Police are investigating whether Ja Morant broke the law when he appeared to be pictured holding a gun in a Colorado nightclub last weekend.
Morant was suspended by the Memphis Grizzlies after he posted an Instagram Live video which seemed to show him brandishing a gun.
The Glendale Police Department confirmed to the Associated Press that the incident is being investigated.
It is not against the law to carry a gun in Colorado, but there are exceptions to the rule, one of which being you must not be in possession of one while under the influence of alcohol.
Morant, the 2022 NBA Most Improved Player, was not seen to be drinking during the footage.
In a statement released to ESPN shortly after his suspension was confirmed, Morant apologised for his actions, saying he took "full responsibility".
"I'm sorry to my family, team-mates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organisation for letting you down," Morant added.
"I'm going to take some time away to get help and work on learning better methods of dealing with stress and my overall well-being."
James Harden was saluted for an "incredible" feat by coach Doc Rivers after becoming the first Philadelphia 76ers player to post 20 assists in a game twice in a season.
After scoring a personal season-high 38 points in the 147-143 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, Harden made his next game one to remember, too.
He was not so prolific in the points column against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, with a modest 14 to his name, but 20 assists and nine rebounds helped to guide the Sixers to a 147-143 victory.
It followed his 21-assist game against the Los Angeles Clippers in December. These are the only 20-plus rebound games in 33-year-old Harden's career to date.
Joel Embiid led scorers with 42 points, while Tyrese Maxey (24 points) and Jalen McDaniels (20) also weighed in.
Rivers said of Harden's effort, amid a strong team display: "It's just incredible. The great thing about James overall is he pretty much doesn't turn the ball over a lot, makes smart plays.
"But his passing when he plays like tonight and the other night – the other night he had 30 and 10, tonight he had 14 and 20 – it just makes us so hard to beat with his ability to pass."
Looking at some of Harden's most audacious passing, Rivers said few in the NBA possessed comparable quality.
"Those passes are five-guys-in-the-league, maybe, passes," Rivers said.
Harden joked about Maxey failing to secure him a 21st assist late in the game, as Philadelphia (42-22) consolidated third spot in the Eastern Conference.
"Seriously man, what are we doing? I'm just playing," Harden said.
"But I'm just trying to make plays. Not really efficient scoring the basketball tonight but find other ways to put an impact on the game. I saw some different things, made some good passes and had one turnover and that's because Joel couldn't catch the basketball.
"All in all, I'm just happy to come out with the win."
Quoted by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harden reflected on twice getting to 20 assists in games this season. He leads the league with an average of 10.8 assists per game.
"It's an unbelievable franchise, man," Harden said. "They got so many great players that have put on a 76ers jersey. To be added to the list is one of those feelings."
Going over 40 for the 11th time this season
Joel Embiid finishes with 42 PTS in the @sixers win on the road! pic.twitter.com/UddGffAIc9
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2023
New Boston Red Sox signing Justin Turner was taken to hospital to receive 16 stitches in his face after being nailed by a fastball during the first inning of Monday's spring training game against the Detroit Tigers.
Turner, 38, is a two-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he spent the previous nine seasons before signing with the Red Sox as a free agent in December.
Starting at first base on Monday, and batting third in the line-up, Turner stepped up to the plate in the first inning following a four-pitch walk to Rafael Devers.
Tigers starter Matt Manning was struggling with his control, and the first pitch he threw to Turner tailed up and in, missing his helmet and drilling him directly in the face.
Blood immediately started to flow and the medical staff raced to his aid, although he was able to walk off the field under his own strength with a blood-soaked towel over his face.
He was taken to a local medical facility in Florida where he received 16 stitches in his face, but Turner's wife, Kourtney, shared a positive update through social media.
"16 stitches and a lot of swelling but we are thanking God for no fractures and clear scans," she wrote.
"Thank you to everyone that reached out about Justin and sent prayers. We're home now and he's resting (okay – maybe listening to the replay of the game)."
In a statement, the Red Sox said: "He's receiving treatment for soft tissue injuries, and is being monitored for a concussion. He will undergo further testing, and we'll update as we have more information.
"Justin is stable, alert, and in good spirits given the circumstances."
The Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to collect three overtime wins against the same opponent in one season since 2004-05 after Monday's 118-114 comeback against the Boston Celtics.
Cleveland trailed by 12 at half-time, and 14 at three-quarter time, but clawed back late to force an extra period – thanks to some heroics off the bench from Lamar Stevens and a forgettable trip to the free throw line by Grant Williams.
After not playing a single minute through three quarters, Stevens was injected into the game to start the fourth and ended up not coming out the rest of the way. He racked up eight rebounds, including six big offensive boards, to go with eight points and an assist in the fourth quarter and overtime.
But the game would not have even reached overtime if Williams was able to hit a free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, missing both attempts to leave the game tied.
All-Star Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 40 points on 14-of-34 shooting, but after the game head coach J.B. Bickerstaff made it clear who the most valuable player was.
"There is no way we win that game without Lamar," he said. "He changed the tone, the physicality, the effort.
"When we have our conversations with guys, we talk to them about who we need them to be, and how they play to their strengths that impacts this team in the most positive way – and Lamar is a dog.
"He is willing to scrap, he's willing to fight, he's not afraid of the moment. He hit the big three, then he drives down the lane with the physical finish, and every time we needed an extra possession he went and got it.
"I can't say enough of how proud I am of him, and how deserving he is of a ton of credit for us winning this game tonight."
For the second game in a row, Stevens was a recipient of the Cavaliers' 'Junkyard Dog Chain' that they award to the grittiest and toughest performance of the night, and Mitchell highlighted how enormous it was for the undrafted 25-year-old to show up in such a high-pressure environment.
"We couldn't really afford to lose this one," he said. "I don't know what the standings are exactly, but I know we're only a game, or two games [clear in the fourth seed] – so this was important.
"This was huge, they were up the whole game, getting whatever they wanted. We just kind of, as a group, needed that spark, and Lamar [Stevens] came in and gave us one. I just wanted to find ways to do it myself as well, and it led to a win.
"When Lamar speaks, you listen. That's something that you earn. I've only been here a few months, but you can tell that as a locker room and as a group of guys, we trust in him, and his voice, and his leadership.
"When he's out there competing, fighting, screaming, getting buckets and also getting stops, you gotta be out there doing the same thing, because you don't want to let Lamar down.
"That's what he provides for us, he's always been that way, and it's great to see a lot of his hard work starting to come out for everybody to see."
Having earned the second spot up on the post-game media podium alongside Mitchell, Stevens spoke about his mindset about how to help his team win as a role player in limited minutes.
"Coming from where I came from, being undrafted, I don't take any moment for granted," he said. "I always want to be ready for any opportunity that comes my way.
"From what the team asks for me and what J.B. [Bickerstaff] asks from me, it's not just to come out and score big numbers, it's just to impact the game and bring that physicality, and defense, and do the things that I know I can control."
He also touched on why he believes his Cavs have been so effective in overtime situations this season, having come through an extra session unscathed against the Celtics on both October 28 and on November 2.
"I think at the beginning of the year, coach made a huge emphasis on us being the most conditioned team," he said. "I think that's just what we are.
"We're ready when it comes down to winning time, I think we get a little bit closer together, and we're able to pull out some big-time wins by just trusting each other and knowing that we're prepared for that moment."
Mitchell, who is a vice president of the NBA Players' Association (NBPA), also shared some insight into the conversation he had with Williams – the first vice president of the NBPA – before his two crucial misses.
When asked to confirm if Williams told him beforehand that he would make both, Mitchell responded "yeah, he did".
He continued: "We have a [Players' Association] call on Thursday or Friday, so I was just like 'let's just miss one and talk about it, let's see what happens'.
"He gave us both, and I almost lost us the game because I didn't box out Marcus Smart and he came in for the tip, so that's what I'm really thinking about that moment. He missed both free throws, but I have got to be able to box out in those moments.
"I mean, you're just trying to mess with mentally, just see what happens. I have no doubt in my mind that if Grant's in that position tomorrow, or the next day, he'll make both free throws.
"He's a good player, I'm just trying to find a way to get in his head a little bit."
The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off an unlikely 118-114 home comeback win in overtime on Monday, but not without some help from the visiting Boston Celtics.
