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NBA (Basketball)

Pistons defeat Magic to secure fourth win in five games

Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic

Jaden Ivey scored 22 points before suffering a potentially serious left leg injury as the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 105-96 on Wednesday night.

Ivey got hurt when Orlando’s Cole Anthony dove for a loose ball early in the fourth quarter and collided with Ivey’s leg. Ivey had to leave the court on a stretcher.

Cade Cunningham added 19 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Jalen Duren contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, Tobias Harris had 17 points and eight rebounds, and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 12 points for Detroit, which has won four of its last five games.

Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 24 points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 21 points, and Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

The Pistons shot 64.1 percent from the field in the first half and led 65-49 at halftime. Ivey had 16 points, and Cunningham added 12 points as they combined to make all seven of their 3-point attempts. Orlando was already trailing by eight points with 3:30 left in the half, and Detroit extended its lead with a 14-6 run.

Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers

Orlando came out strong in the second half, scoring on its first three possessions, which led the Pistons to call a timeout. Detroit quickly pushed its lead to 18 points, 73-55, thanks to another 3-pointer from Ivey off a pass from Cunningham.

After a basket by Suggs cut the lead to 13, Duren scored two dunks during a 6-1 run for Detroit.

Suggs helped spark an Orlando comeback, scoring six points, making a block, and getting an assist during a 14-1 run. Detroit finished the third quarter strong, scoring the last two baskets, including a layup from Ivey, to lead 84-75 heading into the fourth.

The Magic opened the fourth quarter with the first four points before Ivey’s injury with 10:07 left.

Orlando kept pushing. Carter’s basket with 7:40 left cut the Pistons’ lead to three points.

With the score at 93-90, Detroit responded. Duren scored on a putback, Harris made a jumper, Hardaway hit a midrange shot, and Harris added a bank shot to push the lead to 101-90. The Magic never got closer than seven points after that.

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Jordan Poole returns as Wizards secure win over Bulls

Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls

Jordan Poole scored 30 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 125-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

Poole returned to the Wizards lineup after missing the last two games due to a hip injury. He shot 10 of 21 from the field, including making six 3-pointers.

Justin Champagnie added 15 points, and Carlton Carrington contributed 11 points, making all three of his 3-point attempts, helping Washington earn its third win in the last seven games. While this might not be a great stretch for most teams, the Wizards have only won six games this season and were just coming off a 16-game losing streak that left them with a 2-18 record after 20 games.

Chicago’s Zach LaVine led all scorers with 32 points, shooting 12 of 20 from the field. Coby White scored 17 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 12 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

New York Knicks and Washington Wizards

Kyshawn George hit a 3-pointer to extend the Wizards’ lead to 16 points, 100-84, with 10:20 left in the game. George then dunked to push the lead to 20 points, capping a 13-4 Wizards run that helped seal the win early in the fourth quarter.

Washington led by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, but the Bulls closed the half with a 12-5 run to cut the Wizards’ lead to four points, 55-51, at halftime. Poole led Washington with 12 points in the first half, while LaVine had 15 points to lead Chicago.

Washington shot 49.5 percent (49 of 99) from the field, including 17 of 36 (47.2 percent) from 3-point range. Chicago made 41 of 92 attempts (44.6 percent) from the field and shot 29.8 percent (14 of 47) from beyond the arc. The Bulls outrebounded the Wizards 44-42 but committed 20 turnovers, which led to Washington outscoring them 33-11 in points off turnovers.

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NBA (Basketball)

Celtics face challenging road matchup against Timberwolves

Boston Celtics (NBA)

The Boston Celtics may need to prepare extra ice packs for their upcoming road trip, and guard Jrue Holiday is ready for the challenge.

“Teams are challenging us,” Holiday said. “I think the game is becoming more physical, which is good. I think that’s a benefit for us where we can do the same.”

The Celtics will begin their four-game road trip with a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Boston is coming off a dominant 54-point win over the Toronto Raptors on New Year’s Eve, wrapping up an impressive 2024 calendar year for the defending NBA champions, who are focused on another title run in 2025.

However, a recent injury update could make Thursday’s game more difficult for the Celtics.

Forward Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable due to a right shoulder strain. Brown has been averaging 24.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 28 games this season.

Another forward, Kristaps Porzingis, is also questionable due to a sprained left ankle. Porzingis has missed three consecutive games and is averaging 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in 11 starts.

Minnesota also has a couple of injured players, but none are regular starters. Rookie guard Rob Dillingham is out with a right ankle sprain, and backup big man Luka Garza is also out due to a left ankle sprain, which has kept him out for the last six games.

