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MIAMI — Does Jimmy Butler deserve a statue outside the Kaseya Center?

Most Heat fans would likely say no, considering the way the star’s five-and-a-half-year Miami tenure ended. But Akbar Domestique, an artist from Khartoum, Sudan, says yes, and he set up a tent outside the arena before Butler’s return to Miami with the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday to advocate for his cause.

“Jimmy Butler (is a) great Miami Heat player,” Domestique said. “He wins very much. He (did) great things for the organization.”

Domestique had several design ideas for a potential Butler statue, centered around iconic images of Butler’s Heat years. Butler, exhausted, bent over the scorer’s table. Butler with an emo haircut at Heat media day. Butler mocking Al Horford calling a timeout during the 2023 Eastern Conference finals.

But a statue? Dwyane Wade has a statue outside the arena, and that’s it. Greats who spent most or all of their careers with one team, like Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan have statues.

Butler spent just over five seasons in Miami and won two conference titles but no NBA championships. But that’s enough for Domestique.

“Five years, six years — win, win, win, win with guys that are OK, not Hall of Famers,” Domestique said. “No Hall of Famers. Only Jimmy. … Jimmy’s the best, (a) winner.”

General Daily Insight for March 25, 2025

Our words carry extra weight today, but that weight may just be dragging us down. The Moon in Aquarius starts out with an eye-opening trine to lucky Jupiter in Gemini, encouraging us to communicate with one another and take chances. However, Mercury Retrograde will sextile alchemical Pluto at 6:02 pm EDT, which can make our thoughts and ideas more intense than usual — but not necessarily any closer to the truth. Avoid getting on any soapboxes, because the audience isn’t likely to be very appreciative.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

People will remember what you say — especially if what you say is incorrect or foolish. And with Mercury currently retrograde in your headstrong sign, you may stumble over your tongue every time you try to speak. Your possible audience is unusually large, too, as Mercury aligns with Pluto in your social sector. If there has ever been a time to let other people do the talking, this would be it. The fallout of a few poorly chosen words won’t be worth it.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

It isn’t a bad idea to dust off a few old ones. You can return to projects formerly left on the back burner while Mercury is retrograde in your resolute 12th house, guiding you through turning a careful eye to issues you forgot about. One of these ideas or projects could prove professionally promising as Mercury sextiles Pluto in your career quadrant. That said, make sure you aren’t attempting to begin anything brand-new, as retrogrades mainly benefit things already in the works.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Old friends can introduce you to new possibilities. A special sextile between your ruler Mercury in your 11th House of Humanity and Pluto in your 9th House of Experiences is making this the perfect moment to come together and do something to broaden your horizons. Even so, Mercury is shifting retrograde, so don’t attempt to bring unfamiliar ideas or people into the picture. Instead, train your focus on former concepts and projects that may have gotten glazed over during previous explorations.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

It’s a good day to work behind the scenes. Mercury is retrograde in your 10th House of Prestige, so consider forgoing any big reveals and stepping back from potential projects. You can still make progress outside of the spotlight as Mercury sextiles Pluto in your 8th House of Joint Resources. Important collaborators could prove invaluable as well, showing you the ideal methods to improve your ongoing goals and ambitions. Just make sure you stay focused on those projects that are already in progress.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Today could be filled with issues of translation. Retrograde Mercury is in your explorative 9th house, increasing the importance of calm. Don’t try to cram too many experiences into any particular moment. One person might make you very aware of this as Mercury sextiles Pluto in your relationship-focused 7th house! There may be a few misunderstandings between the two of you, possibly regarding your background or assumed experiences. A good rule of thumb for the time being is to not assume anything.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Don’t push yourself too much — unless you want to burn out. Today’s energetic sextile between clever Mercury in your all-or-nothing 8th house and Pluto in your skilled 6th house can make for a productive day, except — you guessed it — Mercury is still retrograde. Rather than piling things onto your to-do list, concentrate only on the things you know need to be taken care of ASAP. You can move mountains another time, once the planets are better aligned for your advancement.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

It isn’t other people’s job to make you happy. You may experience a bit of conflict or miscommunication with someone special while Mercury is retrograding through your partnership zone. While Mercury’s angle to Pluto in your playful 5th house can make you want someone to bring magic into your life, that isn’t automatically anyone else’s responsibility. The more you expect of someone, the more you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Be responsible for the only thing you truly can control: yourself.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You may feel unusually unproductive. Tricky Mercury is retrograde in your 6th House of Daily Work, making it difficult to cut through the red tape and actually feel like you’re using your time wisely. Mercury is also sextiling Pluto in your 4th House of Moods, which could make you more sensitive about your workload or that pending to-do list. Be leery of attempting to change up the program, because no matter how hard you push, you will probably keep running into walls.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Expressing yourself is essential, but you must do so carefully. A supportive sextile between Mercury in your 5th House of Diversions and Pluto in your 3rd House of Correspondence is setting you up to find your place center stage. The fly in the ointment is Mercury Retrograde, potentially arranging things so you trip yourself up when everyone is watching. Consider today more like a rehearsal opportunity to fine-tune your performance, then put on a show when the stars are ready to help you shine.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! Extra spring cleaning may sound wise as Mercury in your domestic 4th house aligns with Pluto in your avaricious 2nd house, but with Mercury continuing to backslide, you may get so wrapped up in the process that you overdo it by a long shot. Be wary of clearing out something you might actually want later on. Give yourself time to meditate before you get rid of anything, because your feelings may change sooner than expected.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Watch your words, Aquarius. Cosmic communicator Mercury in your loquacious 3rd house is aligning with Pluto in your unconventional sign, which may spur you to say whatever is on your mind without considering the repercussions. This effect is especially dangerous during the ongoing Mercury Retrograde. Err on the side of caution — if you can’t decide whether something is necessary to say, then don’t say it. Likewise, avoid signing off on any important agreements or contracts until the stars are more supportive.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Getting a clear picture of whatever is in front of you isn’t easy. You may think you know what’s what while Mercury is in your grounded 2nd house, but with its retrograde dizziness, you’re probably missing something important — especially as it sextiles Pluto in your 12th House of Sorrow. If something seems like a good idea, or even a lucrative one, it is only too possible that time will prove otherwise. Don’t distract yourself with things that won’t actually stick.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Mikaylah Williams scored 28 points and Aneesah Morrow added 26 points and 11 rebounds, leading Flau’Jae Johnson and LSU to a runaway 101-71 victory over Florida State in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday night.

Sa’Myah Smith had a season-high 20 points and 12 rebounds for LSU (30-5), which blew open a 50-49 halftime margin by outscoring the Seminoles 31-6 in the third quarter.

“That’s probably our best third quarter by far,” Morrow said. “I was of course proud that our team was able to do that because we’re capable — and sometimes you have to see that, especially if we’re going to the Sweet 16.”

Johnson played just seven minutes in the first half after committing two fouls and banging her leg while running the floor. She returned to start the second half and stirred the home crowd into a frenzy with a series of electrifying plays.

“Flau’Jae always brings a lot of energy, getting the crowd involved, being able to come in and make an instant impact,” Morrow said. “Just that complete all-around player.”

Johnson began her third-quarter surge by dribbling across the paint in transition and hitting a right-handed hook off the glass while being fouled — a three-point play that gave LSU a 59-51 lead.