Boston, who led 92-78 at three-quarter time, and 102-91 with 4:30 remaining, gave up a 16-4 from that point to allow the Cavaliers to hit the lead with 24 seconds on the clock.
A Derrick White three-pointer put the Celtics back in front by two, before Donovan Mitchell tied things up at 109-109, but the visitors looked poised to get away with their sloppy fourth quarter after Grant Williams was sent to the free throw line with 0.8 seconds left.
After appearing to tell Mitchell "I'll make them both", Williams proceeded to miss both attempts, blowing a golden opportunity and sending the game to overtime.
The Celtics only mustered five points in the extra five minutes, clearly feeling the absence of missing star Jayson Tatum down the stretch, while Mitchell put the finishing touches on his 40-point night.
Cleveland's top scoring option finished 14-of-34 from the field, adding 11 rebounds and four assists, while rising second-year defensive ace Evan Mobley impressed with 25 points (10-of-14 shooting), 17 rebounds and three blocks.
Jaylen Brown did his best to cover for Tatum, finishing with team-highs in points (32), rebounds (13) and assists (nine), and Malcolm Brogdon was strong off the bench with 24 points (eight-of-14 shooting) and five assists.
Boston (45-21) are now two games behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the hunt for the Eastern Conference's top seed, while the Cavaliers (41-26) are also trending towards having home court advantage in the first round, sitting fourth.
Dame carries the Blazers
Damian Lillard produced his second triple-double of the season, and the third of his career, to lift his Portland Trail Blazers to a 110-104 victory on the road against the Detroit Pistons.
The current third-highest scorer in the league at 32.5 points per game, Lillard showed off his all-round skill set as he snatched down 13 rebounds to go with 12 assists and 31 points, shooting 10-of-28 from the field and six-of-14 from deep.
It was also an eye-opening performance from Cam Reddish. The Portland trade deadline acquisition had never registered more than six assists in a game before, but he flashed some impressive playmaking with eight assists, 13 points, six rebounds and two steals in 40 minutes.
The result leaves the Trail Blazers tied with the 10th-seeded Utah Jazz at 31-34 as they try to force their way into the Play-In Tournament.
Harden and Haliburton combine for 36 assists in shootout
In a clash between the league's top two assist leaders, James Harden's Philadelphia 76ers overcame Tyrese Haliburton's Indiana Pacers in a 147-143 shootout.
Harden finished with 14 points (three-of-11), 20 assists, nine rebounds, and just one turnover, becoming the first player in 76ers history to record multiple 20-assist games in one season.
Meanwhile, Haliburton exploded for one of the best games of his career with 40 points (12-of-19), 16 assists and two turnovers.
Joel Embiid carried the scoring load for Philadelphia, leading the way with 42 points (11-of-16 shooting, 19-of-19 free throws) while also forcing elite defender Myles Turner to foul out in just 17 minutes.
Two running backs coming off career seasons were designated as franchise players by their respective teams on Monday, as the Las Vegas Raiders applied the tag to Josh Jacobs and the Dallas Cowboys did the same with Tony Pollard.
The move enables both teams to negotiate with their respective players, both of whom would have been unrestricted free agents, towards long-term contracts up until July 15. Jacobs and Pollard would earn $10.1million in 2023 if a deal is not reached and they play under the tender offer.
Jacobs became the first Raider to lead the NFL in rushing yards since Hall of Famer Marcus Allen in 1985 when he compiled 1,653 this past season. The 25-year-old added 12 touchdowns and 400 receiving yards on 53 catches to earn first team All-Pro honours.
The four-year veteran has publicly stated his desire to re-sign with the Raiders, though he told The Athletic during the week of the Pro Bowl he has no interest in playing under the tag.
"Oooh, hero turned villain, man," he said when asked what his response would be to receiving the franchise tender.
"This is where I want to be. I feel like I've left my mark on this organisation. With the guys in the locker room – obviously, it's going to be shaken up next year – but I feel like this is home. For me, this is where I want to be, but I'm not going to discredit myself trying to be here, either. So, it's just got to make sense."
