Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Game, Set, UnMatched

by

PARKLAND, (Florida) – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Fifth Set, a tennis apparel company that provides patented “SweatRoute” technology to keep tennis players dry, comfortable, and at the top of their game, is making its product(s) available to the mass audiences. Serving-up its inaugural collection with men’s shorts, the product is now available exclusively on www.thefifthset.com and retails for $72.00. Shorts are available in three colors and four different sizes. The full product launch is coming off the heels of a successful Kickstarter campaign where the start-up crowdsourced more than $9,000 through pre-orders of the tennis shorts.

“The Fifth Set is a labor of love that solves a real problem that plagued my game for nearly 30 years — wet tennis balls from sweat-drenched pockets, causing a ‘sweat tsunami’ whenever I served,” said Yoni Malchi, The Fifth Set’s CEO and founder, as well as a lifelong tennis player. “After discovering a void in the market for tennis shorts with waterproof, breathable, and accessible pockets, I received a patent on my own design, which is a game-changer for tennis players at every level.”

The Fifth Set’s patented shorts offer three key differentiators:

  • Sweatproof: Pocket liners are constructed with a waterproof layer and heat-sealed seam. Combined with a water-resistant outer body, the shorts redirect moisture to keep tennis balls fully protected.
  • Breathable: The body and pocket liners are breathable to promote comfort, as well as quick and agile movement. The pocket liner’s microporous, waterproof layer protects from sweat while keeping the player cool.
  • Accessible: Pocket openings are unsealed, but stay closed, preventing sweat from seeping in and allowing quick accessibility for frequent use.

“During the pandemic, one of the biggest retail trends that evolved was that consumers have become more demanding for unique, top-quality products that are also function-specific,” said Danielle Malchi, co-founder of The Fifth Set. “With more people focused on fitness than ever before, consumers are seeking truly innovative products to help them reach their personal goals and needs, and we are here to support them in this endeavor.”

The company is based in Parkland, Florida.

Belichick Takes It One Trip at a Time

by

FRANKFURT (Germany) – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Not to be confused with Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, NFL fans in Germany will be treated to another matchup of popular NFL teams when the sub-.500 New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts play Sunday in Frankfurt.

After the NFL came to Germany for the first time last season, Frankfurt received a turn with games in consecutive weeks. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins 21-14 there last week.

Embed from Getty Images

The Patriots (2-7), the designated home team, have international marketing rights in Germany and are a fan favorite there because of their German-born former offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer — not to mention their six Super Bowl victories from 2001 to 2018.

“It’s a unique opportunity,” said coach Bill Belichick, whose Patriots teams are 3-0 in international games all-time. “When it gets there, we’ll look forward to it.”

Owners of the worst record in the AFC, the Patriots are not at all playing like the dynasty of the past two decades, and while it may have been unthinkable a few years ago, the proverbial seat is getting hotter for Belichick as New England continues to lose.

A 20-17 defeat to the Washington Commanders was the Patriots’ fifth loss in six weeks. They’ll have their bye week upon returning from Germany.

Mac Jones steadied to some degree after a dismal early October. He threw for 220 yards and one touchdown against Washington and didn’t take a sack, but he was intercepted on the last drive of the game as the Patriots scored just three points after halftime.

“Just being consistent and trying to work together,” Jones said of the offense’s struggles. “We have some young guys playing, and just making sure we’re all on the same page and out there executing each week. Like I say, each week’s different and it’s important to understand what we need to do this week.”

This week’s task involves getting past an opportunistic defense. Kenny Moore of the Colts (4-5) scored two pick-6s in a 27-13 win over the Carolina Panthers last week. That ended a three-game losing streak that saw the Colts allow 37, 39 and 38 points.

Jones is tied for the league lead with nine interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

As for the Colts’ offense, Gardner Minshew has been under center since rookie Anthony Richardson’s season-ending shoulder injury. But the Colts are a run-first team, and while Jonathan Taylor is the household name, Zack Moss ranks second in the NFL with 615 rushing yards this season.

“We know this stretch, this back-half stretch, is where teams have to bolster up,” Taylor said. “You’re either gonna go up or you’re gonna go down, so (the game will) do a lot in order to make sure that we can continue to trend upwards.”

Both the Colts and Patriots are practicing at home through Thursday and taking a flight overseas Thursday night, landing Friday morning Frankfurt time.

“We’re going over there on a business trip to go win a football game,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “That’s the message — it’s just a long road trip. Stay focused.”

One player not making that trip is Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, who reportedly is being disciplined for reporting late to the team hotel last Saturday.

Jackson did not practice Wednesday and was ruled out along with left tackle Trent Brown (personal/ankle) and wide receiver DeVante Parker (concussion) as the Patriots departed for Germany on Thursday.