Soon after came her layup on a driving right-handed scoop, and then a driving no-look underhanded flip to Morrow in the paint for an easy layup.

After that, Johnson blocked O’Mariah Gordon’s perimeter shot, drew a foul on the other end and hit two free throws to make it 78-55.

“I hate sitting out in the first half. It irritates me,” Johnson said. “But just having that energy, bringing that energy for the team — I know that’s that what we need.”

Johnson scored nine of her 13 points in the period and seemed to set the tone for her team. Williams, who sat out the second quarter after committing two fouls, scored 12 during the third quarter. Meanwhile, the third-seeded Tigers suffocated a Seminoles offense that had led the nation in scoring this season with 87.4 points per game.

“They came out of halftime on a mission. We couldn’t get a couple stops, and then the ball wouldn’t go in for us,” Florida State coach Brooke Wyckoff said. “Good teams are going to prey on that.”

LSU, Wyckoff added, is “a team that’s really scary moving forward.”

FSU’s Ta’Niya Latson scored a game-high 30 points, but just seven after halftime. Makayla Timpson scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Seminoles (24-9).

Latson scored seconds after the opening tip and had Florida State’s first 12 points — 10 before four minutes elapsed.

Her 23 first-half points came on an array of slashing layups, floaters and a 3-pointer.

“It’s really hard to take that much of a load offensively,” Wyckoff said. “To score all those points, to play at the pace she plays at, it takes a lot out of you.”

“Thirty points tonight in only 30 minutes is pretty freakin’ good,” Wyckoff added.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey said the Tigers adjusted how they defended Latson in the second half by going under screens to protect more against her drives to the hoop — even if that meant giving her more space outside.

“We just couldn’t keep her out of the paint and got in foul trouble because we couldn’t keep her in front of us, and gave up the right-hand drive in the first half,” Mulkey explained. “So, just completely get on her right hand. When she uses the screen, go under it and take your chances that she’s going to miss more 3s than she does free throws.”

Latson finished 2 for 10 from 3-point range.

Takeaways

Florida State: The Seminoles shot just 36% (27 of 76) for the game and just 25% (9 of 36) in the second half, which wasn’t nearly good enough to keep pace with the Tigers.

LSU: The Tigers’ second half made a statement as they move on to the third round. They shot 54% (19 of 35) over the final two quarters, when they also scored 11 points off turnovers and outscored the Seminoles 28-8 in the paint. LSU also finished with 29 assists on 41 made field goals for the game.

Maryland tops Alabama in 2 OTs

Sarah Te-Biasu made a tying 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, then scored eight of her 26 points in the second overtime to help fourth-seeded and host Maryland outlast fifth-seeded Alabama 111-108 on Monday to advance to the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Terrapins (25-7) advance to play top-seeded South Carolina, but to get there they had to overcome a career-high 45 points by Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker — and a 17-point Crimson Tide lead in the third quarter.

After Te-Biasu forced the first overtime with her 3-pointer, Barker was fouled shooting a 3 with 0.7 seconds left in OT. She calmly swished all three attempts to tie it at 96 and send the game to a second extra session.

Texas keeps rolling

Madison Booker scored 20 points and No. 1-seed Texas used a smothering defense to earn a 65-48 home victory over No. 8 Illinois on Monday, sending the Longhorns to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda added 19 points for Texas (33-3), which will meet SEC rival No. 5 Tennessee (24-9) in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday.

Texas outscored Illinois 18-6 in the second quarter, then broke the game open at the start of the third when the Longhorns stretched the lead to 24 after steals by Booker and Rori Harmon led to quick baskets.

Texas’ relentless ball pressure harassed Illinois (22-10) the entire game, and the Longhorns scored 23 points off 20 Illini turnovers. All of it was keyed by Harmon, who had four steals and locked down Illinois guard Genesis Bryant, who had six turnovers.

N.C. State advances

Aziaha James scored 26 points and second-seeded N.C. State made an NCAA Tournament program-record 15 shots from 3-point range in a victory over seventh-seeded Michigan State in the women’s second round Monday.

James connected for six 3s and Madison Hayes, who had 17 points, drilled five 3-pointers. Saniya Rivers added 17 points and 11 assists and Zamareya Jones had 12 points for the host Wolfpack (28-6).

N.C. State will meet LSU in a Sweet 16 matchup on Friday in Spokane, Washington. The Wolfpack will be in the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in coach Wes Moore’s 12 seasons.

Sooners knock out Iowa

Skylar Vann scored 17 points, Payton Verhulst added 16 and No. 3 seed Oklahoma cruised into the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament, dispatching No. 6 seed Iowa 96-62.

Raegan Beers had 11 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks in just 18 minutes for the host Sooners.

Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk beat her alma mater and advanced past the second round for the first time in her four years with the Sooners.

A group of 10 Florida judges and court officials have been appointed to serve on a workgroup that will study threats against judges and staff and make security recommendations.

Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz signed an administrative order Monday, creating the Workgroup on Judicial Security. The group will submit its findings and recommendations “on threat reduction, threat detection, and threat response,” the order said.

Threats against judges at all levels of the court system have been on the rise for years. The administrative order said the number of verified threats against federal judges “has doubled from historic patterns” while 56% of state judges who responded in a recent survey said they had been threatened.

The Marshals Service investigated more than 800 threats and potential threats against sitting federal judges, court staff and other people protected under the agency in fiscal year 2024, according to the agency’s data.

In his 2024 year-end report, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts said the number of “hostile threats and communications” against judges has more than tripled in the last 10 years, citing U.S. Marshals Service statistics. Federal authorities have investigated over 1,000 serious threats against federal judges in the past five years.

Earlier this year, a Palm Beach County judge received threats from an inmate serving a prison sentence for second-degree murder whose plea agreement she signed off on. Last year, a South Florida man was charged with threatening to shoot the Broward County judge handling his misdemeanor case.

State judges in Wisconsin and Maryland were murdered in their homes in 2022 and 2023, Roberts wrote in his report, noting both were targeted attacks “following an adverse ruling” from the judges.

In recent weeks, Tesla CEO and head of the new Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk, Vice President JD Vance and others in President Donald Trump’s circle have publicly criticized and questioned the judicial system’s authority in the wake of orders from federal judges that weren’t in the administration’s favor, the Associated Press reported.

Trump himself posted on X Friday criticizing “Radical Left Judges” and judicial authority, writing in part, “STOP NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!”

Earlier the same day, a federal judge said he would “get to the bottom” of whether the administration defied his order against deportation flights, AP reported.

Reuters reported earlier this month that judges in exclusive interviews “revealed mounting alarm over their physical security and, in some cases, a rise in violent threats in recent weeks.”

The Florida Supreme Court workgroup will gather information on the “breadth and nature of security incidents” against judges and court staff, review how to reduce risks judges face by personal information being released, “evaluate the need for statewide data collection,” identify how judges and staff should best reduce and respond to threats and propose any changes to current practices and policies if need be, according to the administrative order.

Palm Beach County Court Judge M. Katherine Mullinax is among those appointed to the group, along with Miami-Dade County Judge Jason Emilios Dimitris and Nushin G. Sayfie, Chief Judge of Miami-Dade County’s judicial circuit.

The group will submit a final report on findings and recommendations by the end of May 2026. Those appointed will serve on the group until October 2026.