Pollard emerged as the Cowboys’ best running back and earned his first Pro Bowl nod with an outstanding 2022 campaign in which he rushed for 1,007 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns. His 5.22 yards per rush attempt ranked second in the NFL among players with at least 175 carries.
The 25-year-old is recovering from a broken left leg and high-ankle sprain he sustained in Dallas’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January, but is expected to be recovered in time for the start of next season.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters at the recent scouting combine in Indianapolis that the team was planning on using the tag on Pollard in hopes of working out a multi-year agreement.
"I really don’t want to say it’s a done thing because as these things come and go, you don’t know where you are until the deadline comes and goes," Jones said Friday. "But right now, certainly Tony is a big part of our plans."
A long-term deal with Pollard could impact the future of Cowboys longtime running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is scheduled to count $16.72m against the salary cap this season. The three-time Pro Bowler could be asked to take a pay cut to remain with the team or may be a candidate to be released.
Jacobs and Pollard are two of four players who have received the franchise tag ahead of Tuesday's deadline, along with Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram and Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne.
Reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith has reportedly signed a three-year extension to remain the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, Smith's new deal is worth $105million.
The 32-year-old took the starting role this season after Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos for a haul of draft picks.
It was meant to be a rebuilding season in Seattle, with the veteran acting as a bridge to their next franchise signal-caller, but eight years after his last season as a full-time starter Smith blew all expectations out of the water.
He led the Seahawks to a 6-3 start, finishing above .500 at 9-8, all while leading the NFL in completion percentage (69.8 per cent).
By all statistical indicators, Smith was a top-10 quarterback in the league this past season.
His 30 touchdown passes were the fourth-most, he finished eighth in passing yards (4,282), and his QBR of 60.8 had him tied for sixth. It was not all simple, short passes either, ranking ninth in yards per attempt (7.5).
After spending time with the New York Jets, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers, Smith has found a home in Seattle the past three years, and was one of 15 players to receive an MVP vote for the 2022 season.
Having made a grand total of $17.55m in his nine-year career, Smith is set to make up to $52m in the first calendar year of his new deal
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been reinstated by the NFL after a year-long suspension.
The 28-year-old was handed an indefinite suspension in March 2022 for betting in games during the previous season, including his own team, while with the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite that suspension, the Falcons traded Ridley to the Jaguars in November 2022 for a conditional 2023 sixth-round and 2024 fourth-round picks in the NFL Draft.
Ridley applied for reinstatement last month, on the first day he was eligible to do so, and the league has now confirmed his return.
In a statement, the NFL said: "Calvin Ridley of the Jacksonville Jaguars has been fully reinstated... Ridley, who had been suspended indefinitely since March 2022 for violating the NFL's gambling policy, is eligible to participate in all team's activities, effective immediately."
In his four active seasons with the Falcons, Ridley amassed 3,342 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns.
Oleksandr Usyk believes both he and Tyson Fury "need this fight" as the duo inch closer to a blockbuster heavyweight unification bout.
The Ukrainian retained his WBA (super-heavyweight), IBF and WBO belts against Anthony Joshua last August in Jeddah, while Fury completed his trilogy with Derek Chisora in December.
A likely deal to bring the pair together – and therefore all four titles, including Fury's WBC crown – looks to be growing closer to fruition.
Speaking about a potential bout, Usyk acknowledged any encounter would come freighted with history, though he stressed it would be no different from any other fight he has had.
"I just need this fight and that's it," he told The Overlap. "I think he needs it too. This fight is very important for both of us because all four belts haven't been held by one person for 30 years in the heavyweight division.
"So, both of us need this fight. This will be like any other fight. It's just a big man who has never lost before against a man who has the WBC belt.
"Of course, it's possible to get carried away but actually, this is a normal fight for the right to win all belts."
With a half-foot height advantage over Usyk and a longer reach to boot, Fury in theory has the upper hand in any match on a purely statistical level.
The Ukrainian has continued to confound critics since making the move up from cruiserweight though, and does not see any physical disadvantage against his rival.
"If a person is bigger than me, it doesn't mean that they're stronger," he added. "If they have longer arms, it doesn't mean that it will be an advantage.
"I've been boxing since I was 15 years old. During this time, I've heard many opinions from people that I know well or from people who I've met just once. They kept telling me that I shouldn't be boxing.
