Yahoo Sports
Nick Nurse pinpoints why offense struggled vs. Bucks
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse was pretty happy with this teams defensive effort but the same can't be said for the offense. Nurse discusses why it laboured at times against Milwaukee.
Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse was pretty happy with this teams defensive effort but the same can't be said for the offense. Nurse discusses why it laboured at times against Milwaukee.
Former NHL star Todd Bertuzzi was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Auburn Hills, Michigan last weekend.
Although it could mean nothing, this may be the first sign that Kyle Lowry's tenure with the Raptors is coming to an end.
The Hawks reportedly hope that assistant coach and Pierce ally Nate McMillan will take on the interim role.
Six Toronto pitchers combined to give up three hits in a seven-inning pre-season game as the Blue Jays tied the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-2 on Monday.
The Buffalo Sabres intended on competing, but what's become abundantly clear in another failed season is that the team has to start over from scratch.
J.J. Watt is a splash addition. But how much will he help Arizona?
The Edmonton Oilers have claimed goaltender Alex Stalock off waivers from the Minnesota Wild.
Aaron Rodgers donated $1 million to a fund that is helping small businesses in his hometown that are struggling amid COVID-19.
There's going to be no shortage of drama for the Raptors in the second half of the season.
Poor performance and a lack of success to lean on, Claude Julien's dismissal was no surprise. But the timing might have been.
WINNIPEG — When the Vancouver Canucks discovered that screened point shots were getting results, they kept doing it. By the time the Winnipeg Jets figured things out, it was too late. Vancouver scored three first-period goals in similar fashion Monday night in a 4-0 victory at Bell MTS Place. Nate Schmidt, J.T. Miller and Nils Hoglander staked the Canucks to an early lead and Thatcher Demko did the rest, making 27 saves for his first shutout of the season. All three goals came from shots inside the blue line that were tipped, redirected or knuckled past Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. "When you know you can get yourself into those areas, that's where the goals are scored," said Schmidt. "I was proud of our guys for how we got to those areas tonight." Elias Pettersson sealed it with an empty-net goal as the Canucks (9-14-2) won for the first time in five games and ended Winnipeg's four-game winning streak. "I think top to bottom we had some good efforts tonight," said Canucks head coach Travis Green. After being held to one shot on goal over the first eight-plus minutes, Schmidt sent a fluttering shot from the high slot past a screened Hellebuyck at 8:28. A similar play just 18 seconds later doubled Vancouver's lead. This time Schmidt's point shot was redirected by Miller at 8:46. Vancouver's second power-play unit used the same formula to extend the lead at 14:50. Tyler Myers sent a wrist shot from inside the blue line that Hoglander tipped to make it 3-0. Demko, meanwhile, was steady when needed in the Vancouver net. He gave up few rebounds and delivered when the Jets pressed late in the game. "I think over the last handful of games, our defensive side of things is coming along really nicely," Demko said. "Tonight was kind of the pinnacle of building up to this point." After a sluggish first period, the Jets (13-7-1) seemed more inspired in the second period but had difficulty delivering any sustained pressure. Mark Scheifele had two decent chances midway through the third period and Blake Wheeler was denied after a crafty deflection on a Sami Niku shot. The Jets pulled Hellebuyck with over five minutes left in regulation. Winnipeg hit the post on a deflected shot before Pettersson put the game away at 16:26. The teams will face off again Tuesday night in the finale of the Jets' four-game homestand. "You've got to have a short memory in this league," Scheifele said. "You can't dwell on things too long. You've got to get a good sleep tonight and get ready for tomorrow." The Canucks had 19 shots on goal and improved to 4-8-0 on the road. After Tuesday's game, the Jets will take to the road for 12 of their next 14 games. The Canucks will return home to kick off a five-game homestand Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Arena. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 1, 2021. The Canadian Press