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis says he recently returned nearly $1 billion in federal funds, a move he claimed showcased Florida’s leadership role in federal “DOGE efforts.”

But the money in question was either turned down previously or never requested.

“For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn’t even figure out how to accept it,” DeSantis posted on social media late Friday, after meeting with Elon Musk in Washington DC.

In one day, he wrote, “we got this done.”

Some of the money he identified for return was rejected by state officials two years ago. And all of it could have helped Floridians, critics say. The federal money was earmarked to reduce exhaust emission from cars and trucks and to help legal refugees, most of them from Cuba and Haiti, settle in Florida, the state with the largest refugee program in the nation.

“Any time Florida doesn’t spend the federal money allotted toward us it’s literally us taxpayers writing a check back to the feds for money that we never see again,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando.

Florida accepts billions of dollars in federal money each year, an amount that state economists say is likely to dwindle under the Trump administration. The unspent funds DeSantis highlighted represents a fraction of the more than $36 billion in federal grants the state received last year. Federal money accounted for 37% of the state’s revenue in the last fiscal year.

This is also not the first time that the DeSantis administration has turned down federal dollars due to what it claimed were “ideological strings attached” by President Joe Biden’s administration. In the last few years, the administration has turned down an estimated $11 billion.

The money DeSantis claimed he is “formally” returning includes $320.4 million turned down in December, 2023 by Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, according to a letter DeSantis sent to the U.S. Treasury on Friday.

Perdue had called the “Carbon Reduction” program that provided those funds an example of government overreach and “the continued politicization of our roadways.” Florida was the only state to turn down the funding.

Those grants also would have helped the Florida Department of Transportation expand parking spaces for semitrailers at rest stops along the state’s highways and adopt other measures to fight emissions most scientists have linked to climate change.

DeSantis said the transportation department would return the $49 million it already received via wire transfer, and asked the US Department of Transportation not to send the remaining $271 million.

The other $557.7 million is the unspent portion of money the US Department of Health and Human Services made available to the Florida Department of Children and Families for refugee social services programs.

The state received $1.2 billion for that program, which aims to help refugees with housing, food and medical care.

Eskamani said cutting assistance to refugees is part of DeSantis’ crusade against illegal immigration in Florida.

Florida has among the fastest growing refugee communities in the nation, with nearly 173,000 refugees who arrived or became eligible for refugee services in the last fiscal year, according to data by the Department of Children and Families Refugee Services page. All those helped have legal immigration status.

The largest two groups are Cubans and Haitians — both now targeted by President Trump for deportation.

“These are all political decisions,” Eskamani said. “DeSantis doesn’t want to pursue energy efficiency or carbon reductions, which are good for both our pocketbooks and the environment.”

CORAL GABLES — All you need to know about Cam Ward having fun with his No. 1 NFL draft status came before dozens of NFL scouts Monday when he shooed photographers back several yards before a choreographed pass.

“Coming your way,” he told them.

He took the snap, spun his body around and rolled to his left before throwing a jaw-dropping 65 yards to Miami teammate Xavier Restrepo. That was for all to see. What was meant just for the Tennessee scouts, the ones with the No. 1 pick, was what he said next.

“That’s what I’ll do on Sunday,” he said.

There it was Monday for the NFL to see up close: the quick release, the big arm, the sure accuracy and sound techniques. Ward stood in an invisible pocket to throw sideline passes. He moved under imaginary pressure and threw touchdowns.

What he really did Monday was just check another box to be the top pick of next month’s draft. Probably for Tennessee. Certainly for Cleveland or the New York Giants, holders of the second and third picks, if Tennessee trades out.

Any doubt he’s the No. 1 pick?

“No, I think that was solidified through (game) film,” he said.

Tennessee is trying to see the unseeable in Ward to some extent, because the No. 1 pick remains a shot in the dark. Of the past 10 No. 1 picks, eight have been quarterbacks. They were in order: Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Bryce Young and Caleb Williams.

Only Burrow deserves the elite status.

The question becomes how do you define a franchise quarterback anyhow? The arm? The eyes? The mind? Incomplete answers all of them. The franchise quarterback is the guy who has the emotional equilibrium to hold the center of a team together when everyone around him is starting to second-guess him — especially the scouts grading him on Monday.

Cam Ward highlights Hurricanes’ Pro Day, which Cristobal calls a ‘monster step’ for UM program

So, what isn’t measurable is equally important. It’s what Mario Cristobal is telling everyone, according to a scout. Ward is the best leader he’s been around. He’s been around great leaders at Miami as a player, at Alabama as an assistant and Oregon a head coach.

“He says Cam’s the best,” the scout said.

There’s probably some of the hometown coach praising the hometown kid. But it all checks out when you see how he went to three colleges in five years and set passing records in each.

The story NFL types got is the one Cristobal told in a post-game press conference last season: How he met them for the first time, wanted to set up workouts with receivers and was told by a couple how they were already working out with NFL players.

“You better go play with them, because I won’t be throwing you the ball,” Ward told them.

That’s how you say who you are, how you set a certain standard of teamwork, how you step into a questionable situation and bad a team. The quarterback-receivers relationship had been a problem in previous years, Cristobal said. It was wasn’t under Ward.

Cam Ward’s advice to new Miami quarterback Carson Beck: ‘Be yourself’

It wasn’t just him, of course. There was Restrepo running 40 yards as several dozen pro scouts stood with judging stopwatches at his sluggish 4.83 and 4.84 times. How much will it matter against his UM receiving records?

Ward and Restrepo meet at 5 a.m. for workouts. Two gym rats who set their day around their work. All that’s precisely what every scout wants to hear about any player, and that gets underlined for Tennessee using the No. 1 pick on Ward.

“I was working hard when there weren’t any cameras for me,” he said.

No No. 1 pick has a story like Ward does, unrecruited out of high school except at the smallest of colleges and working his way to the top.

“A great day to show what Miami is about,” Cristobal said.

A big day for Ward to show who he is, too. He had the No. 1 pick in his grasp before this. Monday just took him a few throws closer.

By DEEPTI HAJELA

Some U.S. embassies in European nations are taking to social media with pointed warnings to would-be visitors: Watch your step.

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Embassies in at least 17 countries have put up posts featuring images of administration figures, including President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, warning those seeking visas that engaging in behavior deemed harmful by the government could get deported.

In a post put up by the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia, the message reads: “When you apply to enter the United States and you get a visa, you are a guest. Now, if you are in this country to promote Hamas, to promote terrorist organizations, to participate in vandalism, to participate in acts of rebellion and riots on campus, we never would have let you in if we had known that. You lied to us. You’re out.”

Another post put up by the U.S. Embassy in Budapest has a quote from Rubio, saying, “We don’t want people in our country that are going to be committing crimes and undermining our national security or the public safety.”

The posts come at time when the Trump administration is clamping down on those with visas, like international students or professors, who have taken part in protests on university campuses around the conflict in Gaza in support of Palestinians and against Israel’s military actions.

That’s included taking visas away and putting the visa holders in immigration detention, and blocking people from entering the country. Among the cases is that of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University.

At a regular briefing Monday, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce called the warnings “reasonable.”

“Follow the law, behave yourselves, be a good visitor and you’ll be fine,” Bruce said. “It’s a visa. It’s not an entitlement. A visa and a green card are not birthrights. These are privileges you’re granted … because of what you present to the United States.”