"They told me that I wouldn't become an Olympic champion or a world champion and that I shouldn't have switched to the heavyweight division.
"But these were opinions from people who couldn't do it themselves. Personally, I keep praying and moving forward.
"I don't worry about whether I will reach my destination. It's like a samurai. He doesn't have an aim, but he has his path. I have my path too."
Quarterback Derek Carr is signing for the New Orleans Saints after nine years with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 31-year-old Carr was released by the Raiders on February 14 – just hours before a deadline that would have paid him $40.4million in guaranteed money – and had met with the Saints, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers as possible landing spots for 2023.
With the Saints, Carr will be reunited with coach Dennis Allen, who was Carr’s first NFL coach with the Raiders and was part of the evaluation process of him leading up to the 2014 draft.
The Raiders selected Carr in the second round of the draft and Allen choose to make him the starter immediately as a rookie.
Carr is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards (35,222) and passing touchdowns (217) but left the team in rocky circumstances after a subpar 2022 season and was ultimately benched.
In 2022, he averaged 234.8 passing yards a game while his completion percentage (60.8) and QB rating (86.3) were both his lowest since his rookie year.
He made four Pro Bowls with the Raiders but one of his biggest areas of criticism is that he never led the team to a playoff win. He lost his lone postseason start and among quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era, he has the third-most starts for one team without a playoff victory.
The Saints went 7-10 last season and have missed the playoffs each of the last two years following the retirement of Drew Brees.
New Orleans was unsettled at quarterback after Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton played the position in 2022. The unproven Winston was injured in the first month of the season and the veteran Dalton performed well as his replacement but is now a free agent.
Grant Glichrist will miss the rest of the Six Nations after the Scotland lock was given a three-week ban for his red card against France.
Gilchrist was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Anthony Jelonch during a 32-21 victory for the defending champions at the Stade de France last month.
The 32-year-old could have faced a six-week suspension, but an independent judicial committee ruled that he must miss out three matches.
Gilchrist will sit out a clash with leaders Ireland at Murrayfield on Sunday and Scotland's final game of the tournament at home to Italy six days later.
The forward will be cleared to play for Edinburgh against Connacht on March 25 once he has completed a tackle course.
Scotland are second in the table, five points behind Ireland after Les Bleus consigned them to a first defeat of the tournament.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks has been released ahead of 2023 NFL free agency, the team announced on Monday.
A mainstay in the Vikings' defense for the past eight seasons, Kendricks is now free to sign with a new team before the start of the new league year on March 15.
In a statement, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said: "As a Pro Bowler and team captain, a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and a leader of the Vikings social justice efforts, Eric leaves a powerful, permanent legacy within our organisation and the Minnesota community.
"While he is best known as a playmaker and respected linebacker across the league, Eric's contributions to the Vikings extend far beyond the field because of his selfless and unwavering commitment to improving societal issues.
"I have the utmost respect for Eric and wish him and Ally, along with their growing family, continued success in their next chapter."
Kendricks led Minnesota in tackles in seven of his eight seasons, with his total of 919 for the Vikings second among NFL players since 2015, behind only Bobby Wagner.
Highlights in 2022 included a goal-line recovery of a Josh Allen fumble for a touchdown against Buffalo Bills, helping the Vikings clinch the NFC North and finish the season 13-4, with his 137 total tackles ranking 14th in the NFL.
Conor Benn revealed he was left feeling suicidal after a failed drugs test prior to his planned bout against Chris Eubank Jr. in October.
The 26-year-old saw his fiercely-anticipated fight cancelled following the test results but has since been cleared of any guilt.
Benn was reinstated to the WBC rankings after they concluded his failed test was unintentional and added the positive result could have been due to "highly-elevated consumption of eggs".
The welterweight has maintained his innocence throughout and has now shared that he did not think he would "see another day" after experiencing suicidal thoughts.
"I didn't think I was going to make it through this period, I didn't think I was going to make it through," he told Piers Morgan Uncensored.
"I was shamed for something I hadn't even done, it's hard because I felt like I was on death row for something I haven't even done.
"If I had done something wrong I'm human, I'd raise my hands to it 'I made a mistake', whatever it is, my personal life, I raise my hands.