Minnesota Timberwolves players celebrate after a goal

The Timberwolves are led by Anthony Edwards, who averages 24.8 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting. Julius Randle is second on the team with 19.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Minnesota’s head coach, Chris Finch, is most concerned about turnovers. He said his team was careless with the ball, committing 23 turnovers in their latest game, a 113-105 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

“If we don’t turn the ball over, we can control this game,” Finch said. “No doubt about it.”

One player who is back for Boston is Holiday, who returned to action on Tuesday after missing three games due to a shoulder injury. He scored 14 points, making 4 of 5 shots from three-point range.

Holiday joked that the shoulder injury might have actually helped improve his shooting.

“Maybe the hit is what helped it,” Holiday said. “Maybe it got my shoulder in line.”

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has recently urged the team to be more aggressive on defense.

Holiday said this challenge suits his style of play.

“I think it’s just about being active and using your instincts,” Holiday said. “That’s something that I always like to do — think the game, especially on the defensive end. Be able to get deflections, start the break and things like that. It’s definitely fun for me, being more active.”

This will be the second and final meeting between the two teams this season. Boston won the first game 107-105 at home on November 24.

Brown led the Celtics with 29 points in that game. Jayson Tatum added 26 points and eight rebounds, while Derrick White contributed 19 points and nine rebounds.

For Minnesota, Edwards scored 28 points with nine rebounds and seven assists. Randle added 23 points, and Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 20 rebounds.

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NFL (American Football)

Eagles to sit RB Saquon Barkley, ending record pursuit

Saquon Barkley reacts in the 2nd half

Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson will keep the NFL’s single-season rushing record for at least another year.

With the Philadelphia Eagles already in the playoffs, head coach Nick Sirianni announced on Wednesday that some players will be rested for the final game of the regular season against the New York Giants.

Among those sitting out will be star running back Saquon Barkley, who needed 101 yards to break Dickerson’s long-standing record of 2,105 rushing yards set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Eagles (13-3) have already secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC, so health is the team’s priority heading into their season finale against the 3-13 Giants.

“It’s a very special record that’s been standing for a very long time by a great player,” said Sirianni. “But you try to do what’s best for the team. Our goals are to have success and play well in the next game we play.”

Barkley has topped 101 rushing yards in 11 games this season, including a 167-yard performance in Sunday’s 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. That performance helped him become the ninth player in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season.

On Sunday, Barkley said he would respect Sirianni’s decision about playing in the finale.

Philadelphia Eagles players celebrate after a touchdown

“Whatever his decision is, I’m all for it,” Barkley said. “If his mindset is, we’ll go out there and try it, I’ll go out there and try it. If his mindset is, let’s rest and get ready for this run, I’m all for that, too … I came here to do something special. Breaking a record is special, but I want a banner up there. I think we all do.”

In his first season with the Eagles, Barkley leads the NFL in rushing attempts (345), rushing yards (2,005), and yards from scrimmage (2,283).

Sirianni also mentioned that quarterback Jalen Hurts is still in concussion protocol, and the team has not yet decided who will start against the Giants in light of Kenny Pickett’s rib injury. Either Tanner McKee or Ian Book could take the starting role.

Hurts and Pickett both got injured during the Eagles’ 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Dec. 22. Pickett threw for 143 yards in that game and also against the Cowboys before McKee came in, completing 3 of 4 passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

In other news, the Eagles also activated tight end Dallas Goedert’s 21-day practice window on Wednesday. Goedert was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 7, a week after suffering a knee injury in the Eagles’ 24-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Goedert, 29, had started all nine games he played this season, catching 38 passes for 441 yards and two touchdowns. He was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft and has since racked up 345 receptions for 4,030 yards and 24 touchdowns in 92 career games (75 starts).

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NBA (Basketball)

Raptors carry 11-game losing streak into matchup with revamped Nets

Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe during the first half of an NBA basketball game

The Brooklyn Nets will look different when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night for their second meeting in two weeks.

On Sunday, the Nets traded Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers before their 102-101 loss to the Orlando Magic. In exchange, Brooklyn received D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks.

Finney-Smith and Milton had strong performances in Brooklyn’s 101-94 win over Toronto on December 19, with Milton scoring 12 points and Finney-Smith adding 8. Since then, the Nets have lost four of their last five games.