HOUSTON — Collin Sexton scored 39 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers handed the hapless Houston Rockets their 12th straight loss with a 101-90 victory on Monday night. The Cavaliers have won four straight after losing their previous 10 games. Cleveland had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter before John Wall scored all of Houston’s points in a 6-2 run that cut the deficit to 95-89 with 3 minutes left. The Cavaliers scored the next four points with the help of a steal by Darius Garland to push the lead back to 10 a minute later. It’s Houston’s longest losing streak since dropping 15 in a row in 2001 and the first time the Rockets have lost five straight at home since March 2006. Wall's performance was the only thing that kept the Rockets in this one. He had 23 points by halftime finished with a season-high 32. Houston led by one early in the fourth quarter after a 3-pointer by Ben McLemore when the Cavaliers used a 13-0 spurt to take a 90-78 lead midway through the period. Cedi Osman had two 3-pointers in that stretch and Sexton added five points. The game was tied at 63-all after a 3-pointer by P.J. Tucker with about 5 minutes left in the third quarter. The Cavaliers used an 8-2 run after that, with the first five points from Dean Wade, to make it 71-65. Osman made a 3 for Cleveland after two free throws from Tucker before Mason Jones finished the quarter with a three-point play to cut Houston’s deficit to 74-70 entering the fourth. Though they couldn't pull it out late, the Rockets played better than they did in a 49-point loss to Memphis. They made just 4 of 45 3-point attempts on Sunday night in a game where they shot a franchise-low 27.7% overall. On Monday they’d made four 3s by early in the second quarter and finished 10 of 31 from long range. TIP-INS Cavaliers: Sexton has scored 22 points or more in nine straight games. ... Garland had 14 points and seven assists. ... Osman added 11 points off the bench. Rockets: Eric Gordon sat out with a sore left knee. ... Danuel House left in the second quarter with a bruised right knee and didn’t return. ... Wall had five assists after finishing without an assist on Sunday for the first time in his career. UP NEXT Cavaliers: Host Indiana on Wednesday night. Rockets: James Harden will face his former team for the first time since a January trade on Wednesday night when the Rockets host Brooklyn. _____ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press
The Calgary Flames had a total yard sale of a warmup that bordered on humour and sadness before getting smashed by the last-place Senators.
NEW ORLEANS — Zion Williamson had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and the New Orleans Pelicans held off a late Utah charge to beat the NBA-leading Jazz 129-124 on Monday night. Brandon Ingram scored 26 points, Lonzo Ball added 23 and JJ Redick had 17, highlighted by a pair of four-point plays on 3-pointers as he was fouled. Bojan Bogdanovic hit seven 3s and finished with a game-high 31 points for Utah (27-8), which lost for just the eighth time this season, but the second time in three games. New Orleans led by 14 with 3:54 left, but had to survive the Jazz cutting their deficit to a point in the final minute. NETS 124, SPURS 113, OT SAN ANTONIO (AP) — James Harden had 30 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds and Brooklyn overcame a collapse in the final seconds of regulation to beat the Spurs, snapping a 17-game losing streak in San Antonio. Kyrie Irving added 27 points and Bruce Brown had 23 for Brooklyn. The Spurs closed the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to force overtime. DeMar DeRozan had 22 points and 11 assists, while Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker each had 19 points. All five starters scored in double figures for San Antonio. NUGGETS 118, BULLS 112 CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic dominated with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and Denver beat Chicago. jJokic scored 17 in the fourth quarter to help the Nuggets come away with the win after blowing a 15-point lead. He finished with nine assists, just missing his 50th career triple-double. Jamal Murray scored 24. Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points and 15 rebounds, and the Nuggets won for the third time in four games. All-Star Zach LaVine led Chicago with 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Coby White added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the Bulls lost their second straight after winning three in a row. MAVERICKS 130, MAGIC 124 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Luka Doncic had 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, Kristaps Porzingis played a nearly flawless second half and Dallas defeated Orlando. Jalen Brunson scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half as the Mavericks broke open a close game. Dallas has won four of its last five and nine of 12. Nikola Vucevic had 29 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for the Magic, who dropped their fourth straight. 