She added, “Every sovereign nation in the world has an interest in controlling who comes in, knowing who’s coming into their country, what their intentions are.”

While it’s standard practice for those who apply for visas to enter the United States to come under scrutiny when they apply, the language being used in the posts and the social media campaign nature of the posts showcases the stance the administration has taken in regard to who’s allowed to be in the country and what behavior the U.S. government deems acceptable.

Some of the posts reflect the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, such as the one posted by the U.S. Embassy in Denmark. It features a Noem quote saying, “If you’re considering traveling to the United States illegally, don’t even think about it.”

AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed.

CORAL GABLES —A year ago, Cam Ward was the new guy on the University of Miami campus, getting to know his new teammates after transferring from a school in a different conference.

Ward went on to have the best season by a Hurricanes quarterback in history. Next up, looking to fill Ward’s shoes, is Georgia transfer Carson Beck.

Ward, who is a month away from being the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, had words of advice for his successor at Miami’s Pro Day on Monday.

“Be yourself,” Ward said.

Ward complimented offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson’s offense and said any quarterback could put up good stats in his scheme. Ward, Dawson and the Hurricanes had the No. 1 offense in the nation, and Ward set program records in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Ward was UM’s first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2002, and he won the Davey O’Brien Award.

“Don’t really look at the stat sheet and what I did this year, because at the end of the day, it wasn’t hard,” Ward said. “You’re talking about a quarterback playing in coach Dawson’s offense. You should at least throw 30 touchdowns a year. I think the previous record was 20-something. I did that in four games at UIW, so it’s not hard to break records here.”

Ultimately, Ward said the best thing Beck, who has yet to go through a full practice with the Hurricanes as he recovers from offseason elbow surgery, can do at Miami is win. Ward led the team to its first 10-win season since 2017, but they ultimately fell short of a berth in the ACC title game and the College Football Playoff. Beck was 24-3 with the Bulldogs and helped lead them to the SEC title in 2024, suffering his elbow injury in the conference title game.

“I think the biggest thing that I would tell Carson is just be yourself and try to win games,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, they can talk how bad they want about you, but if you win games, you’ve got the one-up on them.”

CORAL GABLES — All eyes were on Coral Gables on Monday afternoon.

Nearly two dozen UM draft hopefuls worked out for NFL scouts from all 32 teams at Miami’s Pro Day, but the biggest draw was Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward, the potential top pick in next month’s NFL draft.

“He’s changed the profile,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said last week. “Pro Day will now look like what Pro Day has looked like at Miami for a lot of years, a lot of decades. When UM was running at the highest level, we were winning in April at the highest level.”

Ward was the last player to participate, throwing to UM receivers in front of the scouts and executives.

Other Hurricanes who participated Monday included: defensive lineman Elijah Alston, tight end Elijah Arroyo, defensive lineman Tyler Baron, defensive lineman Simeon Barrow Jr., kicker Andy Borregales, wide receiver Sam Brown, defensive lineman Anthony Campbell, offensive lineman Zach Carpenter, defensive lineman C.J. Clark, defensive lineman Marley Cook, wide receiver Jacolby George, running back Damien Martinez, linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, tight end Cam McCormick, long snapper Mason Napper, defensive back Daryl Porter, Jr., defensive back Meesh Powell, wide receiver Xavier Restrepo and offensive lineman Jalen Rivers.

“It’ll be a really fulfilling day for them,” Cristobal said.” The best part of watching these guys workout (is) they’re really enthused about coming back and watching the team take the next step. They’ve been great mentors to these guys.”

Barrow highlighted the bench press, notching 32 reps in the exercise. Cook was second on the team with 30, while Carpenter represented the offensive line with 29.

Mauigoa had the highest vertical leap at 37 inches, while George and Porter were right behind him with 36-inch jumps.

Borregales is looking to get picked in the draft after becoming Miami’s all-time points leader. He had a 65-yard kick in front of the scouts.

“I’ve had multiple scouts tell me they can see me kicking at the next level,” Borregales said.

But Ward was the biggest draw, helping bring the NFL Network and ACC Network to the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility.

“It certainly validates a lot of things. I think he’s been (an ambassador) since he’s gotten here,” Cristobal said. “Since we started the season, he’s always been just naturally an ambassador. Now … he carries that with him as he has opportunities in front of media around the country.”

Although Ward performed well on Monday, he said he thinks his draft status should have been secured during the season.

“I think it was solidified throughout film,” Ward said. “Whatever I do on Pro Day — throws I make — it shouldn’t have no judgment to the film because at the end of the day, it’s about playing football.”

Cristobal said the large attendance for the likely draftees shows the big steps the program has taken in the last few years.

“It’s a big statement for a lot of reasons. It’s progress. It’s more and more progress,” Cristobal said.

“It’s a sign of what’s going on inside the building in terms of development and talent acquisition. It shows up more significantly in the win column. I think it shows parents of local recruits and recruits from afar — we’re going to have both demographics show up on draft day and going to show up really well on Pro Day. It’s just a really strong statement that we’re progressing and moving towards all the things that we spoke about doing when we got here a couple of years ago. It’s a monster step in that direction.”

By BEN FINLEY

The phrase “Give me liberty or give me death!” has survived the centuries like a line in a Shakespeare play.

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It’s been expressed by protesters from the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising in China to those who opposed COVID-19 restrictions in the U.S. in 2020.

Malcolm X referenced it in his 1964 “Ballot or the Bullet” speech, demanding equal rights for Black Americans. President Donald Trump quoted it on his Truth Social platform last year, lambasting a judge during his criminal hush money trial.

The phrase was reportedly first used 250 years ago Sunday by lawyer and legislator Patrick Henry to persuade Virginia colonists to prepare for war against an increasingly punitive Great Britain, just weeks before the American Revolution.

The liberty, of course, largely was for white, landowning men, not the people Henry and other founders enslaved. He was demanding a specific kind of freedom from the British Empire. Tensions were coming to a boil, particularly in Massachusetts, where the British replaced elected officials, occupied Boston and shuttered the harbor.

“The entire episode was about helping our brethren in Massachusetts,” said historian John Ragosta, who wrote a book on Henry. “It’s about the community. It’s about the nation. It’s not about, ‘What do I get out of this personally?’”

The printed version of Henry’s speech was about 1,200 words. And yet those seven words have lived on, often contorted to fit a political moment.

“It’s a very malleable phrase,” said Patrick Henry Jolly, a fifth great-grandson of Henry. “It’s something that can be applied to many different circumstances. But I think it’s important that people understand the original context.”

Jolly reenacted Henry’s speech Sunday in the same church where his ancestor delivered it. His presentation and others were part of Virginia’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth.

Here’s more information on Henry and his speech:

Who was Patrick Henry?

Born to an influential Virginia family in 1736, Henry became a successful trial lawyer in his 20s.

According to the Library of Congress, he once astonished a courtroom with an argument that “man is born with certain inalienable rights,” an idea echoed in the Declaration of Independence.

In 1765, Henry won a seat in Virginia’s colonial legislature. He was instrumental in opposing Great Britain’s Stamp Act, which levied a direct tax on the American colonies to raise money for Britain.

