NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. returned to the Atlanta Braves' spring training lineup on Thursday, two weeks before opening day. Acuña batted leadoff and filled the designated hitter spot against the Tampa Bay Rays. He went hitless in three at-bats, with two strikeouts, before he was lifted for a pinch hitter.

The NFL is reviewing whether the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles violated tampering policies during the legal tampering window, a league spokesman said Thursday. The Falcons agreed to a contract with four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins shortly after teams were permitted to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents on Monday.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons quickly moved on from Desmond Ridder, trading their former starting quarterback to the Arizona Cardinals for receiver Rondale Moore on Thursday. The dumping of Ridder was no surprise after the Falcons made a big splash in free agency by signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract that includes $100 million in guaranteed money.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Anfernee Simons scored 36 points and the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Atlanta Hawks for a 106-102 victory on Wednesday night. DeAndre Ayton added a season-high 33 points and 19 rebounds for Portland, which had lost four of its last five games. It was Ayton's sixth straight double-double.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Blue Cain had 19 points, Justin Hill scored 17 off the bench and 11th-seeded Georgia finished the game on a 12-0 run to beat No. 14 seed Missouri 64-59 on Wednesday night in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Kirk Cousins has a single playoff victory in his long career. Even so, the Atlanta Falcons are betting at least $100 million that he's the quarterback who can lead this star-crossed franchise to its first Super Bowl championship. Cousins was introduced Wednesday evening by the Falcons, who made a huge financial commitment to land one of the biggest prizes of NFL free agency.

The Atlanta Falcons and wide receiver Darnell Mooney have agreed on a three-year, $39 million contract with $26 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract can’t become official until the new league year begins Wednesday.

Kirk Cousins is leaving Minnesota for Atlanta, landing another big contract with a well-timed foray into free agency. Cousins agreed Monday to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed with the Falcons, according to a person with knowledge of the terms, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the deal can't be signed until Wednesday when the new league year begins.

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks forward Saddiq Bey will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, another major blow to the injury-plagued team. The Hawks already have been playing without two starters — top scorer Trae Young and Jalen Johnson — as well as backup center Onyeka Okongwu.

ATLANTA (AP) — Trey Murphy III had 28 points off the bench to help the New Orleans Pelicans complete a perfect three-game road trip with a 116-103 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. Zion Williamson had 27 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Pelicans, who have won four straight overall and snapped the Hawks' three-game winning streak.

Denver Jones scored a season-high 21 points, making 7 of 9 3-pointers, and No. 13 Auburn closed the regular season with a 92-78 victory over Georgia on Saturday night.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — David Thomas had 27 points in eighth-seeded Mercer's 84-76 victory over nine-seed The Citadel on Friday in the Southern Conference Tournament. Mercer will face top seed Samford in Saturday's quarterfinals.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Kamdyn Curfman's 30 points led No. 10 seed Marshall over seventh-seeded Georgia State 86-74 on Thursday night in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

ATLANTA (AP) — Saddiq Bey scored 23 points and the Atlanta Hawks recovered after losing a 21-point lead to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-101 on Wednesday night. Bogdan Bogdanovic also scored 23 points for the Hawks, who prevented the Cavaliers from sweeping the four-game season series.

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson scored 26 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 116-100 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. De’Andre Hunter had 22 points off the bench and Dejounte Murray finished with 21.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Miles Kelly scored 19 points, Baye Ndongo made a game-winning shot with 0.4 seconds left and Georgia Tech held off Wake Forest for a 70-69 victory on Tuesday night.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Noah Thomasson scored 15 points, Russel Tchewa had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Georgia beat short-handed Mississippi 69-66 on Tuesday night. Georgia led 65-54 with 2:45 remaining before Ole Miss scored the next nine points. Tchewa was called for a Flagrant 1 with 52.3 seconds left, leading to two free throws by Allen Flanigan and a 3-pointer by Jaylen Murray to get Ole Miss within 65-63.

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Robert McCray scored 31 points to lead Jacksonville over Kennesaw State 92-86 on Monday night in the first round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. McCray shot 10 for 14 (4 for 4 from 3-point range) and 7 of 10 from the free throw line for the Dolphins (15-16).

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks announced Monday they have signed forward Dylan Windler to a two-way contract. The 6-foot-7 Windler has played in a combined 11 games this season with the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks.

Caitlin Clark stood alone at the free-throw line on Sunday and made the foul shots that put her atop the all-time NCAA Division I scoring chart.

Kyle Sturdivant scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half, Baye Ndongo finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds and Georgia Tech pulled away to beat Florida State 85-76 on Saturday in the Yellow Jackets' final home game.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. has some irritation around his meniscus in his surgically repaired right knee.

NEW YORK (AP) — Cam Johnson scored a season-high 29 points, hitting a season-high seven 3-pointers in 11 attempts, to help the Brooklyn Nets beat the Atlanta Hawks 124-97 on Thursday night to open a two-game series. Fighting for the last play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, the teams will meet again at Barclays Center on Saturday.

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — Tyren Moore had 23 points in Georgia Southern's 87-73 victory over Marshall on Wednesday night. Moore also added five rebounds for the Eagles (7-23, 7-10 Sun Belt Conference).

ATLANTA (AP) — Terrence Edwards scored 30 points and James Madison beat Georgia State 84-78 on Wednesday night for its ninth victory in a row. Edwards also contributed five assists for the Dukes (27-3, 15-3 Sun Belt Conference).