Defensive lineman Christian Barmore (knee), linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring) and cornerback Jonathan Jones (knee) made the trip but were limited in practice.

On Thursday, the Colts ruled out tight end Andrew Ogletree (foot) and cornerback Julius Brents (quadriceps).

–Field Level Media

Patriots Prep for NFL/Germany Game

by

FRANKFURT – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Not to be confused with Brady vs. Manning, NFL fans in Germany will be treated to another matchup of popular NFL teams when the sub-.500 New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts play Sunday in Frankfurt.

Embed from Getty Images

After the NFL came to Germany for the first time last season, Frankfurt received a turn with games in consecutive weeks. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins 21-14 there last week.

The Patriots (2-7), the designated home team, have international marketing rights in Germany and are a fan favorite there because of their German-born former offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer — not to mention their six Super Bowl victories from 2001 to 2018.

“It’s a unique opportunity,” said coach Bill Belichick, whose Patriots teams are 3-0 in international games all-time. “When it gets there, we’ll look forward to it.”

Owners of the worst record in the AFC, the Patriots are not at all playing like the dynasty of the past two decades, and while it may have been unthinkable a few years ago, the proverbial seat is getting hotter for Belichick as New England continues to lose.

A 20-17 defeat to the Washington Commanders was the Patriots’ fifth loss in six weeks. They’ll have their bye week upon returning from Germany.

Mac Jones steadied to some degree after a dismal early October. He threw for 220 yards and one touchdown against Washington and didn’t take a sack, but he was intercepted on the last drive of the game as the Patriots scored just three points after halftime.

“Just being consistent and trying to work together,” Jones said of the offense’s struggles. “We have some young guys playing, and just making sure we’re all on the same page and out there executing each week. Like I say, each week’s different and it’s important to understand what we need to do this week.”

This week’s task involves getting past an opportunistic defense. Kenny Moore of the Colts (4-5) scored two pick-6s in a 27-13 win over the Carolina Panthers last week. That ended a three-game losing streak that saw the Colts allow 37, 39 and 38 points.

Jones is tied for the league lead with nine interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

As for the Colts’ offense, Gardner Minshew has been under center since rookie Anthony Richardson’s season-ending shoulder injury. But the Colts are a run-first team, and while Jonathan Taylor is the household name, Zack Moss ranks second in the NFL with 615 rushing yards this season.

“We know this stretch, this back-half stretch, is where teams have to bolster up,” Taylor said. “You’re either gonna go up or you’re gonna go down, so (the game will) do a lot in order to make sure that we can continue to trend upwards.”

Both the Colts and Patriots are practicing at home through Thursday and taking a flight overseas Thursday night, landing Friday morning Frankfurt time.

“We’re going over there on a business trip to go win a football game,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “That’s the message — it’s just a long road trip. Stay focused.”

One player not making that trip is Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, who is reportedly being disciplined for reporting late to the team hotel last Saturday.

Jackson did not practice Wednesday, nor did tackle Trent Brown (personal/ankle). Eight players were limited, including wide receiver DeVante Parker (concussion), defensive lineman Christian Barmore (knee), linebacker Ja’Whuan Bentley (hamstring) and cornerback Jonathan Jones (knee).

Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (knee), tight end Andrew Ogletree (foot), linebacker Zaire Franklin (knee) and cornerback Julius Brents (quadricep) sat out Wednesday’s walkthrough. Cornerback Troy Brown (concussion) was limited.

–Field Level Media

Nuggets, Jokic Edge GS Warriors

by

DENVER – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Nikola Jokic produced 35 points and 13 rebounds, Reggie Jackson scored 20 points and the host Nuggets beat the Golden State Warriors 108-105 on Wednesday in a matchup of the past two NBA champions.

Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points while Aaron Gordon finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, which swept a four-game homestand.

Stephen Curry put up 23 points and Klay Thompson had 15 for the Warriors, who have lost two of their past three games. Thompson’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer slipped out of his hands.

The Warriors played without Draymond Green (personal reasons) and Gary Payton II (non-COVID illness). Denver guard Jamal Murray missed his second straight game with a right hamstring strain.

76ers 106, Celtics 103

Joel Embiid had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and nine rebounds and host Philadelphia held on to clip Boston.

Tobias Harris scored 17 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 14 for the Sixers, who won their sixth game in a row following a one-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in their season opener.

Kristaps Porzingis led the Celtics with 29 points, Derrick White added 19 and Jayson Tatum had 16 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Trailing 106-103, the Celtics had a chance to tie the game, but Porzingis missed a 3-point try with 6.2 seconds left.

Kings 121, Trail Blazers 118 (OT)

Domantas Sabonis’ free throw with 42.8 seconds remaining in overtime broke a tie, Malik Monk dropped in a pair of foul throws with 13 seconds left and Sacramento snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over visiting Portland.

The Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant (38 points, nine rebounds) had two looks at a potential tie but missed consecutive 3-point attempts in the final 9.1 seconds. The extra session was required after Monk scored the final four points of regulation for the Kings.

Sabonis led the Kings with 27 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Monk had 23 points and a team-high 10 assists.

Suns 116, Bulls 115 (OT)

Grayson Allen scored 26 points while sinking a career-high eight 3-pointers and Kevin Durant added 25 points to lift Phoenix past host Chicago in overtime.

Jusuf Nurkic scored the go-ahead layup off a screen-and-roll pass from Durant with 7.3 seconds left in OT and finished with 20 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists. Nurkic missed two free throws with 0.4 seconds to go, but the Bulls’ backdoor lob attempt on their final possession was unsuccessful.

Making his regular-season debut for the Suns after dealing with back spasms during the preseason, Bradley Beal contributed 13 points. His night featured three 3-pointers, as Phoenix finished 19-for-48 from beyond the arc.

Heat 108, Grizzlies 102

Bam Adebayo scored a season-high 30 points and added 11 rebounds to fuel visiting Miami past Memphis, which remains winless at home in four tries.

Adebayo made 8 of 15 shots from the floor and 14 of 16 attempts from the free-throw line. That effort came on the heels of his 22-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist performance in the Heat’s 108-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

Miami’s Tyler Herro sustained a right ankle sprain after landing on the foot of Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. during the first quarter. Herro did not return to the contest, finishing with six points and two assists in eight minutes. Jackson scored a team-high 28 points.

Wizards 132, Hornets 116

Kyle Kuzma pumped in 33 points and Washington snapped a four-game losing streak with some huge offensive bursts against host Charlotte.

Danilo Gallinari and Delon Wright paced Washington’s bench scoring with 18 points apiece. The Wizards’ reserves outscored the Hornets’ backups 72-23.

LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 34 points and seven assists. Gordon Hayward added 18 points.

Rockets 128, Lakers 94

Jalen Green scored a game-high 28 points while Alperen Sengun chipped in 19 as host Houston extended its winning streak to four games with a wire-to-wire victory over injury-ravaged Los Angeles.

Green was efficient throughout, making 11 of 15 attempts. Sengun was 8 of 10 from the floor while, like Green, adding seven rebounds.

The Lakers, who added Anthony Davis (hip) to a long list of sidelined rotation players, dropped their third game in a row. Los Angeles reserve Rui Hachimura scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his return from a four-game absence caused by a concussion.

Pacers 134, Jazz 118

Aaron Nesmith scored 24 points to lead six players in double figures as Indiana took control in the fourth quarter to beat Utah in Indianapolis.

Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin scored 22 points apiece, while Tyrese Haliburton scored all 16 of his points in the second half for the Pacers, who have won three of their past four games.

Jordan Clarkson scored 33 points to lead the Jazz, who lost their fourth straight. Lauri Markkanen had 24 points and nine rebounds.

Knicks 126, Spurs 105

Julius Randle posted another double-double for host New York, which scored the first 13 points of the game and was never seriously threatened in a win over San Antonio.

Randle finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds in his seventh double-double in eight games this season. Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 25 points while RJ Barrett had 24 points for the Knicks, who committed just four turnovers.

Jeremy Sochan scored 16 points while Malaki Branham and No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama each had 14 points for the Spurs, who have lost three straight. Wembanyama missed his first seven shots from the field and scored just six points in the first three quarters.

Nets 100, Clippers 93

Lonnie Walker IV scored a season-high 21 points and host Brooklyn survived a shaky finish to defeat Los Angeles and keep James Harden winless with his new team.

Walker stepped up for the Nets after Cam Thomas was lost for the final 20:33 due to a sprained left ankle. Royce O’Neale clinched Brooklyn’s first home win by hitting a 3-pointer with 18.3 seconds to go.

The Clippers’ Paul George scored 24 to lead all scorers, but they shot just 39.6 percent and missed 28 of 36 3-point tries in their third straight defeat. Harden contributed 12 while hearing boos every time he touched the ball against the team that traded him to Philadelphia at the 2022 trade deadline.

Timberwolves 122, Pelicans 101

Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and dished eight assists as Minnesota cruised past New Orleans in Minneapolis.

Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting for the Timberwolves, who won their fourth game in a row. Rudy Gobert registered 17 points and 21 rebounds.

Brandon Ingram scored 24 points on 11-for-25 shooting and rookie Jordan Hawkins added 14 points for the Pelicans, who lost their third straight game.

Bucks 120, Pistons 118

Damian Lillard had 34 points as host Milwaukee overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ejection and a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Detroit.