As tensions increased, many Americans felt like second-class citizens with no representation in parliament, Ragosta said. By the time of Henry’s speech, many were thinking: “The king won’t listen to us. They’ve invaded Boston. What should we in Virginia do about that?”

When Henry demanded liberty, he was aware of the contradictions, if not hypocrisy, of the moment.

In a 1773 letter to antislavery Quaker John Alsop, Henry acknowledged that slavery was continuing as “the rights of humanity are defined and understood with precision, in a country, above all others, fond of liberty.”

The “lamentable evil” would someday be abolished, he wrote, but apparently not yet.

“I am drawn along by the general inconvenience of living without them,” he wrote. “I will not — I cannot justify it, however culpable my conduct.”

Did he really say it?

In his 2004 book, “Founding Myths,” historian Ray Raphael wrote “it is highly unlikely” Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death!”

Henry did not write down the speech and the version we know today was published 42 years later in an 1817 biography of him. The biographer, attorney William Wirt, pieced together Henry’s words from the decades-old recollections of people who were there.

The printed version, Raphael wrote, “reflects the agendas of 19th century nationalists who were fond of romanticizing war.”

But other historians said there is ample evidence Henry uttered those words.

“We have multiple people, years later, saying, ‘I remember like it was yesterday,’” Ragosta said, adding that Thomas Jefferson was one of them.

They recalled Henry lifting a letter opener that looked like a dagger and plunging it under his arm as if into his chest before saying the famous phrase.

“That’s 18th century oratory,” Ragosta said. ”It’s very impassioned.”

Jon Kukla, another historian who wrote a book on Henry, cited other evidence. Men in Virginia’s militias soon embroidered their heavy canvas shirts with “liberty or death.”

The popular 1712 play “Cato” about a Roman senator also contains the line, “It is not now a time to talk of aught, but chains or conquest, liberty or death.”

“It would have been part of the literate culture of the age,” Kukla said.

What happened next?

The most immediate impact of Henry’s speech was more support for independence and the expansion of Virginia’s militias.

In the months afterward, Henry and others also were driven by fears that the British would free enslaved people, Raphael suggests in “Founding Myths.”

Virginia’s royal governor, Lord Dunmore, offered freedom to enslaved people who fought for the British.

But Ragosta said that was not a primary motivation for Henry, who enslaved dozens of people.

“That does move a lot of people off the fence into the patriot column, undoubtedly,” Ragosta said. “But that’s not really what’s going on with the Jeffersons, the Washingtons, the Henrys. They had already been very committed to the patriot movement.”

An estimated 30,000 people escaped Virginia plantations in attempts to reach British lines, according to Simon Schama’s 2005 book, “Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution.”

One was Ralph Henry, who was enslaved by Patrick Henry and evidently took the famous words “very much to heart,” Schama wrote.

Following independence, Henry served as Virginia’s governor five times. He also became known as an anti-federalist, opposing ratification of the U.S. Constitution and a strong central government.

But Henry later spoke in support of the founding document at George Washington’s urging in 1799, the year Henry died.

“He says, ‘Look, I voted against the Constitution, but we the people voted for it. And so we have to abide by it,’” Ragosta said.

Liberty versus license

Jolly, Henry’s descendant, said most people react positively to his ancestor’s famous words and acknowledge their historical significance.

“And there are some people that react thinking that it’s a rallying cry for them today to defend their rights — on both sides of the aisle,” Jolly said.

Yet Henry and his contemporaries were careful to distinguish liberty from license, said Kukla, the historian.

“Liberty, as they understood it, was not the freedom to do anything you damn well pleased,” Kukla said.

By CARLA K. JOHNSON

A surge of grant cancellations hit researchers focused on the health of gay, lesbian and transgender people last week, as the Trump administration continues to target what it describes as ideologically driven science.

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Last week the U.S. government terminated at least 68 grants to 46 institutions totaling nearly $40 million when awarded, according to a government website. Some of the grant money has already been spent, but at least $1.36 million in future support was yanked as a result of the cuts, a significant undercount because estimates were available for less than a third of grants.

Most were in some way related to sexual minorities, including research focused on HIV prevention. Other canceled studies centered on cancer, youth suicide and bone health.

Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon said the agency is “dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science.” The grants were awarded by the National Institutes of Health, an agency under HHS.

One canceled project at Vanderbilt University had been following the overall health of more than 1,200 LGBTQ people age 50 and older. Most of the money has been spent from the grant funding the project, but it was up for renewal in April, said Tara McKay, who leads Vanderbilt’s LGBTQ+ Policy Lab.

She said the grant won’t be renewed because of the termination, which jeopardizes any long-term results. Still, the Vanderbilt project had already generated two dozen published papers, including work used to train doctors to provide better care to LGBTQ people, increasing the likelihood of cancer screenings and other preventive care.

“That saves us a lot of money in health care and saves lives,” McKay said.

Insights from minority populations can increase knowledge that affects everyone, said Simon Rosser, who studies cancer in gay and bisexual men at the University of Minnesota.

“We now no longer have anywhere studying LGBT cancer in the United States,” said Rosser, who saw his grants canceled on Friday.

“When you decide to cancel all the grants on sexual minorities, you really slow down scientific discovery, for everyone,” Rosser said. Young researchers will lose their jobs, and the field as a whole will suffer, he added.

“It’s a loss of a whole generation of science,” Rosser said.

Termination letters seen by The Associated Press gave as reasons that the research was “unscientific” or did “nothing to enhance the health of many Americans.”

That language felt personal and stinging, McKay said.

“My project’s been accused of having no benefit to the American people. And, you know, queer and trans folks are Americans also,” McKay said.

Associated Press data journalist Kasturi Pananjady contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Today is Monday, March 24, the 83rd day of 2025. There are 282 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On March 24, 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez (vahl-DEEZ’) ran aground on a reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound and began leaking an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil.

Also on this date:

In 1882, German scientist Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he discovered the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis.

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In 1921, the Women’s Olympiad, the first international women’s sporting event, began in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

In 1980, Catholic Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador was shot to death by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in San Salvador.

In 1999, NATO launched airstrikes against Yugoslavia, marking the first time in its 50-year existence that it attacked a sovereign country.

In 2015, Germanwings Flight 9525, an Airbus A320, crashed into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board; investigators said the jetliner was deliberately downed by the 27-year-old co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz.

In 2016, a U.N. war crimes court convicted former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić of genocide and nine other charges for orchestrating a campaign of terror that left 100,000 people dead during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia; Karadžić received a sentence of 40 years in prison, later increased to life.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Chef and TV presenter Mary Berry is 90.
• Musician Carol Kaye is 90.
• Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie is 86.
• Singer Nick Lowe is 76.
• Golf Hall of Famer Pat Bradley is 74.
• Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger is 74.
• Actor Kelly LeBrock is 65.
• TV personality Star Jones is 63.
• Actor Lara Flynn Boyle is 55.
• Actor Jim Parsons is 52.
• Actor Alyson Hannigan is 51.
• Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning is 49.
• Actor Jessica Chastain is 48.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh is 41.
• Dancer Val Chmerkovskiy is 39.

This weekend, look for the winter All-County section, honoring Broward and Palm Beach counties’ best of high school basketball, soccer, wrestling, girls weightlifting and cheerleading.

In the paper, look for the package in Sunday’s editions.

To see it online, go to sunsentinel.com/all-county on Thursday night.

