Damian Lillard had 37 points and 12 assists, and the resurgent Milwaukee Bucks squandered a 22-point second-half lead before beating the Miami Heat 106-103 in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.
Brook Lopez scored 13 points and Bobby Portis had 11 for the Bucks, who have won five in a row and moved back to the .500 mark (9-9) for the first time since they were 1-1.
Milwaukee played without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, a late pregame scratch because of swelling in his left knee.
The Bucks (3-0 in Cup play) also moved a half-game ahead of Detroit (2-0) in the East Group B standings.
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points for Miami, which got 18 from Tyler Herro, 17 from Terry Rozier and 16 from Bam Adebayo. The Heat tied the game at 96-96 on a layup by Butler and got within one point on three occasions later, but never led.
The Heat, who were outscored 60-30 from 3-point range, fell to 1-2 in Cup play.
AJ Green made back-to-back 3-pointers for Milwaukee in the final minutes, both coming immediately after Miami scored to get within one. His late 3s gave Milwaukee leads of 101-97 and 104-100.
Durant, Beal return as Suns cruise
Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant each scored 23 points and the Phoenix Suns celebrated the healthy return of both players with a 127-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Devin Booker led the way with 26 points and had 10 assists as the Suns snapped a five-game losing streak.
Beal had missed the past five games while Durant had missed seven in a row - both players were sidelined by a strained left calf.
Beal made 10 of 15 shots, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
The Lakers were led by Anthony Davis, who scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. LeBron James added 18 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists as Los Angeles lost its third straight.
The Suns outscored the Lakers 36-18 in the third quarter, turning a tight game into a 98-78 advantage. Booker had 11 points during the run, while Jusuf Nurkic had 10.
Booker made three consecutive shots during the Suns' 14-2 run midway through the third quarter, helping push the lead to 86-72.
Phoenix is 9-1 when Durant is in the lineup and 1-6 when he's not.
Rockets outlast Wolves in OT
Alperen Sengun had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Fred VanVleet added 27 points and 11 assists, and the Houston Rockets pulled out a 117-111 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game.
Dillon Brooks added 22 points for Houston, which improved to 3-0 in the competition and clinched West Group A and a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Anthony Edwards had 29 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row. Julius Randle scored 21, while Naz Reid had 19 off the bench.
Rookie Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the draft out of Kentucky, had his best game of the season, helping to fill the void left by point guard Mike Conley, who missed his third straight game with a left great toe sprain. Dillingham had 12 points and season highs with seven assists and five rebounds.
With 15 seconds left in regulation, Sengun got a pass on a drive to the basket for a potential layup, but Rudy Gobert came across for the block to keep the score tied. Edwards’ jumper on the other end was off the mark and the game went to overtime.
Houston shot 15 of 37 from 3-point territory, including 10 of 18 in the first half to build its lead.
In the latest installment of the rich get richer, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Blake Snell are in agreement on a five-year, $182 million contract, pending a physical, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
Snell, who turns 32 next month, is a two-time Cy Young Award winner who spent last season with the San Francisco Giants, going 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 starts.
He had a 6.31 ERA at the All-Star break after a limited spring training, but over his final 12 games, he posted a 1.45 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings, including a no-hitter at Cincinnati on Aug. 2.
Snell won the 2023 Cy Young while pitching for the San Diego Padres and entered free agency. He didn’t have a team by spring training, so he landed with the Giants on a two-year, $62 million contract with an opt-out after the first year, which he exercised.
Durability is a concern with Snell, who has thrown more than 129 1/3 innings just twice in nine major league seasons. He also has a lifetime 4.1 walks per nine innings average and rarely pitches deep into games with only one career complete game.
He becomes the latest addition to the star-studded Dodgers, who gave out the first mega deal of this offseason following Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year contract last winter.
Snell joins a rotation that already features Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Ohtani.
Aaron Rodgers has yet to decide if he will retire after this season, but if he does play in 2025, he would like to stay with the New York Jets.
Rodgers addressed his future during his regular appearance on the “The Pat McAfee Show,” after rumours had surfaced that he was feuding with the Jets’ front office amid a disappointing season.
“I don't even know if I want to play yet, but New York would be my first option,” Rodgers said of his plans for 2025.
The four-time MVP shot down reports by The Athletic that he hoped to play for another team next season.
“That's 100% false,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers, who turns 41 next week, is having an unimpressive statistical season while the much-hyped Jets have lost seven of their last eight games.
With disappointing results on the field, the Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh midway through the season. Rodgers’ future may be determined more by New York’s new leadership than the future Hall of Famer himself.
“When you're 40, going on 41, you're obviously at the end of your career,” he said. “... Obviously, if it's New York, they have to want me to be here. And then the new GM, new staff all have to want me to be with the Jets.
“And then body-wise, I have to see how I'm feeling and if I want to sign up to go back to the grind and all that, but it feels good. I'm healthy now.
“It's not as much fun when you're dealing with rehab all the time. So, if I can stay healthy the rest of the year and play the way I want to play, and everybody feels good about bringing me back, then there's a decision there. And if not, then there's all the other options. I think, at this point, I'm open to everything and attached to nothing. So, it's a good place to be.”