76ERS 130, PACERS 114 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Shake Milton scored 26 points, Furkan Korkmaz had 19 and the reserves sparked Philadelphia to a win over Indiana. Joel Embiid had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Ben Simmons had 18 points and six rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 20 points in his return from a one-game absence due to a sore right knee. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — James Harden had 30 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets overcame a collapse in the final seconds of regulation to beat the Spurs 124-113 in overtime on Monday night, snapping a 17-game losing streak in San Antonio. Kyrie Irving added 27 points and Bruce Brown had 23 for Brooklyn, which bounced back after a loss to Dallas on Saturday ended its eight-game win streak. The Spurs closed the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to force overtime, with 3-pointers by Lonnie Walker IV and Patty Mills and a driving layup by DeMar DeRozan. Dejounte Murray then tied the game at 108 to close regulation after initially losing the ball near the 3-point line while attempting to drive to the paint. Murray was able to gather the loose ball behind him, quickly turning and rising to hit a 21-footer with Harden defending as time expired. Brooklyn scored the first eight points of overtime to regain command and went on to win a regular-season game in San Antonio for the first time since Jan. 22, 2002. DeRozan had 22 points and 11 assists, while Murray and Walker each had 19 points. All five starters scored in double figures for San Antonio. Playing just their second game since being sidelined for two weeks by health and safety protocols due to COVID-19, the Spurs got off to a sluggish start against the active Nets. San Antonio is still without Rudy Gay, Keldon Johnson, Derrick White, Devin Vassell and Quinndary Weatherspoon, who are sidelined due to the league’s health and safety protocols. The Nets were not at full strength either, with All-Star Kevin Durant missing his eighth straight game with a left hamstring strain. But Brooklyn still has Harden and the former Houston Rockets guard continued to torment San Antonio. The Nets had 17 assists on their first 20 baskets, with Harden assisting on 10. Brooklyn finished with 35 assists while shooting 47 for 100 from the field. Nic Claxton added 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting for the Nets. TIP-INS Nets: Durant has not played since scoring 20 points in 33 minutes against Golden State on Feb. 13. … Irving and Harden held up tip-off momentarily to greet and speak to Popovich. Irving first spoke to the veteran Spurs coach and then Harden joined in as the trio enjoyed some laughter during a brief conversation. Spurs: The Spurs announced fans can return to the AT&T Center beginning March 12 against Orlando. Attendance had been limited to family members and staff previously. Seating will be limited to 3,200 fans initially. … Murray collected his 700th career assist in his 215th game with the Spurs. In franchise history, only Tony Parker, Johnny Moore, Andre Robertson, Johnny Dawkins and Willie Anderson have more assists in that span. UP NEXT Nets: Play at Houston on Monday. Spurs: Host the New York Knicks on Tuesday. Raul Dominguez, The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Nikola Jokic dominated with 39 points and 14 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Chicago Bulls 118-112 on Monday night. The three-time All-Star scored 17 in the fourth quarter to help the Nuggets come away with the win after blowing a 15-point lead. Jokic also finished with nine assists, just missing his 50th career triple-double. Jamal Murray scored 24. Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points and 15 rebounds, and the Nuggets won for the third time in four games. All-Star Zach LaVine led Chicago with 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Coby White added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the Bulls lost their second straight after winning three in a row. Chicago led 108-106 before Jokic put Denver back on top with a three-point play off a dunk with two minutes remaining. Murray then nailed a 3-pointer. Thaddeus Young scored on a follow shot for the Bulls but Jokic hit a jumper to make it 114-110 in the closing minute. LaVine hit two free throws to cut the lead to two with 16 seconds left. But Will Barton and Murray each made two, preserving the win for the Nuggets. The Bulls trailed by as much as 15 in the first half and were down 10 late in the third when they made their move. They went on a 21-5 run that stretched into the fourth. Young's driving hook and layup on the Bulls' first two possessions of the quarter put Chicago on top. White's pull-up jumper and Denzel Valentine's running layup made it 95-89 with just under 9 minutes left in the game. TIP-INS Nuggets: Coach Michael Malone said he does not expect F Paul Millsap (sprained left knee), G Gary Harris (strained left adductor) or F/C JaMychal Green (sprained left shoulder) to return