"Never this, and I felt seven years of hard work and sacrifice and leaving my family and the image I maintain was just ruined at somebody else's incompetence. It's been hard for the family. I didn't think I'd see another day."
Asked if he felt suicidal, he replied: "Yeah, yeah I'd say so, and it upsets me now because I don't know how I got so bad.
"I got in a really bad way about it. You've got to remember, if you think I'm innocent or if you don't think I'm innocent, I am innocent."
Alex Cuthbert will miss Wales' two remaining Six Nations games due to a foot injury.
The wing came off the bench during defeats to Ireland and Scotland.
Cuthbert was ruled out of the 20-10 loss to England at the Principality Stadium last time out after doing damage to his foot.
The 32-year-old Ospreys flyer will play no part in a trip to face Italy at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday or Wales' final match of the tournament against France at Parc des Princes on March 18.
Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams started on the wings in the defeat to England in Cardiff, the former scoring the only try for Warren Gatland's side.
Wales are bottom of the table without a point from three matches, facing a battle to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
Kevin Durant felt "no emotions at all" when facing former team-mate Kyrie Irving in the Phoenix Suns' 130-126 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Durant and Irving both joined the Brooklyn Nets prior to the 2019-20 season and endured a mixed spell with the team before the pair were traded away prior to the trade deadline in early February.
Irving was dealt to the Mavericks before Durant was traded to the Suns two days later, setting the pair up to play against each other on Sunday in a repeat of last season's Western Conference semi-finals.
Dallas may have advanced from that series with a 123-90 Game 7 blowout in Phoenix, but it was the Suns who took victory this time as Durant hit the game-winner with 12 seconds left before grabbing the crucial rebound as Luka Doncic could not get an uncontested layup to drop.
Durant scored 37 points while Irving also reached 30, with the Suns forward saying he put emotions to one side when taking on his former colleague.
"[There were] no emotions at all," Durant told reporters at his post-game press conference. "It's another game.
"Like I told somebody earlier. I played most of my career against Kyrie. He was on my team for the last couple of years, but for the majority of my career I played against him, so I know how that feels.
"I just think that we were both locked in on the floor and want to go out there and be the best that we can be. And sometimes you get distracted trying to hang out talking, catching up on old times with a friend.
"So we were both locked in, and I'm glad we got the win."
Durant played 40 minutes for the first time since December 4 as he made it three straight road wins since joining the Suns, hitting 12 of 17 from the field while adding seven rebounds and three assists to help Phoenix move to 36-29 on the season.
It was the type of star-studded game Durant relishes.
He said: "It felt great, being able to play 40 minutes, being in a fourth-quarter game where we had to be locked in all the way to the last possession, that's always fun.
"Playing against two hall-of-fame players on the other side just makes the game even more fun. I'm glad we could come out here and get a win."
Durant is set to make his home debut on Wednesday when the Suns host the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he cannot wait to play in front of his new fans for the first time.
"I'm glad we had a couple on the road to get my feet wet because I know it's going to be loud in there," Durant added. "I'm looking forward to our fans, I know they can't wait to see us out on the floor."
Toto Wolff believes Mercedes need to make "radical" changes after suffering "one of the worst days in racing" at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Red Bull dominated in Sakhir on Sunday, Max Verstappen leading a one-two ahead of Sergio Perez.
Lewis Hamilton could only finish fifth and his Silver Arrows team-mate George Russell was seventh in the first race of 2023.
Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton crossed the line 50.977 seconds after Verstappen, who is a strong favourite to clinch a third consecutive title.
Mercedes team principal Wolff knows his team are unable to challenge Red Bull and must go back to the drawing board.
"One of the worst days in racing," Wolff told Sky Sports F1.
"Really not good at all, we were just lacking pace front, right, and centre.
"Red Bull is just on a different planet. That is what hurts because they are so far ahead, it reminds me of our best years because we just put a second on everybody else.
"That is the benchmark and we have to do one step after the other to come back and we can do that. We can, absolutely we can.
"I think it needs to be much more radical in the steps than hope for a three-tenths upgrade."
The second race of the season will be staged in Saudi Arabia on March 19.