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich told reporters on Monday that Rodgers is “absolutely” the Jets’ starter for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, denying rumours that New York could bench or release him.
Rodgers, who missed nearly all of last season due to a torn Achilles tendon, said that his two seasons in New York have been “frustrating and difficult” but maintained his positivity about his experience with the Jets.
“These have been two of the most important years of my life and two of the best years of my life,” Rodgers said.
Champions were crowned across five categories at the inaugural Supreme Ventures Jamaica Invitational Bodybuilding Championships held at the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston on November 23.
Organized by Supreme Ventures in partnership with the Jamaica Olympic Association and the Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association, the event showcased the nation’s top bodybuilding talents across five categories: Men’s Physique Open, Women’s Bikini Fitness Open, Bodybuilding Open, Classic Bodybuilding, and Women’s Bikini Wellness.
Sheldon Harper took top spot in the Men’s Physique Open category ahead of Shaquille Bowen and Dwayne Leslie. Andre McDonald, Ranile Moore, and Nicholas Williams filled out the remaining top six spots.
In Women’s Bikini Fitness Open, Nicole Lewis claimed the title, with Kenesha Spencer and Oberlene Smith-Whyte finishing second and third, respectively.
Nicolas Wilson took the top honours in the Bodybuilding Open, followed by Henry Graham in second place and Andrew Chisholm in third.
Kymani Kirby, Rupert Johnson, and Wendell Martin finished in the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions.
In the Classic Bodybuilding category, Kymani Kirby rose to the top, with Wendell Martin in second and Amunike Peddie in third.
Nicolas Wilson, Matthew Donville, and Ross Lowe placed fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
In the final category of Women’s Bikini Wellness, Bryana Johnson emerged victorious ahead of Lissan Wallace placing second.
“We are extremely proud to have launched the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Invitational Bodybuilding Championships, and to have witnessed such outstanding competition,” said Chloleen Daley-Muschett, Corporate Communication and PR Manager at Supreme Ventures Limited.
“This event is a testament to the incredible talent in Jamaica, and we are excited about the future of bodybuilding in the country. We look forward to making this an annual event that continues to inspire and elevate athletes at all levels,” she added.
Tahlia Richardson and Joel Angus were the female and male open winners at week one of the 2024 All Jamaica Badminton Championships at the YMCA in Kingston over the weekend.
Richardson won the women’s open title by two sets to none (21-10, 21-14) over Alexandra Beckford while Angus won the men’s open crown two sets to one win over Craig Allison.
Angus won the first set 21-18 before Allison tied proceedings with a 21-13 second set win. Angus then prevailed 21-13 in the last set to claim the title.
It was a fruitful weekend for Richardson who also took titles in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
She partnered with Breanna Bisnott to defeat the pair of Mikaelah Mustafaa and Jade Ranger 21-11, 21-9 in women’s doubles before teaming up with Anthony McNee to defeat Kenneth Anglin and Mustafaa 21-16, 21-7 in mixed doubles.
McNee also claimed the men’s doubles title alongside Kemar Valentine with a 21-19, 21-17 win over Craig Allison and Mickhail Williams.
Brianna Burke and Samuel Smith claimed the top female and male prizes in the new Rising Shuttler category.
Burke defeated Sue-Ann Ogle 21-9, 21-18 to claim the title while Smith won the men’s title in a walkover over Daniel Ford.
In the junior championships held on November 16 and 17, 14-year-old Amir McBean was dominant, winning the boys singles titles at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 level.
He won the Under-17 title 21-10, 21-5 over Jhevado Ross and won the Under-19 crown with a 21-10, 21-10 win over his brother Jorie McBean.
At Under-15, he defeated Justin Dillon 21-10, 21-5. He also teamed up with Matheus Smith to win the doubles title 21-7, 21-11 over Cameron Crooks and Nicholas Francis.
The Under-19 girls singles crown went to Jade Ranger thanks to a dominant 21-4, 21-4 win over Amelia Dawkins.
Ranger also won the titles in girls doubles and mixed doubles. She teamed up with Cassandra Russell to win the girls doubles crown 21-16, 21-2 over Daviannia Francis and Rachel Rainsford before teaming with Samuel Smith to win mixed doubles 21-3, 21-1 over Trevar Hunt and Faithe Beavfort.
Sue-Ann Ogle won a three-set affair to claim the Under-17 girls singles title over Ruthann Wadgle. Ogle lost the first set 12-21 before bouncing back to win the next two 21-13, 21-17.
Ogle also won the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in the Under-15 category. She won another three-setter to claim the singles title against Najia Henry, losing the first set 13-21 before rallying to win the next two 21-16 and 21-7.
She teamed up with Abigail Harvey to win the doubles title over Najia Henry and Danielle Morgan 21-9, 21-13 before her and Matheus Smith claimed the mixed doubles title in a walkover.
The other age group champions include Justin Dillon (Under-13 boys singles), Ella Belle Palmer (Under-13 girls singles), Zachary Gardner (Under-11 boys singles), Jillian Yap (Under-11 and Under-9 girls singles), Zamani Allen (Under-9 boys singles).
