Mavs’ Irving out due to back issue

Eight-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving is expected to miss one to two weeks with a bulging disc in his back, and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said a timeline for his return wasn’t immediately known. Kidd, speaking before the Mavericks played the Grizzlies on Monday night, didn’t shed much light on the injury or when Irving could return. “He’s out, so there’s nothing I can speculate or comment (on),” Kidd said. “It’s been reported he’s out a week or two.” When asked a timeline for Irving’s recovery, Kidd said: “Give me 48 hours to get that answer.” Irving is the Mavericks’ second-leading scorer at 25.6 points per game, shooting close to 50% from the field, including 41.1% from 3-point range. Irving’s injury is yet another blow to the Mavericks’ attack. Leading scorer Luka Doncic, who’s averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists, missed his sixth straight game due to a left calf strain. With Irving and Doncic out, the Mavericks (20-15 through Sunday), who made it to the NBA Finals last season, are missing 52.4 points per game.

Djokovic: Deportation still traumatic

Novak Djokovic said he still feels “a bit of trauma” when he travels to Australia, stemming from his deportation in 2022 because he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19. “The last couple of times that I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration, I had a bit of trauma,” Djokovic said in a newspaper interview published Monday, ahead of the Australian Open. Djokovic, who has won 10 of his record 24 Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park, continued: “The person checking my passport — are they going to take me, detain me again or let me go? I must admit I have that feeling.” Back in 2022, Djokovic obtained an exemption that would allow him into the Australian Open — and the country — even though there were rules requiring vaccination. But he was detained at the airport, his visa was canceled and he was sent to an immigration hotel. A judge later reinstated the visa, ruling he wasn’t given enough time to speak to his lawyers. Australia’s immigration minister then took away the visa again. Djokovic’s appeal of that ruling was denied by a three-judge panel, and he was deported.

Bayless faces $1.5M harassment suit

A woman who worked as a hairstylist for Fox Sports alleges in a lawsuit that former host Skip Bayless made repeated, unwanted advances toward her — including an offer of $1.5 million to have sex with him. Noushin Faraji, who was a hairstylist at Fox for more than a decade, is seeking unspecified damages from Bayless, Fox Sports and its parent company, Fox Corporation, according to a copy of the lawsuit filed late last week in California Superior Court in Los Angeles. The complaint claims Fox executives fostered a hostile work environment that allowed senior managers and on-air personalities to abuse workers without fear of punishment. Faraji claimed that the advances by Bayless included lingering hugs, kisses on the cheek and comments from Bayless that he could change Faraji’s life if she had sex with him. In 2021, she claims, Bayless offered Faraji $1.5 million for sex and, after she refused, later threatened her job. Bayless worked for Fox Sports until 2024 when his show was canceled. Faraji said she was fired in 2024 based on “fabricated” reasons. —AP