Meanwhile, the Raptors’ struggles have continued, as they lost their 11th straight game on Tuesday, falling 125-71 to the Boston Celtics. The 54-point loss was the biggest in Raptors’ history and the second-largest margin of victory in Celtics’ history.

With Finney-Smith gone, the Nets are expected to rely more on 20-year-old Noah Clowney. He played a solid 11 minutes against Toronto in December, recording 11 points and 9 rebounds. Clowney has started four of the past five games for Brooklyn, averaging 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds during that stretch.

“There’s going to be minutes to play,” said Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez. “Someone else has to take on the responsibilities like assists, 3-pointers, and all that. Sunday was an example of that.”

Clowney had 13 points in 28 minutes against Orlando, hitting 3-of-5 from three-point range. However, the Nets lost a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Clowney knows there’s room for improvement. “It’s a lot of things I can improve at,” he said. “Being consistent, staying cool. That’s probably the main thing. But it’s a lot of things I need to work on.”

Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors

Fernandez praised Clowney’s efforts: “He’s playing the perimeter spot one through four. He’s also playing the five. He’s letting it fly. Defensively, he’s finding a way to be physical without fouling. There’s a lot to clean up, but this is a process.”

The Raptors, on the other hand, have had a tough time for the last month. They committed 52 turnovers in the last two games, including 21 against Boston.

Although Toronto held Boston to 45 points in the first half, they only scored 35. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic saw the team’s fight in the first half as a positive step after recent poor performances.

“I thought in the first half we came out and we had a lot of fight,” Rajakovic said. “To me, that was a step in a positive direction.”

But in the second half, Boston shot 74.4% from the field and 77.8% from three-point range, which allowed them to dominate.

The Celtics shot 54% from the floor, compared to the Raptors’ 31.4%, and 51.2% from beyond the arc, while Toronto made only 25%.

Rajakovic wants the team to “turn the page” and be ready for the Nets. “It should be motivation for us to come out and be very competitive,” he said.

The Raptors also played without Gradey Dick (hamstring) and RJ Barrett (illness) on Tuesday.

“There is a lot of adversity, and we’re feeling that adversity, and it’s good,” Rajakovic said. “We’re going to use that adversity to our advantage, to get information that we need to improve, to focus on the most important things and to see the growth. That’s what this whole season is about, and to also learn who can rise to the challenge and who cannot.”

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NBA (Basketball)

NBA roundup: Thunder extend win streak to 12 with victory over Wolves

Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to their 12th straight win, a 113-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

This streak is the Thunder’s longest since the 2012-13 season and ties the franchise’s longest stretch since moving to Oklahoma City. The team’s longest win streak ever is 14 games, set by the 1995-96 Seattle SuperSonics.

Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort each added 14 points, with Williams also contributing seven rebounds and seven assists.

For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 20 points in the second quarter, but the team’s three-game win streak came to an end. Naz Reid had 19 points and eight rebounds, while Mike Conley scored 16 points. Julius Randle contributed 11 points and six assists.

Celtics 125, Raptors 71

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 23 points and eight rebounds as they dominated Toronto for their 10th straight win over the Raptors.

Payton Pritchard added 19 points off the bench for Boston, who shot 51.2% from three-point range, making 22 of 43 attempts. Derrick White (16 points), Jrue Holiday (14 points), Jaylen Brown (12 points), Sam Hauser (12 points), and Jordan Walsh (10 points) also contributed in double figures.

Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 16 points and 13 rebounds, but Toronto struggled with shooting, making just 1 of 8 from three-point range. The Raptors turned the ball over 21 times and scored the fewest points of any team this season. This loss marked Toronto’s 11th straight defeat.

Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors

Cavaliers 122, Lakers 110

Jarrett Allen posted a season-high 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Cleveland to a wire-to-wire victory over the Lakers, extending their win streak to eight.

Donovan Mitchell added 26 points for the Cavaliers, who finished off Los Angeles with a 17-2 run that began in the third quarter and continued into the fourth. Mitchell hit three of his six three-pointers during this key stretch, which stretched Cleveland’s lead to a game-high 16 points.

Austin Reaves matched his career high with 35 points for the Lakers, adding 10 assists and nine rebounds. Anthony Davis chipped in 28 points and 13 rebounds, but the Lakers fell after winning five of their previous six games.

Bucks 120, Pacers 112

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a comeback win over Indiana in Indianapolis.

Brook Lopez added 16 points for the Bucks, who rallied from 19 points down in the second half to end a two-game losing streak. Khris Middleton scored 15 points.

Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 25 points, while Pascal Siakam added 20 points and Myles Turner posted 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Pacers have now lost three of their last four games after a five-game winning streak.

Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks

Spurs 122, Clippers 86

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 26 minutes, leading San Antonio to an easy win over Los Angeles.

Wembanyama set the tone early, scoring 17 points in the first quarter, which matched the Clippers’ total as a team. San Antonio led by 25 points late in the first half, 28 points after three quarters, and by as many as 41 in the final moments.

James Harden led the Clippers with 17 points, including 13 in the first quarter. Norman Powell added 15 points, and Amir Coffey scored 14 points, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a blowout loss.

Grizzlies 117, Suns 112

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 38 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Desmond Bane added 31 points to lead Memphis to a win over Phoenix.

Luke Kennard contributed 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench. The Grizzlies held a 14-point lead at halftime and held off a late Phoenix rally in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Durant led the Suns with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. However, the Suns lost Bradley Beal to a hip contusion after the first quarter. Beal was hurt when he landed awkwardly after a foul by Jackson and played through the pain before being ruled out for the remainder of the game.

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Jaren Jackson Jr. scores 38 points to lead Grizzlies past Suns

Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Desmond Bane added 31 points to help the Memphis Grizzlies secure a 117-112 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Luke Kennard chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and John Konchar contributed 12 rebounds and seven points. The Grizzlies built a 14-point lead by halftime and managed to hold off the Suns, who cut the lead to just one point in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Durant led Phoenix with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, but the Suns lost Bradley Beal to a hip contusion after the first quarter. Beal got hurt when he was fouled by Jackson with 4:40 left in the first quarter. He played through the rest of the period but was later ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Tyus Jones scored 21 points for Phoenix, while Mason Plumlee and Monte Morris both finished with 12 points. Devin Booker, in his return after missing five games due to a groin injury, struggled with his shot, scoring 16 points on 4-of-20 shooting.

Phoenix Suns- Kevin Durant

Jackson had a strong start, scoring 14 of Memphis’s first 20 points. He finished the first quarter with 19 points, and the Grizzlies led 36-26 after the first 12 minutes.

Phoenix came out strong in the second quarter, scoring the first seven points while Jackson rested, but Bane helped shift the momentum back in Memphis’s favor by scoring 13 points in the second quarter. The Grizzlies ended the half on a 19-10 run to lead 69-55 at halftime.

The Suns fought back in the third, with Plumlee scoring four dunks to help Phoenix cut the lead to 74-71. Bane added nine more points in the third, and Memphis led 91-86 going into the final quarter.

Durant’s dunk made it a 96-95 game, but that was as close as the Suns would get. Bane and Jackson each hit a three-pointer on consecutive possessions, extending the Grizzlies’ lead to 102-97 with 5:55 left.

Booker’s three-pointer pulled Phoenix to within 108-106 with 1:51 remaining, but the Grizzlies responded with the next six points to secure the win.

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Jarrett Allen scores 27 as the Cavaliers extend their winning streak with a victory over the Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers

Jarrett Allen had a season-high 27 points and 14 rebounds to help the Cleveland Cavaliers secure their eighth straight win, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 122-110 on Tuesday.

Donovan Mitchell contributed 26 points for the Cavaliers, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back.

Cleveland came out strong, building a 15-point lead halfway through the first quarter. The Lakers briefly took the lead in the second quarter, but Cleveland controlled most of the game.

Allen made 12 of 14 shots, leading the Cavaliers’ inside scoring. Mitchell helped from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 13 three-pointers, as the team finished 39.1 percent (18 of 46) from long range.

Max Strus scored 15 points off the bench, including 3 three-pointers in a key stretch in the third quarter. His shooting, along with another three-pointer from Darius Garland, helped spark a 12-2 run for Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell celebrates after hitting a 3-point basket in the 2nd half

Later, a 17-2 run, starting in the third quarter and continuing into the fourth, pushed the Cavaliers’ lead to as much as 16 points. Mitchell hit half of his six three-pointers during this run, and Georges Niang contributed with two three-pointers off the bench, finishing with nine points. Evan Mobley added 20 points and six rebounds.

For the Lakers, Austin Reaves matched his career-high with 35 points and added 10 assists and nine rebounds. Anthony Davis also had a strong game, scoring 28 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking two shots. LeBron James scored 23 points and provided seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Cleveland.

Reaves, Davis, and James were the only Lakers in double figures. Shake Milton and Dorian Finney-Smith, who made their Lakers debuts after being traded from Brooklyn, contributed six and two points off the bench, respectively.