A year ago, Shimona Jok faced one of the darkest periods of her netball career.
At the close of the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season, the Jamaican shooter believed she would have secured a spot on another team after the dissolution of her then club, Collingwood. But as days turned to weeks, then months, Jok found herself without a contract and very little hope as her training session from there on was more out of habit than purpose.
“It hurt to know I wasn’t recognised enough to be given a contract,” Jok admitted.
“I had sleepless nights and was depressed to the point where I was wondering if I was even valued in this competition. Did anyone see me as someone to be a part of their team? I was going to the gym, but there wasn’t any motivation—I just wanted to stay in bed,” she added.
While, like most athletes, Jok wished she didn’t have to walk that path, she has now grown to appreciate that her temporary setback was a setup for a major comeback.
This, as Jok is currently in preseason preparation as a key player for the Melbourne Mavericks, following an integral performance last season, which saw her cop the club’s inaugural MVP title and, with it, a new contract
Shimona Jok interacts with a fan.
“It shows you take what you learn from a bad experience and blossom it into something new. I went to the Mavericks and thought to myself, I still get to be in a professional environment; I still get to build relationships, add to them, and they add to me. Every single day I got in the Mavericks environment, I flourished,” Jok declared.
Jok vividly recalls the day she and her Collingwood teammates were informed their team would no longer exist.
“It was crazy when it happened. I remember vividly—we were in a team meeting doing some analysis, and the CEO came in and sat us down. They weren’t very direct, but when someone asked what was happening, they told us they wouldn’t be continuing the netball program,” she shared.
Despite the devastating news, the Magpies finished their season with pride, securing two wins from their final three games, including victories over eventual premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the finals-bound West Coast Fever.
“We tried to be there for each other. It was a big pill to swallow, knowing we had to finish the season off, but we did it for each other. We stuck together, showed up at training, stayed positive, and looked out for each other,” Jok explained.
After Collingwood’s collapse, Jok faced another blow of missing out on Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls 2023 World Cup squad, only being named as a reserve. What was difficult for her is the fact that she learned about it on social media.
Shimona Jok in action with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2018.
“I found out I was a reserve for the World Cup over social media and got told I didn’t seem committed enough,” Jok said.
“Personally, it was very difficult. I took it with a grain of salt and spoke to Latanya [Wilson], who convinced me to come to South Africa. She pointed out that this was an opportunity to go,” she noted.
Jok’s journey into netball began with a decision to forego basketball scholarships in the United States to pursue immediate earning opportunities in netball. Landing in Australia, she joined the Adelaide Thunderbirds as a replacement player in 2018.
She hit the ground running, shooting 37 goals on her SSN debut, and finished the season with 418 goals under the tutelage of current West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan.
“I have to give Dan [Ryan] a lot of credit. He saw a lot of potential in me and really pushed me. It was amazing to know somebody believed I could be good at this. After every single week, Dan and I would sit and talk about my goals for the next game. I still have the notebook as a reminder of where I came from and where I am now,” the 6ft 5in shooter stated.
It was from there that she ended up at Collingwood, where she became one of the league’s most consistent shooters, and even then, she often felt overlooked.
Shimon Jok in action with Collingwood.
“I don’t know, to be honest—it all just comes down to who people like. I’ve been here for seven years, and the recognition new players get compared to me hurts. But you know what? There’s going to come a time where they’re not going to be able to brush over my name,” Jok said with an air of confidence.
“I feel like I’ve worked to get into a space where I’m just focused on what I can control. Every single year I’m building, every single year it’s a different Shimona, every single year it’s a different style of play,” she reasoned.
The now 25-year-old’s determination inevitably paid off, as she was drafted by the Mavericks earlier this year and felt right at home. Having learnt from her experiences over the years, Jok is now focused on continued growth for the 2025 campaign.
“I’ve had the experience of what it feels like to have genuine connections, and I feel at the Mavericks, we’ve found our feet together. Once everyone got on court, worked together, and started to realise how much we could push each other, we started to build genuine connections.
“I’m going to keep putting in the work and building those relationships. I love a good relationship because they can get you over the line no matter what,” Jok ended.
Michael Malone labelled the manner of the Denver Nuggets’ 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks “embarrassing” as they fell to their second straight defeat at home.
The 145 points scored by the Knicks were the most by a visiting side at the Ball Arena since April 2022, when the Los Angeles Lakers racked up 146 in an overtime victory.
While the Nuggets had the NBA's joint second-best record at home last season at 33-8, their record this season tells a different tale at 5-4.
Malone vowed the home team would not just move past the blowout, telling reporters: "F*** that man, no. No, we're not flushing.
"You don't flush when you get embarrassed, you don't flush when you gave up 145 points, you don't flush when you didn't play hard, didn't play with effort, physicality, I'm not flushing anything."
The Nuggets allowed the Knicks to beat records all over the court. OG Anunoby made a career-high 40 points, while Jalen Brunson also attained a career-best in supplying 17 of New York’s 45 assists.
Malone’s focus remained on the efforts of his own players, however. He called for better leadership from his starters.
