DALLAS -- Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic limped off the court after turning his left ankle in the final minute of Monday's 111-101 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Doncic injured the ankle with 44 seconds remaining after contesting a driving layup by Nuggets guard Austin Rivers, who fell onto Doncic's leg.

Doncic immediately hobbled to an empty courtside seat, sitting down and clutching his left ankle, before limping to the locker room.

"Luka walked off on his own power," Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. "I think he got rolled up on his lower left leg, so we'll see how he feels tomorrow."

Doncic was not made available to the media postgame because he was receiving treatment on the ankle.

The Mavs will not practice Tuesday before departing for a four-game road trip featuring a pair of two-game sets against the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers.

Doncic has a history of ankle sprains. He missed a total of 11 games during the 2019-20 season due to right ankle sprains. He played the last three games of the Mavs' 2020 playoff series despite a left ankle sprain.

Doncic, a first-team All-NBA selection the last two years, is averaging 24.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game for the 9-4 Mavs.

In initial remarks made to Phoenix Suns employees Monday, lawyers from the New York-based Wachtell Lipton firm that's investigating the team and majority owner Robert Sarver addressed concerns about retaliation, confidentiality and a timeline for completion, league sources told ESPN.

Two attorneys from the firm -- David Anders and Sarah Eddy -- were in Phoenix and led the talk to employees over a Zoom call, league sources said.

The firm is working on behalf of the NBA, which announced the investigation after ESPN's story -- based on interviews with more than 70 current and former Suns employees -- reported allegations of racism and misogyny in a sometimes hostile and toxic workplace during Sarver's 17-year tenure in Phoenix. It was noted on the call that this firm has led previous investigations of NBA franchises, including the LA Clippers and Atlanta Hawks.

The attorneys on the call explained that anyone who would like to remain confidential in a potential final report would indeed have their identity kept confidential, according to league sources.

Employees were also told, league sources said, that a thorough investigation would take time and that the attorneys were interested in all perspectives from all employees.

It was stressed, league sources said, that the attorneys' role is to find facts and not have any preconceived notions entering the investigation. The attorneys also encouraged participation and cooperation while acknowledging concerns employees might have about being retaliated against, league sources said.

Employees were encouraged to reach out to the two attorneys directly, league sources said, though it was explained that the process would not be completed quickly and would also include relevant documents.

Billy Eppler is finalizing an agreement to be the new general manager of the New York Mets, sources confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan on Monday night.

Eppler, 46, previously was GM of the Los Angeles Angels and spent 10 years with the New York Yankees, ascending to assistant GM.

The deal with Eppler ends a much-publicized search by the Mets for a new GM.

The team fired acting general manager Zack Scott on Nov. 1, two months after he was arrested on charges of drunken driving. Scott was promoted to the role in January when Jared Porter was fired after fewer than 40 days on the job following revelations he sent sexually explicit text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 while working for the Chicago Cubs.

Speaking last week, Mets president Sandy Alderson said several candidates to fill the job were unable to get permission from their current clubs to interview, while others had declined because they were too comfortable personally or professionally where they were.

Alderson had said he believed the biggest impediment in the club's dragging search was the spotlight created by the New York market.

That, though, shouldn't be a problem for Eppler, who has long ties to the city.

Born and raised in San Diego, he began as a scout with the Colorado Rockies before joining the Yankees in a similar role in 2004. For the next 11 years, Eppler graduated from scout to scouting director to assistant GM under Brian Cashman and built a solid reputation throughout the industry, leading to several GM interviews before he landed the job with the Angels.

He was GM of Los Angeles for five years until being fired at the conclusion of the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.

During his time in the role, Eppler signed Shohei Ohtani, negotiated Mike Trout's second extension, helped lure Anthony Rendon and executed major trades that landed Justin Upton and Andrelton Simmons.

But the Angels suffered through losing seasons in all five years under Eppler, largely because of a deficient pitching staff. The only manager Eppler hand-selected, Brad Ausmus, was fired after the team lost 90 games in 2019, a year marked by the sudden death of Tyler Skaggs.

Eppler, 46, was hired with then-manager Mike Scioscia heading into the final three years of his contract and was let go after Joe Maddon concluded his first season as manager, even though his option for the following season had been picked up.

The Angels' depleted farm system made some gains under Eppler's watch, notably with the drafting of Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh. But Eppler, like Jerry Dipoto before him, struggled to toe the line between building sustainability and winning immediately, a task he will undoubtedly take on with the Mets.

After sitting out the 2021 season, Eppler was poised to enter the agent world -- the same one that produced former Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen. Eppler was announced in September alongside Jim Murray and Michael Stival -- formerly of Excel Sports Management -- as new partners at WME who would lead its baseball representation business.

MLB Network first reported that Eppler and the Mets were closing in on a deal.

Information from ESPN's Alden Gonzalez was used in this report.

Last year's breakout postseason star is this year's American League Rookie of the Year as Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena took home the honors on Monday while beating out teammate Wander Franco and right-handed starter Luis Garcia of the Houston Astros.