Rory McIlroy applauded Kurt Kitayama's maiden PGA Tour victory after the pair were split by a single stroke at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The Northern Irishman tied for second alongside Harris English at eight under as Kitayama finally ended his runners-up hoodoo to claim victory at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
After three near-misses on the tour in 2022, including a one-stroke loss to McIlroy at the CJ Cup, Kitayama's victory saw him rewarded for his perseverance.
Speaking afterwards, McIlroy was happy to sing the praises of his fellow player, while acknowledging he was frustrated to have come up shy after just missing his putt at the final hole.
"I think [Kitayama] has been playing pretty well," McIlroy said. "He's sort of persevered and played wherever he could get starts.
"All of a sudden, he's won one of the biggest events on the PGA Tour, so good for him.
"It's disappointing. To play the final five holes in one over par, with this jam-packed leaderboard, isn't really going to get it done.
"It was a battle all day. I felt like I hung in there really well and just came up one short in the end."
Kitayama qualified for The Open with his victory and will hope to finally have an impact on a major. He was tied for 72nd last year.
"Last year was special, with it being at St Andrews," he said. "The Open Championship is a really cool experience.
"I haven't done well, but I've just got to try to keep getting myself back in it and keep getting better."
Novak Djokovic's absence from the Indian Wells Open has caused a stir in US politics, and on the tennis court it is hugely significant, too.
Sport was given a jolt three years ago when Indian Wells organisers cancelled the event on the eve of action getting under way, citing one local case of COVID-19.
At that point, on March 8, 2020, there had been more than 500 confirmed cases across the United States, with 21 deaths. Soon enough, events across the globe were being postponed or scrubbed.
Coronavirus travel restrictions prevented the unvaccinated Djokovic from taking part last year, and they will keep him away again this time, despite calls from two Florida senators for the jab requirement to be lifted by President Biden to allow the Serbian into the country.
With the world number one sidelined, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz look likely challengers for the men's title. There have been surprise champions in recent times, with Cameron Norrie winning in 2021 and Taylor Fritz carrying off the title 12 months ago, so it would be hasty to rule out something similar.
In the women's event, there has not been a successful title defence since Martina Navratilova won in 1990 and 1991. That can partly be attributed to Serena and Venus Williams boycotting for over a decade at the peak of their powers after complaining of facing racial abuse, and in their absence no player stepped up to dominate.
Iga Swiatek triumphed in Indian Wells and Miami last season, racking up the 'Sunshine Double', and she starts as a strong favourite again, but defeat in the recent Dubai final to Barbora Krejcikova showed the 21-year-old rankings leader will not have everything her way this season.
First-round action gets under way on Wednesday, after two days of qualifying, and here Stats Perform, with Opta data, looks at what lies ahead.
After Norrie and Fritz, could there be another shock men's winner?
Djokovic has won a joint-record five Indian Wells titles, but he last featured in 2019, when he lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber in round three.
Rafael Nadal is also absent this time with a hip injury, and with Roger Federer retired this will be the second Indian Wells main draw since 2000, after 2021, to feature none of the ATP Big Three.
The Big Three was a Big Four at one point, though, and Andy Murray will be competing. It is one of the two Masters 1000 tournaments Murray has never won, along with Monte Carlo, having triumphed at the other seven. Murray has the most match wins at Indian Wells among all men competing this time, having 28 to his name, two more than John Isner who sits next on the list.
No ATP player has a better win percentage at Indian Wells than Djokovic (84.7 per cent), who has won 50 of his 59 matches, while the now-retired Federer has appeared in the most finals (nine), also winning five times, so there is no doubt the field is missing its long-time classiest acts.
Fritz last year became the first men's champion aged under 25 years old since Djokovic in 2011, and he was also the first American to take the men's title since Andre Agassi beat Pete Sampras in the 2001 final.
Medvedev has won three consecutive tournaments in the lead-up this year, tearing to titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, but the Russian has a disappointing record at Indian Wells, having yet to reach the quarter-finals in five visits.
Just four players this century, including Alcaraz last year, have reached the semi-final stage before turning 20, with Nadal, Djokovic and Murray the other three. Alcaraz is still only 19 but a shade older than Boris Becker when he was a 19-year-old champion in 1987, the youngest men's winner.