"Russell Westbrook, he's vocal -- but we need more than Russell Westbrook. I need Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, I need guys that have been here in that starting lineup to be vocal. And you know tonight we got embarrassed,” he explained.
"We're 16 games in and we're talking about effort, we're talking about toughness, we're talking about physicality. ... And regardless of who's in, who's out, who do we want to be as a team?
“So, yeah, leadership would be great, toughness would be great, physicality would be great, playing like you actually care would be great, and we didn't do that tonight."
Westbrook totalled 27 points off the bench for the Nuggets, but Jokic finished with a career-low seven rebounds and a 22-point total.
"We didn't show up tonight. It's always a good punch in the face just to wake up," Jokic said.
"Coach was right. We are in the games, and we are always down 20 at a half. I don't know [what's going on]. We don't warm up, we don't wake up, or we just don't play hard enough. I don't know what it is, but collectively, we need to do a better job."
LaMelo Ball claimed a share of an unwanted NBA record as his 44-point haul failed to prevent the Charlotte Hornets from suffering a 95-84 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday.
Ball became the third-youngest player in NBA history to sink 50 points and record 10 assists in a single game on Saturday, yet Charlotte were still beaten 125-119 by the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 23-year-old endured more bad fortune on Monday, as his 44 points, nine rebounds and seven assists came in another defeat to the Magic.
Ball shot 17 of 30 and 4 of 11 from 3-point range but the Magic still snapped Charlotte's four-game winning streak on home turf, dropping them to 6-11 for this season.
He now has 94 points, 14 rebounds and 17 assists across his last two games but has lost both.
The only other player in NBA history to manage at least as many points, rebounds and assists in a two-game span but lose both is the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, who did so on February 12 and 13, 1963 (97 points, 61 rebounds, 18 assists).
Despite Ball's herculean effort, Hornets coach Charles Lee criticised the inconsistency of his team's offensive play after the defeat.
"I thought defensively, our guys did a really good job of executing the gameplan," he said.
"To give up 95 points when we’re fouling towards the end of the game, I think it shows the effort, the competitiveness and the togetherness.
"Offensively, we got ourselves in trouble with some of our turnovers. Most of it is self-inflicted again and things that we can control.
"I'll give credit to Orlando for their length and activity on our drives, but I would love to see us fix some of our transition turnovers that we had."
The Hornets are back in action versus the Miami Heat on Wednesday, with the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks their next opponents as they play three games in as many days.
Ja Morant scored 22 points on his return to fitness as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Portland Trail Blazers, with the team reaping the rewards of his relationship with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.
Morant had missed three weeks – and eight games – after sustaining injuries to his hip and pelvic muscle, but he wasted no time in getting back up to speed on Monday.
The 2019 number two draft pick scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half as Memphis eased to a 123-98 victory at FedExForum.
Morant is averaging 20.8 points, 9.3 assists and five rebounds in his nine games this season, with the Grizzlies now 11-7.
Memphis, who missed the playoffs for the first time since Morant's rookie season last year, went 5-3 throughout his eight-game absence.
"It felt good. It felt like I played good. Looked good," Morant said after the game.
"I'm just attacking my return process. The ramp-up... Making sure I'm in rhythm when I'm out there."
Two fine assists from Morant – an alley-oop to Jackson and a behind-the-back pass to Brandon Clarke – brought standing ovations from those present at FedExForum, leading Santi Aldama to praise his connection with his fellow stars.
"When we've got the big three, it's different," reserve forward Aldama said. "It's also easier to play that way.
"We're talking about Ja. Just having him back, just the energy, the gravity, it's completely different. Hopefully we start building the chemistry with them."
General Motors are set to enter a team under their Cadillac brand into Formula One in 2026, having reached an agreement in principle.
Formula One have said their application would “move forward” after GM and their partner, US-based TWG Group, released a statement on Monday committing to name a new team after their luxury Cadillac brand.
GM have said they will build their own engine further down the road, but it is not expected before 2028. Until then, they will have to buy a customer engine from an existing supplier.
Despite rejecting a bid for an Andretti team that was in partnership with Cadillac in January, Formula One want to see greater investment from the United States and thus views a team owned by GM differently.
"General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) world and is working with impressive partners,” the president of the FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem said, as reported by BBC Sport.
"I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to work towards an agreement in principle to progress this application to bring a GM/Cadillac branded team onto the grid for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship.”
This season, Max Verstappen clinched his fourth straight Formula One world title on Sunday at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Trinidad & Tobago’s men’s team and Jamaica’s women’s team both claimed silver medals at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament, which concluded Sunday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in the Twin Island Republic.
In a dominant display, Canada cruised past Trinidad and Tobago in the men’s final with a commanding 38-0 victory. Despite the defeat and missing out on qualification for the 2025 World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series, Trinidad and Tobago found consolation in the fact that their junior team secured a spot in the 2025 Junior Pan Am Games’ Sevens competition.
Trinidad and Tobago's captain, Shakeel Dyte, and vice captain, Ruairi O'Farrel, made valiant efforts to breach Canada’s formidable defence, but the hosts struggled against the well-oiled Canadian unit.