Bobby Portis had 18 points for the Bucks, and Brook Lopez added 14, including a pivotal 3-pointer in the late going. Antetokounmpo was whistled for a technical in the first quarter and picked up another three minutes into the second half, triggering an automatic ejection. He stared down Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart after a dunk.

Cade Cunningham put up 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Marcus Sasser supplied 26 points for the Pistons, who have lost six straight games.

Raptors 127, Mavericks 116

Pascal Siakam recorded season bests of 31 points and 12 rebounds and also had five assists to help Toronto knock off host Dallas.

OG Anunoby added 26 points and Dennis Schroder had 18 for the Raptors, who won for the third time in the past four games. Scottie Barnes contributed 14 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Luka Doncic registered 31 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals for the Mavericks, who fell for just the second time in eight games this season. Kyrie Irving added 22 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. buried five 3-pointers while scoring 17 points.

Thunder 128, Cavaliers 120

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 43 points to lift host Oklahoma City past Cleveland.

The Thunder closed out their season-high, six-game homestand with a 3-3 record, winning the final two games. Oklahoma City swept the two-game season series with the Cavaliers.

Caris LeVert led Cleveland with 29 points off the bench while Evan Mobley added 22 and Donovan Mitchell had 20. Mitchell shot just 1 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc, however.

–Field Level Media

CFP Polls: Florida State Remains No. 4

by

INDIANAPOLIS – Florida State remained No. 4 in the second College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, but oddsmakers see the Seminoles with the easiest path to the final four.

The top eight teams remained unchanged from the initial CFP rankings released last week, including Florida State being fourth behind Ohio State, Georgia and Michigan.

However, the Seminoles have already clinched a spot in the ACC championship game. Their likely opponent is No. 11 Louisville, which has remaining regular-season games against Virginia, Miami and Kentucky.

Florida State has -320 odds to reach the CFP at DraftKings, where Georgia is -240 and Michigan is -160. Interestingly, Ohio State is +110 behind even No. 6 Oregon (-110), with the Buckeyes staring at a Nov. 25 road showdown against the Wolverines to close the regular season.

The Ducks, who are working toward a rematch against No. 5 Washington in a potential Pac-12 title game, are being offered at -140 ahead of the Huskies at +155 to win the conference.

While Florida State has the shortest odds to reach the CFP, the Seminoles are not the title favorites.

That honor currently belongs to Michigan at +220, followed by Georgia (+260) and then Florida State (+600). Ohio State is being offered at +700 ahead of Alabama at +800 and Oregon at +1000. Washington is +1200 to win the title.

The most title money at the book has supported Michigan, with the Wolverines drawing 14 percent of the total bets and money wagered. Next are Ohio State at 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively, and Alabama at 11 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

CFP RANKINGS
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Michigan
4. Florida State
5. Washington
6. Oregon
7. Texas
8. Alabama
9. Ole Miss
10. Penn State
11. Louisville
12. Oregon State
13. Tennessee
14. Missouri
15. Oklahoma State
16. Kansas
17. Oklahoma
18. Utah
19. LSU
20. Notre Dame
21. Arizona
22. Iowa
23. Tulane
24. North Carolina
25. Kansas State

–Field Level Media

Big East: Johnnies Open Up

by

JAMAICA ESTATES – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Three of the four league teams in action on Tuesday enjoyed season-opening wins at home. Creighton, St. John’s and Georgetown tasted victory. DePaul let a late lead get away and absorbed a loss.

Embed from Getty Images

Creighton, ranked eighth in both national polls, used an early 19-2 run en route to a 105-54 win over Florida A&M. Guard Trey Alexander scored a game-high 20 points, which included 7-of-8 shooting from the field. Newcomer guard Steven Ashworth scored 17 points in 18 minutes. Center Ryan Kalkbrenner blocked his 200th career shot in his 100th career game.

The new coaches at St. John’s and Georgetown enjoyed their debuts. St. John’s beat Stony Brook 90-74 in Rick Pitino’s first game as the Johnnies’ headmaster. Familiar face Joel Soriano led the way with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. He made 9-of-12 from the floor, including both 3-point attempts. Newcomer forward Chris Ledlum added 16 points, 14 boards and four assists.

Georgetown coach Ed Cooley liked what he saw in the Hoyas’ 94-57 victory over LeMoyne. Frontcourt newcomers helped pave the way. Supreme Cook paced five Hoyas in double figures with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting. He also pulled down 13 rebounds. Dontrez Styles added 15 points and 10 boards.