before the All-Star break. ... G Facundo Campazzo and F Markus Howard missed the game because of health and safety protocols. Bulls: Coach Billy Donovan said the Bulls found out about 10 a.m. Sunday that their game against Toronto in Tampa, Florida that night was called off because of the Raptors’ COVID-19 issues. The team landed in Chicago around 4:30 p.m. Honouring NOAH Top basketball executive Arturas Karnisovas said he will “for sure” reach out to longtime Chicago centre Joakim Noah about retiring as a member of the Bulls. Noah played his first nine seasons with the Bulls after being drafted out of Florida with the No. 9 overall pick in 2007. He made two All-Star teams with Chicago and was the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year. Noah has averaged 8.8 points and 9 rebounds over 13 seasons with Chicago, the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Clippers. Los Angeles waived him prior to the start of the season. Noah also played on back-to-back NCAA championship teams at Florida under current Bulls coach Billy Donovan. The Athletic, citing sources, reported Monday that Noah plans to retire as a member of the Bulls. “It just came out that he retired,” said Karnisovas, Chicago's executive vice-president of basketball operations. “We will get together and we will talk about it.” UP NEXT Nuggets: Visit Milwaukee on Tuesday. Bulls: Visit New Orleans on Wednesday. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Andrew Seligman, The Associated Press
Trevor Bauer makes his Dodgers Spring Training debut, plus Francisco Lindor plays his first game with the Mets in this edition of FastCast
At one point while battling COVID-19 in the hospital, Khamzat Chimaev "thought he was going to die."
Dr. Johanna Mellis said that Dakich "debased and violated" her with his commentary.
PHILADELPHIA — Shake Milton scored 26 points, Furkan Korkmaz had 19 and the reserves sparked the Philadelphia 76ers to 130-114 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. The Sixers followed one of their worst losses of the season to the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday with a smackdown of the mediocre Pacers. Joel Embiid had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Ben Simmons had 18 points and six rebounds. The All-Stars got their numbers. The reserves got their highlights. Milton sank three 3-pointers and Korkmaz hit six 3s in a game in which they got some time, turning it into a rout. Korkmaz and Milton blew the game open for the Sixers in the second quarter and built a 20-point lead. Korkmaz, averaging 7.6 points, and Milton 13.4, about crushed those numbers in the quarter. Milton was 4 of 6 for nine points; Korkmaz sank four 3-pointers and scored 13. Embiid passed out of a couple of double-teams to find Korkmaz -- nicknamed both Furky and Korky, you pick -- and he buried 3s that opened up a double-digit lead. Milton -- in a move that would have made Allen Iverson proud -- hit a crossover on Myles Turner that left him stumbling toward the basket. Milton buried the 21-footer that sent the bench into a towel-waving frenzy. Public address announcer Matt Cord even chuckled when he said Milton’s name for the basket. Milton hit fellow reserve Matisse Thybulle on an alley-oop and found Embiid for an 11-footer to give the Sixers a 72-55 lead at the break. The Sixers' bench scored 26 of their 39 points in the second and made five of their six 3s. The Sixers, who still have the best record in the East at 23-12, were stunned by the Cavs in OT on Saturday. Coach Doc Rivers said the Sixers treated that one like a “walkthrough.” They woke up against a Pacers team that has lost four straight games. Malcolm Brogdon returned from a one-game absence because of a sore right knee and led the Pacers with 20 points. TIP-INS Pacers: Doug McDermott left the game with a broken tooth. ... Jeremy Lamb sat out with a sore left knee. 76ers: Tobias Harris, who averages 20.2 points, sat out a second straight game with a bruised right knee. FAN APPRECIATION Pennsylvania eased restrictions Monday on large gatherings to reflect a sustained slide in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The Wells Fargo Center said it would quickly allow fans into Flyers and 76ers games if city officials give the go-ahead. Under the relaxed gathering limits announced by Gov. Tom Wolf, indoor occupancy will be 15% of maximum capacity, regardless of venue size. “We want to see our fans here,” Rivers said. “We have proven here in Philadelphia that it is a home court. Our fans are phenomenal. We need them here. It would be awesome in the second half of the season if we could have fans. It could really boost us.” UP NEXT Pacers: Play Wednesday at Cleveland. 76ers: Host Utah on Wednesday in what could be a matchup of teams with the best record in each conference. _____ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Dan Gelston, The Associated Press