Jamaica took third place in the men’s division, with Mexico finishing fourth. Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Guyana, and Barbados rounded out the standings in fifth through eighth places, respectively.
In the women’s competition, heartbreak struck Jamaica in the final moments of their clash with Mexico. Leading for most of the match, Jamaica conceded two converted tries in the last 45 seconds, allowing Mexico to snatch a dramatic 19-12 victory and the gold medal.
Trinidad and Tobago’s women, however, ended on a high note, securing the bronze medal with a dominant 29-0 win over the Dominican Republic.
Both Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica would have wanted more but will take heart from the fact that they not only left the tournament with commendable performances but, more importantly, showcased their potential in regional rugby while setting the stage for further growth in the sport.
Kristaps Porziņģis had 16 points in 23 minutes in a successful season debut as the Boston Celtics stayed hot with Monday's 126-94 blowout of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Porzingis' return from offseason ankle surgery helped turn this clash of teams that came in each owning five-game winning streaks into a laugher. Three-point shooting turned out to be the biggest factor, however, as the defending NBA champion Celtics hit 22 shots from beyond the arc while holding Los Angeles to a 7-of-26 effort (26.9 per cent) on such tries.
Payton Pritchard went 6 of 10 from 3-point range while scoring 20 points off the bench for Boston. Jayson Tatum also had 20 points to go along with nine rebounds, while Derrick White added 19 points and seven assists while going 5 of 9 on 3-point attempts.
Ivica Zubac led Los Angeles, which was coming off a win in Philadelphia on Sunday, with 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting as well as 10 rebounds. James Harden flirted with a triple-double in defeat by tallying 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
After taking a 27-20 lead after one quarter, the Celtics overwhelmed the Clippers from the perimeter in the second. Boston hit 12 shots from beyond the arc for the period and shot 70.8 per cent overall while outscoring Los Angeles by a 51-29 margin during the quarter.
The scoring barrage sent Boston into the break owning a commanding 78-49 advantage.
Los Angeles never seriously threatened in the second half, as the Celtics never held a lead smaller than 15 points over the final two quarters.
Nets overcome 18-point deficit to stun Warriors
Dennis Schröder scored 23 of his 31 points in the second half to spark the Brooklyn Nets to a surprising 128-120 comeback road win over the Golden State Warriors.
The Nets handed the Warriors a second straight loss after a 12-3 start to the season despite trailing by 18 points midway through the third quarter. Brooklyn was able to rally for its second win in as many nights behind big efforts from Schroder and Ziaire Williams, who had 13 of his 19 points after half-time and finished with 10 rebounds.
Cam Thomas added 23 points for Brooklyn, which was coming off a 108-103 road victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Golden State received 28 points and seven assists from Stephen Curry and 18 points from Andrew Wiggins, but failed to get late stops on defence while being outscored 41-28 in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors appeared to have the game in control after Curry tallied seven points during an 11-0 run that gave them an 86-68 lead with seven minutes left in the third quarter.
Brooklyn answered with 11 straight points of its own, however, and later got to within 92-87 after Trendon Watford sank a 3-pointer to end the third quarter.
Schroder then scored the first eight points of the fourth, with his 3-ball with 9:43 to go breaking a 92-92 tie.
The Warriors were never able to get the lead back, with the Nets putting the game out of reach with a late 7-2 spurt that put them up 126-115 in the final minute.
Anunoby's 40 points leads Knicks' blowout of Nuggets
OG Anunoby racked up a career-high 40 points and the New York Knicks tied a franchise record with 45 assists to hand the scuffling Denver Nuggets a 145-118 loss.
Jalen Brunson also set a career best by dishing out 17 of New York's 45 assists, which matched a team single-game high set in 1979. The Knicks also shot a season-high 60.9 per cent from the field to win for the fifth time in six games, with Anunoby hitting 16 of 23 shots and Karl-Anthony Towns going 12 of 15 while adding 30 points and 15 rebounds.
New York held Nikola Jokić to a season-low seven rebounds as well as they dealt Denver a fourth defeat in six games. The reigning NBA MVP did manage 22 points and seven assists, while Russell Westbrook scored 27 points off the bench and Jamal Murray had 20 along with seven assists.
The Nuggets also received their second straight loss at home, where they're 5-4 so far this season after producing a 33-8 record at Ball Arena in 2023-24.
Brunson had nine of his 23 points during an 11-4 run to close out the first quarter that staked New York to a 36-24 lead after 12 minutes of play. Towns then put up 15 points in the second quarter as the Knicks stretched the margin to 23 points by half-time, as they entered the break with a 76-53 advantage.
The Knicks continued to pour it on in the second half, as their lead never got under 17 points and reached as high as 30 in the fourth quarter.
Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and John Harbaugh got the best of his brother once again as the Baltimore Ravens earned a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday.
Baltimore (8-4) put an end to the Chargers' four-game winning streak and improved Harbaugh to 3-0 lifetime against his brother, Jim, in matchups between the sibling head coaches. The first two meetings came when Jim Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers, including a 34–31 Ravens victory in Super Bowl 47 in 2013.
Jackson bounced back from a subpar performance in Baltimore's loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers last week to complete 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards with touchdown throws to Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews.