General Daily Insight for March 24, 2025

Our first ideas may not be the best ones we can come up with. The Moon is entering free-thinking Aquarius, encouraging an open-minded approach to the day. Contrastingly, the Sun will conjoin Mercury Retrograde at 3:48 pm EDT. While this can stir up many intriguing possibilities and refreshing ideas, we should sit with these a while before deciding to implement any of them. The Moon will go on to conjoin Pluto, so there will be an added air of intensity to our interactions.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You’ve got plenty to say — maybe too much, actually! Watch out, as the risk of sticking your foot in your mouth is much more prominent than usual during the Sun’s collaboration with Mercury Retrograde. Consider everything before you say it, and if you think you can agree to a commitment or promise someone something, check and re-check before signing on the dotted line. Asking for extra time to clarify the particulars would be wiser than saying something incorrect because you didn’t wait.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

It’s not just you — today feels like it’s missing something obvious. The Sun and retrograde Mercury are coming together at the same degree in your 12th House of Escapism, which can make things appear foggier than usual. Avoid important conversations or hashing out major deals, as you will likely be getting a raw bargain. However, you can make progress by returning to old matters and giving them a second look, perhaps improving them and fixing old defects, or even clearing them out altogether.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Friends come and go, but they could currently come back around when you least expect it. You may encounter an old face or two as the Sun aligns with Mercury, with the cosmic chatterbox still moving retrograde through your companionable 11th house. Maybe you’ll receive an invitation to hang out with old friends or reconnect with other people from your memories. Unless you want to avoid them for a good reason, it can’t hurt to see what they are up to.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

It’s alright to take more time before putting your message on blast. Sure, you technically can just say whatever’s on your mind and send it out to the world en masse, but the Sun is conjoining retrograde Mercury in your public 10th house. There’s a good chance your message will miss the mark! If a new project lands in your lap, take time before accepting or signing up for any long-term commitments. The shiniest exterior is potentially concealing a rotten interior.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Pride cometh before the fall, Leo! Don’t let your appetite outsize your abilities. Even if you’re certain you can accomplish everything your heart desires as the Sun and Mercury come together at the same degree of your entrepreneurial 9th house, remember — Mercury is sliding retrograde. Missing vital puzzle pieces could happen much faster than you’d think. Plus, things that look stunning could end up being total duds. Refrain from getting wrapped up in anything too new until the dust has settled.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

This is no time for figuring out the details. You may be presented with urgent messages or find yourself trying to cut through yards of red tape as your ruler Mercury conjoins the Sun in your 8th House of Deep Sharing. Mercury Retrograde is making it almost impossible to find a productive way through such things. Mixed signals and hidden details can and will trip you up! If possible, postpone any major matters until the stars are in more supportive places.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Reading the fine print isn’t always enough. You can be your most efficient and responsible self and think that you’re reviewing every contingency, but it’s only too easy to miss something important as Mercury Retrograde enables the Sun in your 7th House of Contracts. No matter how clear you think something is, there’s a strong chance that you’ll emerge from the other side with the short end of the stick. Steer clear of hashing out any vital agreements until the planets bring better clarity.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Other people are usually competent, although it may not seem like it at the moment. A conjunction between Mercury and the Sun in your detail-oriented 6th house is setting you up for a busy day when delegating less important tasks would be ideal. With Mercury still reversing through the cosmos, mistakes lie in wait around every corner. People you trust may drop the ball, or wires could get crossed that make your work all but useless. Stick to the basics for the time being.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Just because you think you can, doesn’t mean you should. The Sun and Mercury are coming together in your 5th House of Chance, which is all about taking a gamble and betting on yourself to win the day. Still, be wary of Mercury Retrograde! Something that looks right up your alley could turn out to be very much out of your comfort zone, so don’t sign yourself up for more than you can handle. Play it safe and save the big moves for later.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

There may be a misunderstanding or two in your inbox. Wires can get crossed and emotions can get wounded as retrograde Mercury and the Sun conjoin in your authentic 4th house, so don’t be shocked if your domestic sphere feels like a bit of a soap opera. Try to keep the peace as best you can, because things said in anger or hurt won’t age very well. Watch out — you don’t want to add regrets to your list of things to deal with.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Misinformation is everywhere nowadays. You may notice it even more as Mercury Retrograde aligns with the Sun in your talkative 3rd house, which can create all kinds of confusion and misunderstandings. People may tell you one thing, only for something else to be true, or perhaps you’re the one saying something in good faith that turns out to be false. Other detours and delays are also more likely to happen, so give yourself plenty of time when going about your business.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Mercury’s spinning retrograde, and as it encourages the Sun in your 2nd House of Cash, fresh money-making opportunities seem to abound. Less fortunately, that retrograde motion could close those windows of chance while you’re halfway through them! Don’t expect to uncover any genuine get-rich-quick schemes while the planets are going against the grain like this. Focusing on the work already on your plate is a much more stable path to success.

SUNRISE — Aleksander Barkov scored in the shootout round while Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all three attempts and the Florida Panthers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Sunday night.

Sam Reinhart scored twice, giving him 35 goals on the season, and Anton Lundell also scored for the Panthers.

Coming off a 2-4 road trip, ending with Saturday’s 6-3 loss at league-point leader Washington, the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers have won 11 of their last 12 at home.

Bryan Rust had two goals and Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby assisted on both of Rust’s goals, increasing his points streak to seven games.

Rust scored twice in a five-minute span late in the first period to put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1 and erase an early deficit when Reinhart scored his first goal at 11:25.

The teams traded power play goals in the second period. Malkin’s blast from the left circle gave the Penguins a two-goal advantage before Reinhart narrowed the deficit with a wrist shot between the pads of Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry.

Takeaways

Penguins: With nine games remaining, the loss further affected their post-season hopes. Pittsburgh began Sunday seven points behind Montreal for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Panthers: Sunday’s game completed the first of four sets of games on consecutive days to close the regular season.

Key moment

The Panthers forced overtime on Lundell’s tying goal with 5:31 remaining in regulation. Eetu Luostarinen sent a pass to an open Lundell on the right circle. Lundell then one-timed a shot past Jarry.

Key stat

The Panthers had just four shots on goal in the first period yet finished the night with 30. They had 13 in the second, 11 in the third and two in overtime.

Up next

The Penguins continue their three-game road trip at Tampa Bay on Tuesday and the Panthers will host the Utah Hockey Club on Friday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

MIAMI — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 122-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets:

– There were times after the Feb. 6 trade of Jimmy Butler to the Warriors that the question was whether the Heat got anything tangible in return.

– Now, as Golden State and Butler arrive at Kaseya Center for Tuesday night’s game, the Heat have a definitive answer.

– Two nights after scoring 30 in the loss to the Rockets, Andrew Wiggins again was filling it up.

– This time reaching 30 with 4:54 to play in the third period.

– And not stopping there, on the way to 42.

– Suddenly it is apparent why the Warriors lamented what they had to give up to get Butler.

– All it took was a return to health.

– No, Wiggins has not produced Butler-level winning.

– But he has provided hope.

– Which, at this moment, counts for plenty with the Heat.

– For weeks, as Wiggins dealt with ankle and calf issues, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke of Wiggins’ possibilities.

– Now, on display for all to see.

– Whether it can be 30 on a routine basis remains to be seen.