Who else might come through? It feels like a free-for-all and Felix Auger-Aliassime will be hoping for a breakthrough tournament, with the Canadian being the only member of the current ATP top 10 to have never reached a final at ATP 1000 level. It has to happen sooner rather than later, surely.
Swiatek bids to lift curse of women's champions
Ever since Navratilova's two in a row, being a back-to-back champion at Indian Wells has been beyond all singles players on the WTA side.
Indeed, the only players to reach the final the year after their title run have been Lindsay Davenport (champion 1997, runner-up 1998) and Ana Ivanovic (champion 2008, runner-up 2009).
Nine women have won twice at Indian Wells, but none have managed three or more titles. The nine are: Steffi Graf, Mary Joe Fernandez, Navratilova, Daniela Hantuchova, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Davenport and Maria Sharapova.
A Swiatek victory would make it a club of 10, but there is a club of one when it comes to players who have captured two titles without dropping a set in either trophy run. Sharapova is the only player to pull off that feat, with her 2006 and 2013 glory runs.
Among all women, Davenport has reached the most finals (six) and won the most matches (47), with Azarenka having the most wins among active WTA players (34).
Navratilova remains the oldest champion, having won aged 34 in 1991, while Martina Hingis and Serena Williams won as 17-year-olds in 1998 and 1999.
Shocks can happen: Bianca Andreescu took the title as a wildcard in 2019, while Jenny Byrne reached the final as a qualifier in 1989, the first year the women's event was staged.
If there is to be a teenage women's finalist this time, maybe it will be Coco Gauff. The American turns 19 midway through the tournament, on March 13, and has yet to reach a WTA 1000 final, although she got to the French Open title match last year, where Swiatek inflicted a heavy defeat.
Perhaps Aryna Sabalenka can reprise her Australian Open form, having won a first major in Melbourne. But Sabalenka's record in Indian Wells is a rough one, with the Belarusian yet to go past the fourth round.
Strap in for a thrill ride. They all want to stop Swiatek, but if any player can defy history it might just be the Pole.
The New York Knicks claimed their ninth straight win on Sunday but top scorer Immanuel Quickley says they are not satisfied.
The Knicks improved their record to 39-27, firming up fifth spot in the Eastern Conference with Sunday's 131-129 double overtime win over the Boston Celtics fuelling the hype surrounding the side.
Quickley stepped into the starting line-up for the absent Jalen Brunson, who was the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February, before scoring a career-high 38 points showcasing the Knicks' depth.
"We're not satisfied at all," Quickley told ESPN. "We want to continue to get better. We want to continue to make a push down the stretch."
The Knicks are firmly in contention for one of the top four seeds in the East, which would earn them home-court advantage in the first-round of the playoffs.
The Milwaukee Bucks (46-18) and Celtics (45-20) are well out in front in, but the Knicks are closing in on the third-placed Philadelphia 76ers (41-22) and fourth-placed Cleveland Cavaliers (40-26).
Quickley's performance, across a career-high 55 minutes, included making five-of-12 from three-point range with eight rebounds and seven assists, though he was not interested in individual accolades.
"My team-mates did a great job," he said. "I'm really proud of my team. Double overtime against a really good team. You can't ask for better."
The defeat dealt another blow to the Celtics, who have dropped three of their past four games, including two against the Knicks.
Boston had led by 14 points, having allowed the biggest comeback of the season on Friday when the Brooklyn Nets rallied back from 28 points down.
"We're not locking in as much as we need to," said Celtics veteran Al Horford, who missed an attempt for a game-winning three-pointer on the second overtime buzzer.
"This is the second time we've had a lead, we feel good about it and a team makes a run and we let them back in the game.
"Throughout the season you're going to have adversity. We've played pretty good basketball most of the year. This is a time when you tighten up and fix some of these issues or it goes the other way.
"We want to play our best basketball, but this is a part of the season. There's ups and downs."
Celtics guard Derrick White claimed they have lost their "swagger", having surrendered top spot to the Bucks over the past week.
"We've just got to get our swagger back," White said. "Find a way to play with each other, have fun out there. I'm sure we'll get it back here soon."
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