The Ravens also dominated on the ground by piling up 212 rushing yards, including 140 from Derrick Henry on 24 attempts. Justice Hill added a 51-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to help Baltimore close within a half-game of the first-place Steelers in the AFC North.
Los Angeles (7-4) lost for the first time since Oct. 21 despite taking a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Chargers got a 5-yard touchdown run from quarterback Justin Herbert on the opening drive but largely sputtered thereafter, managing just 285 total yards.
Herbert finished 21 of 36 for 218 passing yards, while Ladd McConkey recorded six catches for 83 yards in the loss.
After going down 10-0 on Cameron Dicker's 42-yard field goal, the Ravens responded with a 7-play, 70-yard drive capped by Jackson's 10-yard touchdown on a designed run to get on the board midway through the second quarter.
Jackson later put Baltimore ahead with 24 seconds left before half-time with a deep pass that Bateman corraled in traffic for a 40-yard touchdown. The Ravens took a 14-13 lead into the break after Dicker hit a 52-yard field goal on the final play of the half to pull Los Angeles closer.
After both teams traded field goals in the third quarter, the Ravens pulled away in the fourth. Jackson engineered a 14-play, 70-yard series culminating in Andrews' 6-yard touchdown pass that staked Baltimore to a 23-16 lead with 12:32 remaining. John Harbaugh opted to try for a 2-point conversion, but Jackson's pass in the end zone was broken up.
Hill then put the game away by breaking free for a 51-yard touchdown with 7:24 left to play. The Chargers did get a touchdown in the final minute when former Raven Gus Edwards crossed the goal line on a 1-yard run.
Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls set up a decisive fourth and final Test match against England’s Vitality Roses after producing a nail-biting one-goal win over the current World number two to tie the series at 1-1 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on Monday.
Entering this game on the back of a 49-49 draw and a 47-55 loss in the first two games of the series at the AO Arena in Manchester, England on November 16 and 17, the Girls were looking for redemption in front of an energetic home crowd.
They used the energy of the vibrant crowd packed into the Sports Centre to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead before the Roses used their physicality to claw their way back into the contest early. The score at the end of the first quarter was 12-10 in favour of the hosts.
England came out firing at the start of quarter number two, however, with three quick goals handing them an early one-point advantage and making it seem like the tide was turning in their favour.
With the home crowd rearing them on, the hosts regained their composure and, through some quick and accurate passing and shooting, re-took the lead at 15-13 with 11 and a half minutes left in the period.
Over the next few minutes, Jamaica continued to build momentum sending the home crowd into a frenzy with a seven to three run to lead 22-16 with six minutes left in the first half.
The two rivals continued to trade buckets for the rest of the second quarter, with England eventually closing the gap to three points at half-time, the Jamaicans leading 26-23.
The second half started like the first, with the hosts extending the lead to 32-25 within the first five minutes of the period.
England stayed strong, however, and, despite some spectacular defensive plays from Jamaica captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey throughout the rest of the quarter, the gap between the teams heading into the fourth and final stanza was still only three points with Jamaica up 38-35.
The first five minutes of the fourth quarter saw both teams showing why they are so highly ranked globally, producing timely goals and steals throughout. With 10 minutes to go, Jamaica’s lead was just two at 43-41 and the crowd was getting more pensive by the second.
Action continued back and forth and the nerves began to build even more when England made it a one-point game at 47-46 with three minutes to play.
Jamaica hit back, however, with two quick goals to restore the three-goal lead before England, displaying remarkable resilience, hit back once again with two goals of their own to make it a tied game at 49-49 with 50 seconds to play.
That would prove to be the last time England had the ball in their attacking third, however, as the Sunshine Girls strategically passed the ball around for the remaining time before, with one second left, Shanice Beckford hit what proved to be the game-winner, securing a 50-49 win for the hosts and sending the crowd into wild celebrations.
Beckford finished with 19 goals from 23 attempts while goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George had 30 goals from 34 attempts.
For England, Liv Tchine had 26 goals from 27 attempts while Lois Pearson had 18 goals from 21 attempts.
“I’m super happy for this win. Our fans brought us over the line today and we’re very grateful,” said Sunshine Girls captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey after the game.
“I think we won the game defensively today. We revisited our game plan after the games in England and came back out strong,” she added.
Jamaica head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry praised the performance and poise from her troops.
“I think they were exceptional. I’m quite excited for them. Thy have grown from the second game,” she said.
“Still we have a lot of rough edges that we need to fix but I must commend them. To beat England is a big thing for us right now,” she added.
England coach Jess Thirlby believes early errors cost her team the game in the end.
“I think we made too many errors at the start of the game. Everything we expected from the Sunshine Girls came at us tonight,” she said.
Despite the loss, Thirlby expressed positivity at the way her team played, especially in the final two quarters.
“We drew that third quarter and won the fourth quarter by two. An outstanding performance and huge credit to the Sunshine Girls. In the moments where they needed to be, they were super smart,” she said.