Hosting Purdue Fort Wayne, DePaul recovered from a 41-33 halftime deficit to take a 68-62 lead with under four minutes remaining before losing 82-74. Guard Chico Carter Jr. shined in his DePaul debut with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Rookie Davis Sets Tone for LA Chargers

by

EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Rookie Derius Davis returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown, Austin Ekeler added two more scores and the Los Angeles Chargers cruised past the New York Jets’ standout defense for a 27-6 victory on Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Ekeler ran for 47 yards on 14 carries, and the Chargers (4-4) flashed some defense of their own with eight sacks while winning back-to-back games after a two-game skid. Los Angeles won with 191 total yards of offense, while the Jets had 270.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was 16-of-30 passing for just 136 yards, the lowest total in a game in his career, while getting sacked five times. Los Angeles receiver Keenan Allen had eight receptions for 77 yards, passing the 10,000-yard mark for his career.

Zach Wilson was 33-of-49 passing for 263 yards for the Jets (4-4), who failed to score more than 10 points for the third time this season. Breece Hall had 50 yards on 16 carries for New York and Garrett Wilson had seven receptions for 80 yards.

Zach Wilson lost two fumbles for the Jets and Garrett Wilson lost another as New York saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.

After the Jets went three-and-out on their opening drive of the game, Thomas Morstead sent a punt inside the Chargers 15-yard line and Davis split traffic up the middle of the field to find the end zone. The rookie from TCU scored his first career TD for a 7-0 lead.

The Chargers’ Joey Bosa recovered a Zach Wilson fumble with 6:27 remaining in the opening quarter and Los Angeles went 50 yards in eight plays, finishing the drive with a 1-yard TD run from Ekeler.

The teams traded field goals in the final six minutes of the first half, with the Jets’ Greg Zuerlein hitting from 47 yards and the Chargers’ Cameron Dicker answering with a 55-yard kick just before the break for a 17-3 advantage.

Zuerlein added a 46-yard field goal for the Jets with 9:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Dicker struck again to give the Chargers a 20-6 lead, making good on a 38-yard kick with 9:18 remaining in the game. Los Angeles’ Khalil Mack forced another Zach Wilson fumble late in the game and Alohi Gilman returned it 48 yards to the Jets 2 yard-line. Ekeler scored on the next play with 3:22 left.

In an illustration of how the night went for the Jets, C.J. Uzomah dropped a pass in the end zone with 41 seconds remaining and Tyler Conklin was stopped at the Los Angeles 2-yard line on New York’s final offensive play.

–Field Level Media

NBA Round-Up; Celtics Fall

by

MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Celtics were the last team to fall from the ranks of the undefeated and James Harden made his debut with the LA Clippers on a busy Monday night in the NBA.

Timberwolves 114, Celtics 109 (OT)

Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 38 points in as Minnesota prevailed in overtime to hand Boston its first loss of the season.

Edwards, who also had nine rebounds and seven assists, came through in OT by making jump shots on three consecutive possessions. Jaden McDaniels had a 20-point performance for the Timberwolves, who received 14 points and 12 rebounds from Rudy Gobert.

Jayson Tatum scored a team-high 32 points for the Celtics, who got 26 points from Jaylen Brown and 20 from Kristaps Porzingis.

Knicks 111, Clippers 97

RJ Barrett, returning from a two-game absence caused by a sore left knee, scored 11 points during a fourth-quarter surge as the host New York Knicks broke open a tie game and cruised to a 111-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

The Knicks outscored the Clippers 35-21 in the fourth quarter and 69-51 in the second half, spoiling the debut of new Los Angeles acquisition James Harden.

Barrett finished with 26 points while Julius Randle posted a season-high 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who won at home for the first time in three tries this season. Mitchell Robinson (13 points, 15 rebounds) also had a double-double for New York.

Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points while Harden finished with 17 points in 31-plus minutes in his first action since the Philadelphia 76ers dealt him to the Clippers on Oct. 31.

Nuggets 134, Pelicans 116

Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, rookie Julian Strawther scored a career-best 21 points and host Denver rallied from a 20-point deficit to rout New Orleans.

It was Jokic’s 108th career triple-double, fourth most on the all-time list. Rookie Jordan Hawkins scored a career-high 31 points and Brandon Ingram added 22 for the Pelicans.

New Orleans guard CJ McCollum was out after an MRI on Sunday revealed he had a collapsed lung and would likely miss multiple games. The Nuggets were missing guard Jamal Murray, who will be out for an extended period of time due to a hamstring injury.

Warriors 120, Pistons 109

Stephen Curry had 34 points and visiting Golden State defeated slumping Detroit.

Chris Paul finished with 17 points, six assists and five rebounds off the bench, and Klay Thompson had 17 points. Dario Saric added 12 points, while Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney chipped in 10 apiece.

Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes each had 21 points and combined for 12 assists for Detroit, which has lost five straight games. Isaiah Stewart contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Ausar Thompson had 16 points, seven rebounds and four steals.

Pacers 152, Spurs 111

Tyrese Haliburton scored 23 points, 20 of them in a dominating first half, and Myles Turner added 15 points and 11 rebounds as Indiana rolled past San Antonio in Indianapolis.