– But for any team to be successful, there have to be multiple 30-point threats.

– So now, if not Tyler Herro or Bam Adebayo, then Wiggins in place for moments of his own.

– Friday night was heartening as Wiggins attempted to keep the Heat afloat.

– Sunday night was even more meaningful, coming in a victory.

– The Heat might not have won the Butler trade.

– But at the moment, not nearly as much sense of loss.

– Spoelstra again spun his wheel of lineups, this time replacing Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the starting lineup with Duncan Robinson.

– The other four starters remained Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware and Tyler Herro.

– Haywood Highsmith and Davion Mitchell entered together first off the Heat bench.

– Jaquez followed.

– That basically was it.

– Before Alec Burks entered for the first time late in the third period.

– With Terry Rozier again out of the mix.

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– Spoelstra again was asked pregame about his perception of progress with his team.

– “We continue to compete definitely defensively,” he said. “And what I want to see is, like, thought process, particularly when we get in those fourth quarters. Are we doing things with intention?”

– He added, “At this point now, we’ve had so many clutch games, we know what our package of sets are, we know what we’re trying to get to, how we’re trying to attack and can we just do it consistently.”

– Sunday marked four weeks since Nikola Jovic broke his right hand, the timeframe when the team said an update could be forthcoming.”

– “We’re still waiting on the evaluation,” Spoelstra said. “But he’s able to do everything. As you can imagine, he’s doing all the conditioning, he’s doing all the weight-room work that he can do. So that won’t be an issue.”

– Spoelstra added. “It will just be whenever he’s fully cleared just to get comfortable with the ball and everything. And he’s doing exercises with that, in that regard as well.”

– Adebayo’s first offensive rebound was the 1,250th of his career.

– Adebayo’s first assist moved him past Mario Chalmers and into fourth place on the Heat all-time assist list.

– Mitchell’s first rebound was the 500th of his career.

MIAMI — Finally, an exhale.

For the first time since March 3, the Miami Heat tasted success, with Sunday night’s 122-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Kaseya Center.

The 10-game losing streak is over.

The seven-game home losing streak is over.

For at least one night, misery put on hold.

Yes, it came against an opponent that now stands 18-53, but also against an opponent that less than two weeks ago won on the Heat’s court.

So the Heat take it and move on to a Tuesday night game with far more juice, with Jimmy Butler returning in the colors of the Golden State Warriors.

“I mentioned this to the guys, I’m not going to ever take it for granted,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of winning. “I don’t think that I did take it for granted, but I don’t think we’re going to take it for granted how difficult sometimes it could be to win in this league.”

This time, instead of blowing an early double-digit lead, the Heat bounced back from one. This time there was not as significant a degree of concern of a fourth-quarter lapse, with the lead already into the 20s at the start of the final period.

At 30-41, the Heat, with 11 games to play, remain one loss from their first losing season since 2018-19, and still appear a likely No. 10 seed for the play-in tournament.

But with Andrew Wiggins closing with 42 points and Tyler Herro 29, there were smiles all around for the first time in nearly three weeks.

“We played connected, we played together.” Wiggins said.

Five Degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Hornets led 26-20 after the first period, with the Heat then pushing back from an early 12-point deficit to a 57-47 halftime lead.

The Hornets had only one basket over the final 9:21 of the second quarter, with the Heat closing the first half on a 22-2 run.

The Heat then moved to a 96-75 lead entering the fourth.

From there, the Heat moved to a 24-point lead, only to see Charlotte claw back within 103-90, with Wiggins and Herro reinserted by that point to restore order.

“We’ll enjoy this one,” Spoelstra said, “and hopefully start to put together some games.”

2. Still going: Two nights after scoring 30 against the Rockets, Wiggins was up to 17 points at halftime on 7-of-11 shooting.

He then was up to his 32 points before the end of the third period, giving him his highest-scoring performance of the season, including his time with the Golden State Warriors.

Wiggins’ previous high had been 31 points for Golden State in a Jan. 18 victory over the Wizards.

It was the second-highest-scoring game of Wiggins’ career high, with his high remaining 47.

“He makes us different,” Spoelstra said. “He fits like what we need and he gives us a guy we can throw the ball to and score.”

Wiggins was acquired in the Feb. 6 trade for Butler.

He closed 16 of 21 from the field.

“As you lose more and more,” he said, “you become desperate to win.

“As the shots went in, I felt better and better.”

3. Herro, too: Listed as questionable earlier in the day due to hip contusion, Herro played with an aggressive bent.

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The performance came after he was limited to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting in Friday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets, the second time in four games he had been limited to eight points.

With his first 3-pointer, Herro joined Duncan Robinson, Damon Jones and current assistant coach Wayne Ellington as the only players in the franchise’s 37 years with at least 225 in a season.

He now stands on point shy of moving past Rony Sekaly for seventh place on the Heat all-time scoring list.

“It feels amazing just to get the win,” Herro said. “It feels great.”

4. Pushing through: Also listed as questionable earlier in the day, with a sprained left knee, Heat big man Bam Adebayo appeared to be limited with his lift, missing several short attempts.

He closed with 11 points and four rebounds, with fellow Heat big man Kel’el Ware finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds.

“Man, I do not take it for granted,” Adebayo said of the victory breakthrough. “It’s good to see us not let go of the rope.”

5. On deck: Next up is Butler’s return, when the Heat host the Golden State Warriors in Tuesday night’s nationally televised game (TNT only).

ESPN reported Sunday that Stephen Curry also could be available Tuesday, to rejoin the Warriors for Monday’s practice after being sidelined by a pelvic bruise.

The Warriors are 16-4 since Butler’s arrival (16-3 in the games he has played, having missed the game at Philadelphia due to back spasms). He left the Heat amid a contentious disagreement with the coaching staff, management and ownership.

“We had a great five-year run and we didn’t win a title, but only one team does,” Spoelstra said when asked about Butler. “We had some great moments here. We all get past that, that’s what you always remember. It doesn’t matter what everybody feels right now.”

By ALANIS THAMES

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Larson passed Alex Bowman with six laps remaining in NASCAR’s Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, giving the Hendrick Motorsports driver the 30th win of his career at one of his best tracks.

Larson sped by as Bowman scraped the wall on Turn 4 with the lead. Larson extended his edge to more than a second over his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, then held on to beat Bowman by 1.205 seconds for his second career Cup Series win at Homstead, and his second victory of the weekend.

Larson fell one race short of sweeping the triple-header weekend. He won the Craftsman Truck race on Friday and finished fourth in the Xfinity Series on Saturday. He was hoping to join Kyle Busch as the only drivers to sweep a triple-header weekend — Busch did it at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2010 and 2017.

He was far from dominant on Sunday. Larson, driving the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, led just 19 of 267 laps and had to overcome poor starting position, pit road mishaps and bad restarts to pull off the win — his first victory of the season and first in the Cup Series at Homestead since 2022.

Bowman, who was Saturday’s pole winner, finished second in the No. 48 Chevrolet. Bubba Wallace was third for 23XI Racing after leading 43 laps — the most laps he’s led in a race since September 2023. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five.

Ryan Blaney was running third when his engine blew up on Lap 207, causing a thick cloud of smoke to cover the track and a lengthy cleanup.