The decisive fourth game of the series will take place at the same venue on Tuesday starting at 7:00pm Jamaica Time.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Kimberly Percival added another accolade to her extraordinary season by winning the Bikini Fitness Category at the Mr Universe Chile IFBB Competition over the November 23-24 weekend. Percival’s victory came just a week after her triumph in the same category in Cancun, Mexico, solidifying her status as one of the sport’s elite athletes in 2024.
Competing in a field of 10, Percival topped a highly competitive lineup that included Franziska Lohberger of Germany, who finished as the runner-up, and Flavia Carneiro Mendes of Brazil, who placed third. Rounding out the top five were Anna Wozniakowska of Poland and Yissel Leon of Mexico, with Jamaica’s Deidre Lewis placing sixth.
Percival spoke passionately about the level of competition in Chile, noting that it was more challenging than Cancun due to the strength of the South American athletes.
“Chile, as expected, was definitely more competitive than Cancun. The South American countries tend to have a very standout lineup and a solid athlete pose,” she explained. “We had eight IFBB pros registered to participate, with two additional athletes earning their pro cards earlier in the day and joining the lineup. It was definitely a competitive pool, and I would say more competitive than Cancun.”
Percival highlighted the rigorous nature of the judging process, which involved multiple comparisons and rotations among the athletes.
Kimberly Percival triumphs in Chile.
“They definitely worked us, they turned us, they rotated us, they compared us, and I think everybody had to bring their best,” she said. “For me, my advantage would have been my aesthetic—being tall and the level of development that I carry, my shape, and general bikini aesthetic. But I still had to work hard, ensuring I showcased and represented my muscularity, development, and elegance as is expected in Bikini.”
The win in Chile marked the end of an incredible season for Percival, who competed in five shows this fall, earning four first-place finishes and one second place. Among her highlights was a victory at the Arnold Classic in October and a win at the Grand Gala St. Vincent in Italy.
“The plan was to come into both of these shows with the intent of adding two more feathers to my cap, rounding out my year on a high note,” Percival said. “I was over the moon that I was able to follow through on that intention and walk away with those two wins, Chile being the last one.”
Percival’s success has been consistent across different countries and judging panels, something she takes immense pride in.
“Different countries, different judging panels, and still consistently being able to have this success is really gratifying and very fulfilling,” she reflected.
Percival celebrates her win in Cancun, Mexico last week.
Beyond her achievements, Percival is driven by the legacy she is building for herself, her country, and the sport of bodybuilding.
“A big part of what pushes me is the consideration of the legacy that I am creating for myself, my name, my country, and my sport,” she said. “Bodybuilding is a little niche, so bringing that notoriety and fanfare to the sport and to a small island is really fulfilling. I am really happy to represent that the way I intended to.”
Percival’s latest victory and the exceptional season she has had underscore her passion, dedication, and drive, making her a true ambassador for bodybuilding and a source of pride for Antigua and Barbuda. As she continues to carve out her legacy, her success serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the Caribbean and beyond.
The Jamaica Squash Association (JSA) is set to host the inaugural Jamaica Invitational from November 27-30, 2024, at the Liguanea Club in Kingston. This highly anticipated event will showcase top squash talent from Jamaica and the Caribbean, with men and women competing for the prestigious title of Jamaica Invitational Champion.
The invitational will feature Jamaica’s best, led by Ashante Smith, the top seed and last year’s All-Jamaica Championship runner-up. Smith will be challenged by Bruce Burrowes, the second seed, who has been a consistent finalist in national and regional tournaments. The third seed, Jerazeno Bell, hails from Guyana and has impressed with his competitive performances while playing in Jamaica. Rounding out the top five are Stephan Morrison, a seasoned national representative seeded fourth, and Jonathan Hope, the fifth seed and the highest-ranked visiting player from The Bahamas.
On the women’s side, the six-player round-robin format highlights emerging and established talent. Mehar Trehan, the U17 Caribbean Champion and reigning local champion, takes the top seed, while Sanjana Nallapati, the third-ranked U19 player in the Caribbean and a Caribbean Girls Doubles Champion, is seeded second. Tracy Binnie, a consistent performer on the local circuit, is the third seed, followed by Elle Wilson, who rounds out the top four.
Mehar Trehan
JSA President Karen Anderson emphasized the tournament’s significance as a platform for player development and future opportunities.
“The inaugural Jamaica Invitational is an opportunity for our players to showcase their hard work and be considered for national representation. The plan is to grow the event to include prize money and invite more Caribbean players to compete,” Anderson said.
She also noted the event’s role in shaping the future of Jamaica’s national teams.
“It’s a 16-person draw. It is being used as a selection event, so players who participate, the top four, can be considered for future national representation at events we may be travelling to. All-Jamaica will be the priority in March (2025), but this will also be one of the events that we will look at and put in the pot for consideration.”
Anderson expressed excitement about the calibre of players in both the men’s and women’s draws, highlighting the depth of talent on display.
This inaugural tournament aims to set a high standard for squash in Jamaica, providing opportunities for local and regional players to excel while contributing to the development of the sport across the Caribbean.
Despite a mid-season wobble allowing McLaren's Lando Norris to make things interesting, Max Verstappen is Formula One's drivers' champion again.