Indiana has won two of the first three games on its current homestand and ran the Spurs and rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama out of the building while forging a 25-point lead by halftime and a 39-point advantage late in the third quarter. Indiana finished with its highest-scoring game of the season.

Doug McDermott led San Antonio with 17 points off the bench. Keldon Johnson added 16, Zach Collins had 14, Wembanyama produced 13 points and 10 rebounds and Charles Bassey scored 10 points for the Spurs, who were playing the second game of a home-road back-to-back.

Mavericks 117, Magic 102

Luka Doncic poured in 29 points and Kyrie Irving scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half as Dallas improved to 6-1 with a big comeback win over host Orlando.

Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 points for Dallas, which trailed by as many as 15 points in the second quarter before outscoring Orlando 64-36 in the second half.

Paolo Banchero scored 22 points to lead Orlando. Moe Wagner and Cole Anthony had 19 points apiece off the bench for the Magic, who missed their first 13 3-point attempts in the second half.

76ers 146, Wizards 128

Joel Embiid had 48 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lift host Philadelphia over Washington.

Tyrese Maxey added 22 points and a career-high 11 assists, Tobias Harris contributed 18 points and De’Anthony Melton had 14 for the Sixers, who won their fifth game in a row after a season-opening loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kyle Kuzma led the struggling Wizards with 28 points, while Jordan Poole added 23 and Deni Avdija followed with 16.

Heat 108, Lakers 107

Bam Adebayo recorded a triple-double of 22 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, Jimmy Butler scored a season-high 28 points and Miami survived a late-game surge to beat visiting Los Angeles.

Tyler Herro finished with 22 points despite going just 2-for-10 from 3-point range on a night when the Heat collectively went just 12-for-37 from beyond the arc. The Miami defense forced Los Angeles into an even worse shooting performance from deep, however, limiting the Lakers to 8 of 26 from long range.

LeBron James scored seven of his game-high 30 points in a 1:19 stretch late in the fourth quarter, helping trim a 10-point Miami lead to one. His last points of the burst, a three-point play with 2:39 remaining, capped the game’s scoring.

Bucks 129, Nets 125

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and hit the tiebreaking basket with 71 seconds remaining as Milwaukee outlasted Brooklyn in New York.

Antetokounmpo shot 15 of 27 from the field and scored nine points in the final six-plus minutes to help the Bucks get their second straight win. Damian Lillard added 21 points and seven assists for Milwaukee.

Cam Thomas led all scorers with 45 points and Mikal Bridges added 31 in the loss. Ben Simmons grabbed 15 rebounds for the Nets.

Bulls 130, Jazz 113

Zach LaVine scored 24 points and DeMar DeRozan added 21 as Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over visiting Utah.

Coby White hit 7 of 9 shots to finish with 18 points and had seven assists for the Bulls, who had eight players score in double figures as they successfully opened a three-game homestand with their top offensive output of the season.

Lauri Markkanen had a game-high 29 points, including five 3-pointers, but the Jazz posted a third consecutive loss.

Rockets 122, Kings 97

Jalen Green scored a game-high 23 points while Alperen Sengun posted a double-double as Houston dismantled visiting Sacramento for the second time in three days.

Green needed only nine shot attempts to pace the Rockets in scoring, doing most of his damage at the free-throw line, where he finished 10 of 12. Sengun, meanwhile, was the offensive linchpin, pairing a career-high 12 assists with 17 points to help Houston to its third consecutive victory.

The Kings, playing their third straight game without guard De’Aaron Fox (ankle), lost for the third straight time. They fell 107-89 at Houston on Saturday.

Thunder 126, Hawks 117

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to lead Oklahoma City past visiting Atlanta, ending the Thunder’s two-game skid while also ending the Hawks’ four-game winning streak.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed Friday’s loss to Golden State with a sprained left knee. Trailing by 19 entering the fourth quarter, the Hawks didn’t go away quietly and steadily cut into the Thunder’s lead, eventually getting it down to six with a minute remaining.

But rookie center Chet Holmgren grabbed a rebound of Gilgeous-Alexander’s miss and laid it in, then was fouled by Onyeka Okongwu and made the free throw to finally put the game away.

–Field Level Media

NBA to Play ’25 All-Star Game in SF

by

SAN FRANCISCO – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The National Basketball Association announced that the San Francisco Bay Area has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2025. as the 74th NBA All-Star Game will be played at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

NBA All-Star 2025 will mark the first time that the event has been held at Chase Center, which opened in 2019. Additional signature events will take place throughout the Bay Area, including at Moscone Convention Center, Oakland Arena and the Warriors’ Oakland facility.  The Warriors previously hosted NBA All-Star in the Bay Area in 2000 at Oakland Arena in Oakland and in 1967 at the Cow Palace, home of the San Francisco Warriors, in Daly City.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement during a press conference at Chase Center, where he was joined by Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO Joe Lacob, Warriors Co-Executive Chairman Peter Guber, Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Brandon Schneider, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

“We are thrilled to host our NBA All-Star festivities in the San Francisco Bay Area, where there is a long and storied history of basketball,” said Silver.  “I want to thank Joe Lacob, Peter Guber and the entire Warriors organization for their support in bringing NBA All-Star back to the Bay Area.”