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NBA (Basketball)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Wolves for 12th consecutive victory

Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-105 on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to 12 games.

This is the Thunder’s longest streak since early in the 2012-13 season, tying the record for the franchise since it moved to Oklahoma City. The longest streak in franchise history is a 12-game run by the 1995-96 Seattle SuperSonics.

After a slow start, Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City. Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams each had 14 points and seven rebounds, with Williams also adding seven assists.

For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 20 points in the second quarter, but their three-game win streak was broken. Naz Reid contributed 19 points and eight rebounds, Mike Conley scored 16 points, Julius Randle added 11 points and six assists, and Donte DiVincenzo had 10 points and five assists.

Minnesota trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter but cut the lead to three twice in the final 3:14. However, each time Oklahoma City answered back.

Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

The last response came with just under two minutes left, when Williams passed the ball to Gilgeous-Alexander near the top of the key, and he hit a 3-pointer to give the Thunder a six-point lead with 1:48 remaining.

This was Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth 40-point game of the season, with three of those coming during the Thunder’s current streak.

In the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant. With just a few seconds left in the quarter, he drove to the basket, made a layup that hung in the air for a moment before dropping, and the crowd erupted. That gave him 19 points in the quarter.

The Timberwolves turned the ball over 11 times in the third, allowing Oklahoma City to score 20 points off those mistakes. The Thunder finished with 31 points from Minnesota’s season-high 24 turnovers. Oklahoma City committed 13 turnovers, leading to 10 points for the Timberwolves.

While the Timberwolves set the tone defensively in the first half and held the Thunder to a 39.6% shooting percentage, Oklahoma City dominated the third quarter, outscoring Minnesota 43-23 and taking control of the game.

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NBA (Basketball)

Wembanyama, Spurs dominate tired Clippers

San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers

Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 26 minutes, setting the tone with a strong first quarter as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-86 on Tuesday.

The Clippers, coming off a win in New Orleans the previous night, struggled throughout the game. Their performance was hurt by Wembanyama’s dominant start and the Spurs’ aggressive play.

Wembanyama scored 17 points in the first quarter alone, matching the total points of the entire Clippers team. By the end of the first half, San Antonio led by 25 points, and their advantage grew to 28 by the end of the third quarter. The Spurs led by as many as 41 points in the final moments of the game.

Keldon Johnson and Stephon Castle were key contributors off the bench for the Spurs, adding 17 and 15 points, respectively. Harrison Barnes chipped in with 11 points. The Spurs picked up their second win in three games, and this was their biggest margin of victory this season.

James Harden led the Clippers with 17 points, with 13 of those coming in the first quarter. Norman Powell finished with 15 points, and Amir Coffey scored 14, but the Clippers saw their three-game win streak come to an end.

Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors

The Spurs never trailed, starting the game with six quick points and building a lead to 18-8 on a jumper from Devin Vassell. Wembanyama scored nine of San Antonio’s last 11 points in the first quarter, and the Spurs ended the period with a 31-17 lead.

San Antonio’s lead grew to 20 points in the second quarter after a 3-pointer from Julian Champagnie. Wembanyama dunked off a steal by Chris Paul, and the Spurs’ lead reached 25 points before Powell’s layup made it 63-43 at halftime.

Wembanyama led all players at halftime with 21 points and seven rebounds, while the Spurs shot 50 percent compared to the Clippers’ 35.9 percent. Harden led the Clippers with 13 points, and Powell had 12.

Los Angeles never got closer than 19 points in the second half. The Spurs extended their lead to 86-57 after Johnson’s dunk with 3:22 left in the third quarter, heading into the final period with a 91-63 advantage.

San Antonio finished the game outshooting Los Angeles 49 percent to 34.5 percent.

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NBA (Basketball)

Hawks aim to extend winning run and avenge loss to Nuggets

Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls

The Atlanta Hawks have had an up-and-down start to the season, but they are currently on a positive run as they prepare for a New Year’s Day game against the Denver Nuggets.

Atlanta has won four straight games, including a 126-115 victory over Toronto on Sunday to begin a six-game road trip. On Wednesday, they will get another shot at the Nuggets, who beat the Hawks 141-111 on Dec. 8, ending Atlanta’s six-game winning streak.

After a rough start to the season with a 7-11 record, the Hawks have bounced back with 11 wins in their last 15 games. They will look to extend their streak despite being without reserve forward Larry Nance Jr., who broke his right hand in a game against Miami on Saturday and will have surgery on Thursday.