It had been a strong race for Blaney before then. He led 124 laps and won Stage 1 after starting sixth. It was the second time in three races that Blaney did not finish a race because of an engine failure with his No. 12 Team Penske Ford.

“It just stinks,” Blaney said. “Led a lot of laps. Lost a little bit of track position there with some stuff on pit road but got back to third. And it was a great race between me, Bubba and Larson. … It was going to be a heck of a battle the last 60 laps or so, but just didn’t really work out for us. We’ll keep our head up.

“It’s one of those things where it’s not really going our way right now, but the good news is we’re bringing fast cars.”

Pit road mishaps

While exiting pit road on Lap 84, Josh Berry’s No. 21 Ford hit the side of Larson’s car, then hit Joey Logano’s No. 22 Ford. Both Logano and Berry spun then went the wrong direction into their pit stalls to check the damage. Larson’s car was slightly damaged from the contact.

Another incident happened on Lap 172. Chase Elliott received a penalty for not being line up single-file coming into pit road, even though Elliott could be heard on his in-car feed saying the he had veered left to avoid hitting someone, but gave the spot back. Elliott, driving a No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, finished 18th.

Up next

The Cup series races next at Martinsville Speedway, where Blaney won in November to punch his ticket into last season’s playoff final four. Wiliam Byron won Martinsville last spring.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

The massive brush fire that burned more than 26,000 acres in southern Miami-Dade County over several days was brought under control, authorities said Sunday.

Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue reported on social media that “the fire is contained.”

After recent dry and windy weather contributed to fire conditions, the National Weather Service in Miami said Sunday on social media that it was “fully under control.”

The two roads in and out of the Florida Keys — U.S. 1 and Card Sound Road — were repeatedly closed during recent days because of the fire and the hazardous conditions from its smoke.

Fire-Rescue said “lingering hot spots may still produce smoky conditions on the road” and officials urged drivers to “be cautious and take precautions as needed.”

Multiple agencies led by the county’s fire-rescue and Florida Forest Service had been mobilizing and deploying firefighters and equipment from around the state for days.

On Sunday afternoon, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said most of its units had resumed responding to regular calls though some units would continue to assist the state Forest Service in responding to spot fires. The Forest Service planned to continue monitoring the fire by air and continue aerial water drops. “Wildland firefighters do not expect the fire to spread further.”

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava offered “congratulations to our heroic first responders for getting the South Dade brush fires under control and protecting our community.”

RALEIGH, N.C. — Florida’s Sweet 16 dream continued as UConn’s NCAA Tournament dominance came to an abrupt end.

The two-time defending national champions didn’t go quietly. But after controlling much of the game, the Huskies ultimately could not stop guard Walter Clayton Jr. during the Gators’ 77-75 come-from-behind win on Sunday.

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) shoots for 3 over UConn forward Alex Karaban (11) during the Gators’ 77-75 NCAA Tournament win Sunday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Clayton, who finished with a game-high 23 points, showed why he was an AP first-team All-American with two 3-pointers during the final three minutes to end UConn’s 13-game winning streak in the Big Dance.

“Super clutch, man,” veteran shooting guard Alijah Martin said. “That’s Walter Clayton Jr. for you right there. He put us on his back — just so proud of him. I see the work he puts in every day.

“It’s amazing to watch.”

UF (32-4) is now headed to San Francisco for the West Regional to face Maryland on Thursday night for the Gators’ first appearance in the round of 16 since 2017.

But the road to coach Todd Golden’s ol’ stomping grounds was anything but smooth at Lenovo Center.

UConn (24-11) and coach Dan Hurley were up for the challenge after a so-so season in Storrs and a nip-and-tuck 67-59 win against Oklahoma during the tournament’s first round.

“We knew this game wasn’t going to be easy,” Clayton said. “They’ve got a championship pedigree.”

The No. 8 seed Huskies (24-11) controlled the tempo and took the fight to Florida, the region’s No. 1 seed.

Florida head coach Todd Golden yells during the first half against UConn in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Sunday in Raleigh. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

UConn quickly turned a 31-31 halftime tied into a 38-32 advantage, the largest of the game by either team, and did just enough from there to stay ahead of the Gators.

“We couldn’t seem to push through and get on top of them,” Golden said.

During the final media timeout with 3:41 to go and his team down 61-58, UF’s coach said he told players, “It’s now or never, man. If we can’t find a way to pull back out in front these next few minutes, then we’re going home.”

After power forward Alex Condon hit one of two free throws, UConn’s Alex Karaban missed a driving layup. Moments later, a Clayton 3 with 2:54 to go gave Florida its first lead of the half.

A Huskies’ turnover led to a dunk by guard Will Richard on the next possession that sent into a frenzy a pro-Gators crowd and led to a Hurley timeout.

Huskies guard Solo Ball then answered with a 3 for a 64-64 tie.

UF, though, inched ahead with three free throws, the final two by Clayton, in a game where the Gators were just 22 of 34 from the line. Clayton then drained a 3-pointer over the 6-foot-8 Karaban with 1:07 to go.

“I’ve hit some big shots in my life. Those were probably two of the biggest,” he said. “It probably just hasn’t sunk in yet. But I’ve been on the other end where I’ve missed shots.”

Florida guard Alijah Martin dunks during the Gators’ win against UConn in the NCAA Tournament as UF advanced to the Sweet 16. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

After one of the best runs in the college game in decades, Hurley saluted Clayton for ending it.

“He made some NBA-level 3s off the dribble to beat us,” UConn’s coach marveled. “It took that for somebody to put us down in this tournament.”

The Gators weren’t quite themselves against the Huskies much of the day.

UF had several early turnovers, including two quickies by Clayton, and eight by halftime. During the opening 20 minutes, UConn had nine offensive rebounds, one of UF’s calling cards all season.

But the Gators came up with the ball during winning time in the waning moments.

Following a missed free throw by Condon, sophomore forward Thomas Haugh grabbed an offensive rebound and got the ball to Clayton, who was fouled and hit both free throws.

Martin corralled another missed free throw by Condon and dunked it to push UF’s advantage to 72-64 with 40 seconds to go, enough of a cushion to hold off a Huskies’ push to the final buzzer.

“We made winning play after winning play down the stretch in the last six minutes,” Golden said, “after about 34 minutes of it not looking like it was going to go our way. That’s the benefit of having three great senior leaders in the backcourt and some young hungry frontcourt players that will give their all to compete on every single play.”

Florida guard Will Richard celebrates after a critcil dunk late in the Gators’ come-from-behind win against UConn. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

UConn ultimately could not contain the Gators’ veteran trio of transfer guards.

Clayton, Martin and Richard combined for 56 points, including 14 by Martin in the first half on 6-of-9 shooting and 13 by Richard after intermission.

Martin, an FAU transfer key to the Owls’ 2023 Final Four run, was Florida’s only player seemingly ready for Sunday’s big moment. He scored 11 of his team’s first 15 points.

“I was just in a flow,” he said. “Luckily, that kept us in the game because we couldn’t figure it out at the beginning.”

In the end, the Gators did just enough to return the program to the Sweet 16 in the city where the 39-year-old Golden had his first head coaching job at USF (2019-22) before UF hired him.

“This is why everybody came here,” said Richard, who arrived from Belmont University in 2022. “We wanted to bring Florida back to that national stage and that relevance. For us, it means a lot, just playing for that logo and for the guys that came before us to help us get here.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com