“It has been 25 years since the NBA All-Star Game was played in the San Francisco Bay Area, and we are delighted to bring the NBA’s marquee event to Chase Center in 2025,” said Lacob. “In addition to the significant economic impact and tourism business that NBA All-Star will drive, we look forward to hosting various events in San Francisco and Oakland to bring together basketball fans from all over the world.”

“San Francisco is honored that NBA All-Star 2025 will be coming to our incredible city,” said Breed. “Major sporting events like this bring excitement to our city and generate significant economic activity that creates jobs and support for our small businesses. We are proud to be home to an organization like the Golden State Warriors that not only provides thrills to all of our amazing fans night after night at Chase Center, but is a great partner to our city and supporter of communities across San Francisco.”

NBA All-Star on-court events will tip off on Friday, Feb. 14 at Chase Center with NBA Rising Stars, an annual showcase for top rookies and second-year NBA players.  On Feb. 15, the fourth NBA HBCU Classic will feature men’s basketball programs from two historically Black colleges and universities followed by State Farm All-Star Saturday Night which will feature the Kia Skills Challenge, the STARRY 3-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk.  NBA All-Star 2025 will culminate with the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 16.

The NBA will host several events for fans of all ages at venues throughout the Bay Area, including at Moscone Convention Center, Oakland Arena and the Warriors’ Oakland Facility. These events, including NBA All-Star Practice, the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and the official NBA All-Star fan event, will feature basketball, media, technology and pop culture as diverse and vibrant as the Bay Area.

The league will also continue its commitment to social impact with a full schedule of community engagement events during NBA All-Star 2025.

NFL Round-Up: Stroud Leads Texans

by

HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Houston QB C.J. Stroud threw for a rookie-record 470 yards and five touchdowns, capping the game with a 15-yard TD pass to Tank Dell with six seconds left to give the Texans a wild 39-37 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Embed from Getty Images

Stroud led a 75-yard drive in 40 seconds after Baker Mayfield put Tampa Bay ahead with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton, the duo’s second scoring hookup of the day. Stroud found Dell for a 26-yard completion to set up their go-ahead scoring connection.

Stroud completed 30 of 42 passes, connecting with Noah Brown six times for 153 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown. Dalton Schultz added 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown and Dell finished with six grabs for 114 yards, along with two scores.

The Texans (4-4) grabbed a 33-30 edge when backup running back Dare Ogunbowale kicked a tiebreaking 29-yard field goal with 8:45 remaining. Ogunbowale replaced Ka’imi Fairbairn, who was ruled out at halftime after suffering a quad injury.

Mayfield connected on 21 of 30 passes for 265 yards for the Buccaneers (3-5), who lost their fourth straight game.

Bengals 24, Bills 18

Joe Burrow completed 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns to lead host Cincinnati to a victory over Buffalo.

Buffalo (5-4) threatened to rally when Josh Allen found Stefon Diggs for a 17-yard touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion with 3:32 left in the game to cut the Bills’ deficit to six. But the Bengals (5-3) got the ball back and forced the Bills to use their third and final timeout, and Joe Mixon rushed for a first down with 1:53 remaining to seal the victory. Mixon finished with 14 carries for 37 yards and a score, while Tee Higgins was Burrow’s favorite target through the air, hauling in eight catches for 110 yards.

Allen completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards with the TD and an interception for Buffalo, which lost for the second time in three games. Diggs had six receptions for 86 yards, while Dalton Kincaid totaled 81 yards on 10 catches.

Vikings 31, Falcons 28

Joshua Dobbs fired a go-ahead, 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Powell with 20 seconds remaining, and Minnesota beat host Atlanta.

Dobbs’ last-minute heroics capped a sterling performance in which he came off the bench only five days after Minnesota (5-4) acquired him from the Arizona Cardinals. He replaced rookie starter Jaren Hall — who sustained a concussion on a scramble in the first half — and went on to pass for 158 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 66 yards and a score.

Taylor Heinicke completed 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Atlanta (4-5). He heaved a late Hail Mary pass attempt, but it fell incomplete as time expired.

Eagles 28, Cowboys 23

Jalen Hurts passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one more, and Philadelphia escaped with a win over visiting Dallas.