Arozarena received 124 points in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, including 22 for first place. Garcia had 63 points and Franco had 30 points.

Arozarena, 26, led all rookies with a 4.1 WAR while compiling a .815 OPS. He hit 20 home runs while stealing 20 bases becoming the third rookie (Mike Trout, Andrew Benintendi) in the last decade to compile a 20-20 season.

Arozarena made only one error in 119 games played in the outfield. He and first baseman Jose Martinez were acquired in January 2020 from the St. Louis Cardinals for lefty Matthew Liberatore and catcher Edgardo Rodriguez. Arozarena was the ALCS MVP that season while hitting 11 home runs during the playoffs.

"I know I was favored to be the rookie of the year," Arozarena said through a translator. "But for me, my mind wasn't set on the award or winning the award. My mind and my goal was to have another good season and continue what I had done the year before."

Arozarena is Tampa Bay's first rookie of the year since outfielder Wil Myers in 2013.

Franco, 20, made a late season run for top rookie honors as he reached base in 43 consecutive games, tied with Frank Robinson (1956) for the longest such streak by a player 20 years old or younger. Franco only played in 70 games after getting called up from the minors in June.

Garcia, 24, was an integral part of the division winning Astros. He appeared in 30 games including making 28 starts while compiling a 3.48 ERA. He gave up just 133 hits in 155.1 innings. He led all AL rookies in innings pitched and strikeouts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi is fit again and will start their World Cup qualifier at home to Brazil on Tuesday but Neymar will miss out for the visitors after feeling pain in his thigh, the teams announced.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made similar comments ahead of their last game, a 1-0 win over Uruguay on Friday, although Messi only appeared for the final 14 minutes of the match.

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Argentina are second in South America's 10-team qualifying group, six points behind Brazil, who are the only team from the region to have secured their place at Qatar 2022 so far.

Scaloni repeated that Messi, 34, had recovered fully from the knee and hamstring worries that kept him out of Paris Saint-Germain's last two games and was ready for one of the biggest matches in the South American calendar.

"He was physically fit the other day and in the end we decided that the best thing was for him to play a few minutes so that he could get a feel for it and he is confirmed to play tomorrow," Scaloni said of Tuesday's match in San Juan.

"It's going to be a very difficult game. They are the team that leads the qualifiers and they are already through to the finals."

Brazil will be without Neymar after their top scorer reported feeling pains in the adductor region of his left thigh.

"Neymar Jr said he felt insecure about the situation and as there is not enough time to carry out complementary exams the technical commission decided to rest the player who will not travel with the team to San Juan, location of Tuesday's game against Argentina," the Brazil team said in a statement.

The top four teams in South American qualifying progress automatically to next year's World Cup finals and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.

Argentina are unbeaten in 26 games, a run that includes a 1-0 win over Brazil in the Copa America final in Rio de Janeiro in July.

European champions Italy missed out on automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland on Monday.

The Azzurri went into their final Group C qualification clash knowing they needed to win by enough goals to stay ahead of Switzerland to claim a place at next year's finals in Qatar.

With the Swiss earning a 4-0 victory over Bulgaria in Lucerne, only a win by a three-goal margin would have been enough for Italy but they could not find a way past a determined Irish side and had to settle for a March playoff spot.

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The playoffs do not hold fond memories for Italy, who failed to make the 2018 World Cup after losing to Sweden over two legs. Only three playoff teams out of 12 qualify for the finals.

"We can't do anything about it now, we have this game in March and will try to give our best," Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI Sport.

"At the moment we are struggling to score goals, despite dominating possession. Northern Ireland put everyone in defence and we struggle to break sides like that down."

It was clear from the start that it was not going to be an easy task for an injury-hit Italy, who began the match without a recognised striker in the absence of Ciro Immobile.

Northern Ireland had not conceded a goal at home in their previous four qualifiers and set up to frustrate the Italians, despite being unable to qualify for the finals themselves.

The visitors created little in the opening period, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo's effort from a tight angle, which was well saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell, as close as they came.

After the break, the hosts' George Saville missed a great opportunity to make Italy's task all the more difficult, before Federico Chiesa drilled just wide down the other end.

Mancini threw on several other forward options as he looked to boost his side's attacking threat, but the home team, in truth, never looked troubled.

Italy go into the March playoffs despite finishing their World Cup qualification campaign unbeaten -- four draws since their Euro 2020 success being their downfall.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has sat in plenty of team meetings in his eight-year career, and had plenty of his mistakes or turnovers rolled out for his teammates to see.

But Bridgewater said Monday that the Broncos' latest film session, which included his lack of an attempt to tackle Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay on an 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown, was the toughest to sit through.

"It definitely was, especially when you slow it down,'' Bridgewater said. "In real time it's like everything's happening fast, you've got the sideline to your advantage ... and then when you slow it down with the clicker in your hand, it's like man, this is bad. ... Hopefully I never have to be put in that situation again, and if I am make sure that I lay it all on the line.''