The Red Bull driver may have only placed fifth at Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix, but finishing one place ahead of Norris was enough to wrap up the title with two races to spare.
Only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, with seven apiece, plus Juan Manuel Fangio (five) have now bettered Verstappen's four world crowns in F1 history.
Speaking after Saturday's celebrations, Verstappen said the difficulties affecting Red Bull in 2024 – from Adrian Newey's exit to reports of tensions between team officials and his father Jos – necessitated laser-sharp levels of focus.
"The beginning was a bit messy but I think I'm quite calm in those situations," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.
"I think it's very difficult to disturb me with anything. I'm very focused on the racing side of things.
"I know that when I sit in the car, I forget about everything, even positive or negative stuff. I focus on what's ahead of me and that's performance, and I drive the car as fast as I can."
After Verstappen further cemented his place in F1 history, we run through the best Opta facts to emerge from his latest title triumph.
An unconvincing triumph?
Verstappen sent records tumbling with his third title triumph in 2023, winning a remarkable 19 of 22 races to smash his own record for the most victories in a single season (15 in 2022).
This term, he has had to do things a different way. With just two races remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Verstappen has eight victories to his name. Should he fail to win another race, he will be the F1 champion with the fewest victories in a season since 2012, when Sebastian Vettel only needed five race victories to triumph.
The tight nature of the field – alongside the struggles of Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez – means there is a real chance of Red Bull finishing outside the top two in the constructors' championship standings.
They currently have 555 points, with leaders McLaren amassing 608 and Ferrari boasting 584 in second.
Should Red Bull finish third, Verstappen will be the first F1 drivers' champion to not represent one of the top two teams since 1983, when Nelson Piquet triumphed despite Brabham finishing third, behind Ferrari and Renault.
While some may argue Verstappen has benefited from not having one consistent title rival, he also deserves credit for shaking off his team's troubles to come out on top.
The key moments
Several key moments helped Verstappen maintain his stranglehold on the drivers' title.
Seven wins in the first 10 races saw him fly out of the traps, including back-to-back victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the opening two weeks. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he became just the seventh driver to surpass 100 podium finishes in F1 history.
He now has 111, fewer only than Hamilton (201), Schumacher (155) and Vettel (122).
However, Verstappen failed to win from pole at Red Bull's home grand prix in Austria in June, and that race kickstarted a run of 10 without victory for the Dutchman.
His next win arrived in Sao Paulo in early November, and it was certainly worth the wait.
He raced from 17th to take the spoils in a chaotic race, becoming the first driver in F1 history to win from 10 different positions on the grid. It was only the sixth time a driver has climbed at least 16 places to win a race, and the first such occasion since Kimi Raikkonen in Japan in 2005 (also 16).
And where better to seal the title than under the bright lights of Las Vegas?
The F1 drivers' champion has now been crowned in the United States on nine occasions. Only Japan (13) and Italy (11) have played host to more coronations.
Of those nine occasions, three have taken place in the city of Las Vegas: two at the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1981 (Piquet) and 1982 (Keke Rosberg), and Verstappen's triumph this year.
More history in the making?
Verstappen's four titles have all come in succession, making him just the fifth driver to achieve that feat and the fourth to do so since the turn of the century.
In 2025, Verstappen will aim to become just the second driver to reign supreme for five years.
Schumacher won five titles in a row between 2000 and 2004 while Vettel (2010-2013) and Hamilton (2017-2020) have achieved four-peats more recently. Fangio previously won four straight crowns from 1954 to 1957.
While Hamilton's move to Ferrari and the continued development of McLaren duo Norris and Oscar Piastri should keep things competitive, few would bet against Verstappen's reign continuing.
James Harden says the Los Angeles Clippers are "understanding who they are" after their emphatic 125-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Harden returned to Philadelphia and delivered game-highs of 23 points and eight assists as the Clippers cruised to their fifth consecutive win in the NBA.
The 76ers were without the injured Paul George, who left LA in the offseason, and Joel Embiid and struggled as the Clippers built a lead as large as 33 points in the third quarter.
Harden, who moved from Philadelphia to the Clippers just over a year ago, is enjoying the progress his team are making.
"We're coming around, and we're understanding who we are," Harden said. "Understanding that in order for us to have a chance at anything, we know we have to do it every single night. And that's the most exciting part.
"One thing about this team: we're all happy for each other. Literally, it can be anybody's night, on any given night.
"Nobody's going to be upset; everybody's going to be happy for each other. And things aren't always going to be perfect to win games. But even when we lose, we're still happy for each other. Good things will happen most of the time."
The Clippers are still without Kawhi Leonard, who has been out since April with a knee injury, and he is not expected to return in the near future.
However, head coach Tyronn Lue has used the opportunity to set his team up in a different way, something they have benefitted from as the season has gone on.
"It's tough anytime you lose your best player — we all know that," said Lue.
"But going into camp and knowing that we weren't going to have Kawhi for a strong amount of the beginning of the season, we just knew what our team was going to be.
"After the first five, six games, we understood what our rotation was going to be, how we wanted to play, what guys fit well with who. And so, it has been good for us — like, you know, not guys being in and out, in and out."
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