A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith had one touchdown reception apiece for Philadelphia (8-1). Kenneth Gainwell had a rushing touchdown along with Hurts, who threw for 207 yards on 17-for-23 passing.

Dak Prescott completed 29 of 44 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns for Dallas (5-3). In the closing seconds, he completed his final pass — a 23-yarder to CeeDee Lamb — but a swarm of Eagles defenders hit Lamb at the Philadelphia 4-yard line as time expired and forced a fumble that the Eagles recovered.

Chiefs 21, Dolphins 14

Patrick Mahomes threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns as Kansas City held off Miami in the first NFL game played in Frankfurt, Germany.

Bryan Cook’s fumble return for a touchdown just before halftime proved to be the game-winning score for the Chiefs (7-2), who earned what might prove to be a crucial win for playoff-seeding tiebreakers with the Dolphins (6-3).

For Miami, Tua Tagovailoa went 21-of-34 passing for 193 yards and a touchdown. Raheem Mostert took 12 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown, and Tyreek Hill caught eight passes for 62 yards in his first game against his former team.

Ravens 37, Seahawks 3

Rookie Keaton Mitchell, who hadn’t had an NFL carry before Sunday, rushed for a game-high 138 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore trounced visiting Seattle.

Gus Edwards rushed for 52 yards and two scores, Odell Beckham Jr. celebrated his 31st birthday with a TD reception and Justin Tucker added three field goals for the Ravens (7-2), who sit atop the AFC North.

Baltimore’s defense limited the Seahawks (5-3) to 151 yards of total offense and six first downs. Seattle’s Geno Smith was 13-of-28 passing for 157 yards. Rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba made six catches for 63 yards.

Browns 27, Cardinals 0

Cleveland ran roughshod over rookie quarterback Clayton Tune and blanked visiting Arizona.

The shutout was the first for the Browns (5-3) in a span of 251 games, dating back to an 8-0 win over the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 16, 2007.

The Browns spoiled the NFL debut of Tune, who was replacing Joshua Dobbs after Arizona (1-8) traded him earlier in the week. Tune completed 11 of 20 passes for 58 yards, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble on one of Cleveland’s seven sacks. Tune’s passer rating was 20.8.

Packers 20, Rams 3

Jordan Love completed 20 of 26 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown to help Green Bay snap a four-game losing streak with a victory against visiting Los Angeles.

Aaron Jones rushed for 73 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown for the Packers (3-5), who held the Rams to 187 total yards and shut them out in the second half.

Quarterback Brett Rypien made his fourth career NFL start and first for the Rams (3-6) in place of Matthew Stafford, who sat out with a right thumb injury. Rypien completed 13 of 28 passes for 130 yards and an interception.

Commanders 20, Patriots 17

Sam Howell threw for 325 yards as Washington scored the game’s final 10 points to beat New England in Foxborough, Mass.

Howell completed 29 of 45 passes with a touchdown and an interception for Washington (4-5), which won for just the second time in its past seven games. The Commanders fell behind 17-10 with 10:14 remaining in the third quarter when Chad Ryland made good on a 43-yard field goal for New England (2-7).

But Washington answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Howell’s 33-yard scoring strike to Jahan Dotson, and Joey Slye later provided what ended up being a game-winning field goal — from 30 yards out — with 1:49 left in the third.

Saints 24, Bears 17

Paulson Adebo had two interceptions and a fumble recovery as host New Orleans forced five turnovers to defeat Chicago.

Adebo’s takeaways led to 10 points for the Saints (5-4), who did not commit a turnover. That enabled them to hold off the Bears (2-7) as New Orleans’ Derek Carr passed for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Tyson Bagent, making his third consecutive start in place of an injured Justin Fields, passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble.

Colts 27, Panthers 13

Kenny Moore II returned two interceptions for touchdowns as Indianapolis beat Carolina in Charlotte, N.C.

Moore’s TDs went for 49 and 66 yards — one in each half for the Colts (4-5). According to Pro Football Reference, Moore is the ninth player since 2000 with two interception returns for touchdowns in the same game.

Bryce Young’s three interceptions were costly for Carolina (1-7). He also was sacked four times, negating a 24-of-39 effort for 173 yards and a touchdown.

Raiders 30, Giants 6

Josh Jacobs rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and Las Vegas was impressive in its first game under interim coach Antonio Pierce, routing visiting New York.

The Raiders fired Josh McDaniels on Tuesday after a string of woeful offensive performances, and Las Vegas (4-5) had set a season high for points scored before the first half ended. The Raiders’ previous high for a game was 21.

New York’s Daniel Jones injured his right knee on consecutive plays and departed after the first play of the second quarter with 25 yards on 4-of-9 passing. Jones missed the previous three games with a neck injury for the Giants (2-7), and ESPN reported later Sunday that New York fears he now has a torn ACL.

–Field Level Media