Nance has played in 15 games this season, averaging 9.5 points, and has been part of trade rumors. Guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has missed four straight games with a lower-leg contusion and is doubtful for Wednesday’s game.

The Hawks’ recent success has been driven by Trae Young, who leads the team with 22 points and 12.1 assists per game. Jalen Johnson is also contributing with 19.9 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds per game. De’Andre Hunter, coming off the bench, has been a key contributor with 20.6 points per game.

Young spoke highly of Hunter, saying, “We need big moments from certain guys, and Dre has been doing great for us. That’s Sixth Man of the Year right there too. So, we got a couple of guys that can win some awards if we keep winning.”

Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets

On the other side, Denver has been led by Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. Injuries have forced him into the starting lineup in 10 of the Nuggets’ 31 games.

Westbrook had a standout performance in Monday’s win against Utah, scoring 16 points on a perfect shooting night (7-of-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from the free-throw line), and he also recorded his 201st career triple-double.

Coach Michael Malone praised Westbrook, saying, “He came here for one reason, that’s to help us win a championship. And he hates to lose. And that’s what I also love about him, is that he’s built the right way. I’ll go to war with Russell Westbrook any day.”

While Westbrook has stepped up, the Nuggets are led by the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic. Jokic recorded his league-leading 13th triple-double of the season on Monday and entered Tuesday ranked second in the NBA in scoring (31 points per game), third in rebounds (12.9 per game), and third in assists (9.5 per game). Jokic is once again making a strong case for his fourth MVP award. Jamal Murray (19.8 points per game) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.7) are also key scorers for the Nuggets.

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NBA (Basketball)

76ers look to continue strong play in New Year’s matchup with Kings

Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics

The Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings both end 2024 on a high note and hope to continue their good form into the new year when they meet on Wednesday night.

The game features two coaches with strong ties to the Toronto Raptors: the 76ers’ Nick Nurse, who spent 10 years with the team, including five as head coach, and Kings interim coach Doug Christie, who was part of the Raptors’ 2000 playoff team and played over four seasons in Toronto.

In his second year coaching the 76ers, Nurse has turned the team around. After a rough 3-14 start, they’ve won 10 of their last 13 games. They are currently on a four-game winning streak, including three straight road wins to start a four-game Western road trip.

Tyrese Maxey (30.0 points per game) and Joel Embiid (26.3) have been the stars during this stretch, though Embiid (sprained left foot) will not play on Wednesday. Paul George has been a solid contributor, averaging 31.3 minutes per game.

However, the biggest positive for the team has been the play of Caleb Martin. Martin’s return to full health has been a key factor in the 76ers’ improvement.

“I had a sigh of relief for him,” George said after Martin hit a career-high seven 3-pointers in a Christmas Day win over the Boston Celtics. “Just to watch him battle and work and just put countless hours on getting his body together. He’s a warrior.

Sacramento Kings (NHL)

It was eating away at him that he couldn’t be himself and he couldn’t be available for us. Again, he’s a warrior, so he’s ready when he’s called upon.”

Martin has averaged 11.8 points during the winning streak, shooting 56.7% from the field and 12-for-18 from beyond the arc. He’s also contributed with 15 rebounds, four steals, and four blocks in the last four games. He posted a team-best plus-27 plus/minus in 38 minutes during Monday’s 125-103 win over Portland.

Meanwhile, the Kings are coming off a much-needed victory. They snapped a six-game losing streak with a 110-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks, giving Doug Christie his first home win as interim coach. Christie took over as interim coach after the Kings fired Mike Brown following their fifth straight loss, a 114-113 defeat to the Detroit Pistons.

Despite only making slight adjustments to the game plan, the Kings responded well to Christie’s leadership. Domantas Sabonis, who had a triple-double in the win, credited the change in emotion and voice as key to the team’s improved performance.

“We’ve spent three summers now with him,” Sabonis said of Christie. “He works his butt off, and just to see him installing what he believes in the guys, and the guys reacting that quickly to it, is awesome.”

The Kings are hoping to build on their win against the Mavericks, but their recent history with the 76ers isn’t great. The Kings ended a 10-game losing streak to the 76ers last March. The Kings hadn’t beaten Philadelphia since February 2019. In the last meeting in Sacramento, Sabonis had a triple-double, and Embiid did not play in the Kings’ 108-96 win.

The Kings may be without starting forward Keegan Murray (11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds per game), who is listed as doubtful for the game due to left ankle soreness.