

Paul George will miss the rest of the season to recover from his injuries, ending a difficult first year in Philadelphia for the nine-time All-Star. The 76ers announced Monday that George had received injections in his left adductor muscle and left knee, following consultations with specialists. Philadelphia carried a 23-44 record into Monday night’s game at Houston. Its last game of the regular season is on April 13. George, who turns 35 on May 2, signed a $212 million, four-year contract in free agency last summer. But his first year in Philly was marred by injuries that resulted in the forward having one of the worst years of his NBA career. He averaged 16.2 points in just 41 games, easily his lowest scoring average in a full season since he averaged 12.1 points for Indiana in his second NBA season. The 76ers last month shut down center Joel Embiid so he can focus on treatment and rehabilitation of his left knee. Without George and Embiid, the 76ers potentially can lose more games down the stretch and increase their odds of keeping their first-round pick. The 76ers’ first-round pick is top-six protected or else it goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Sixers entered this season with NBA championship hopes.

Messi will miss World Cup qualifiers

Lionel Messi will miss defending champion Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil over the next eight days due to an apparent muscle injury. The 37-year-old Messi wasn’t included in the 25-man squad announced on Monday by coach Lionel Scaloni. Argentine media reported Messi suffered a sore left thigh on Sunday during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in Major League Soccer. Argentina, which leads South America, will visit second-placed Uruguay on Friday and host fifth-placed Brazil four days later at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. World Cup winner Messi has been sidelined several times by Inter Miami this season due to a risk of injury, Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. This month, Messi missed three games but returned on Thursday for the second leg of the round-of-16 CONCACAF Champions Cup tie against Cavalier SC. Mascherano said Messi was fit to start against Atlanta on Sunday. Messi scored in the 20th minute, just before he was reported to have been injured. —Associated Press