The Broncos had plenty of problems to sift through after Sunday's 30-13 loss, but Bridgewater's play had become the social media flashpoint in the hours following the loss, which dropped the Broncos to 5-5 as they enter their bye week.

On fourth-and-1 from the Eagles' 23-yard line on the last play of the third quarter with Philadelphia leading 20-13, Broncos running back Melvin Gordon slammed into the pile for what appeared to be a first down by the slimmest of margins. However, Eagles linebacker Davion Taylor pulled the ball free and Slay scooped it up at the Eagles' 17-yard line.

After Slay initially bobbled the ball, he scooped it up a second time, and circled back all the way to the Eagles' 11-yard line. Slay then spun and started toward the left sideline, as Broncos tight end Eric Saubert couldn't quite reel in Slay to bring him down at about the Eagles' 28-yard line.

As Slay passed the Eagles' 40-yard line with Gordon in pursuit, Bridgewater was standing at the Eagles' 42-yard line between Slay and the Eagles' sideline. Slay passed, in full stride, in front of Bridgewater, who didn't make a tackle attempt.

"I'm right there, the opportunity to just dive, sacrifice, do whatever I can to help the team, and in that moment I failed,'' Bridgewater said. "I own up to it. ... That's one of those moments I have to own up to the fact I didn't give everything I had in me on that play.''

Defensive end Shelby Harris was asked what he and his teammates thought after seeing the play in the meeting as well.

"I'm with my quarterback and I'm going to ride with him,'' Harris said.

For Vic Fangio's part, the Broncos coach said: "I'd like to see us all pursue it a little bit better offensively and find a way to get that guy down. Where Teddy got involved ... I'd like to see Teddy make a play at the guy.''

Fangio was also asked about ESPN NFL analyst Rex Ryan, who was on the Baltimore Ravens staff with Fangio for three seasons, offering on air Monday morning that Bridgewater should have been benched after the play.

"I respect Rex and his opinion, but I don't agree with him at this point,'' Fangio said.

Fangio also said backup Drew Lock will not replace Bridgewater after the bye and that "Teddy is our quarterback.''

"We watched it [Monday] as a team, coach pointed it out, that hey, my effort had to be better there, and I totally agree,'' Bridgewater said. "That's not, you know, the type of tape I want to put out there. It's one of those situations where you get pissed after you watch it because you know how much this game means to you, you know guys are out there trying to make a play and ... when you slow it down it's like man, just give more effort. ... I just needed to just lay it all out. ... I'm not going to sink in my chair or feel bad coach called me out, I take full ownership.''

The Brooklyn Nets will enter their highly anticipated meeting with the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday short-handed, without sharpshooter Joe Harris and veteran Paul Millsap.

While All-Star Kevin Durant (sore right shoulder) isn't listed on the injury report, the Nets ruled out starting swingman Harris due to a left ankle sprain suffered in the first half of the team's win in Oklahoma City on Sunday. Millsap will miss his second straight game because of personal reasons.

Durant, who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday, acknowledged Sunday that he has been playing with a sore shooting shoulder.

"It's solid," Durant told reporters after the win when asked about the shoulder. "A little sore here and there, but I played, didn't get in the way too much. Keep getting treatment and take it a day at a time."

Nets coach Steve Nash said that his star's shooting didn't seem to be impacted by the issue. Durant averaged 32.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 62.9% shooting last week.

"He's got a little tweak," Nash said when asked about Durant's shoulder. "But the ball still goes in the hole so I think he's hanging in there. I don't think it's the type of thing that we expect to get worse so he's kind of playing through it, so it's not terrible."

Harris was coming off his best game of the season, in which he hit 9 of 12 shots and scored 24 points in a 120-112 win at New Orleans on Friday. He left Sunday's game with 3 points and 3 rebounds in 14 minutes.

NEW YORK -- The Yankees hired former Mets manager Luis Rojas as their third-base coach on Monday, a month after he lost his job with the crosstown rivals.

Rojas managed the Mets for the past two seasons. The team declined its 2022 option for him on Oct. 4, a day after finishing third in the NL East at 77-85.

Rojas will take the spot of Phil Nevin, who had been the Yankees' third-base coach since the 2018 season. Nevin was let go last month, shortly after he waved home Aaron Judge in a key spot in the AL wild-card game at Boston -- Judge was easily thrown out, and the Red Sox went on to win.

The Yankees tied with Kansas City for making the most outs at the plate this season with 22.

Several ex-Mets have found success over the years after leaving Queens and finding new homes in the Bronx.

Former Mets stars David Cone and Darryl Strawberry won World Series rings with the Yankees and Dwight Gooden pitched a no-hitter for them. Former player and manager Joe Torre won four championships guiding the Yankees.

The 40-year-old Rojas, the son of former big league player and manager Felipe Alou, spent the last 16 seasons with the Mets organization. The Mets were 103-119 with him as manager.

When the Mets dismissed Rojas, they said he had been offered the opportunity to remain in the organization in a role that had yet to be determined. Rojas had been the Mets' quality control coach in 2019 and previously been a minor league manager and coach for the club.