The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS—Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks needed more than three quarters to warm up at Minnesota.

Then the Vikings kicked away their chance to beat the two-time defending NFC champs.

CHICAGO Even though fewer U.S. teens are smoking, secondhand smoke remains a big problem for them, a government study found.

Nearly half of nonsmoking kids in middle school and high school encountered secondhand tobacco smoke in 2013, and rates were even higher among smokers.

KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Scientists have discovered five supersize stars in other galaxies on a par with the monstrous stellar system in our own Milky Way.

Eta Carinae is the brightest and most massive star system within 10,000 light-years of us.

The binary system outshines our own sun by five million times.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—If the Kansas City Chiefs believe in karma or coincidence or some sort of cosmic alignment, then they should be confident their 22-year drought without a playoff victory soon will come to an end.

Start with the fact they’re heading to Houston on Saturday to face the AFC South champion Texans.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.—The Minnesota Vikings head into the playoffs looking like a team on the rise, with a second-year head coach pushing the right buttons, a 23-year-old quarterback still figuring things out, and a young, fast, aggressive defence that only figures to get better in the coming seasons.

LOS ANGELES—Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn stepped off a cross-country flight from Philadelphia and walked straight into the L.A. Kings’ lineup.

The duo’s long day ended with big third-period efforts from both veterans and another gritty win for their surging new team.

PORTAGE, Mich. Someone is betting $40,026 on the life of a 73-year-old lottery winner in Michigan.

That was the highest bid Thursday in an online auction for a lottery prize that pays $1,000 a month, before taxes. But here’s the hitch: The money is paid only for as long as Donald Magett stays alive.

TAMPA, Fla. — A rare 10-cent coin is expected to fetch over a million dollars at auction. The 1894-S dime is set for sale Thursday evening at Florida United Numismatists show in Tampa.

Belonging to a private owner who is remaining anonymous, coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint. Only 24 were made, and only nine likely still exist.

NEW YORK—Hours after one of their best defenders had surgery, the Toronto Raptors got back to defending the way they know they can.

Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Raptors prevailed 91-74 last night to hand the Brooklyn Nets their eighth-straight home loss.

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Jonathan Bernier carried the Maple Leafs early with 18 first-period saves, then he traded blows with Corey Perry in the third.

A busy night for Toronto’s revitalized goalie ended with another encouraging win.

Bernier made 39 saves in his 11th career shutout, and P.A. Parenteau scored two goals, as the Leafs blanked the Anaheim Ducks 4-0 last night.