Giannis Antetokounmpo believes the Milwaukee Bucks must do "every little thing" better after slipping to a third defeat in four games.
The Bucks were defeated 112-108 by the Houston Rockets on Saturday, dropping Milwaukee to 25-11 on the season and leaving them three-and-a-half games behind the conference-leading Boston Celtics in the East.
The Bucks' defeat to the Rockets came in spite of a brilliant display from Antetokounmpo, who finished with 48 points and 17 rebounds in a seventh-straight double-double.
Antetokounmpo says the Bucks must improve every facet of their game if they are to repeat their run to the 2021 title, telling reporters: "We have to be better.
"We have to play better, we have to defend better, we have to trust one another better, we have to be coached better.
"Every single thing, everybody has to be better. It starts from the equipment manager – he has to wash our clothes better. The bench has to be better, the leaders of the team have to be more vocal, we have to make more shots, we have to defend better, we have to have a better strategy, we have to be better.
"We have four months to get better, so we'll see."
The Rockets held a 16-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, and though the Bucks could not quite get the comeback completed, Milwaukee head coach Adrian Griffin is confident his team will get over their struggles soon.
"It'll come," Griffin stated. "It's a team sport, it's five guys out there.
"I thought we dug ourselves in a hole as a unit and did a good job of getting out of it but just ran out of time."
Nick Nurse had no excuses after his injury-hit Philadelphia 76ers team fell to a second straight defeat against the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
The 76ers were without reigning MVP Joel Embiid because of swelling in his knee, while Tobias Harris, De-Anthony Melton, Robert Covington and Furkan Korkmaz were also out injured.
Philadelphia could not overcome those absences, going down 120-109 against the Jazz after suffering a heavy 128-92 defeat to the New York Knicks in their previous game.
Despite his team's injury troubles, Nurse insists the 76ers must perform better, telling reporters: "I believe even though you're missing five guys, that those guys can collectively play together better than that,"
"They can execute better. They can defend better than that. They can make those open shots. There were plenty of shots to step into and make in that game.
"When you’re short-handed, you got to play better than that. You've got to shoot the ball better and you've got to finish better than that."
Tyrese Maxey, who finished with 25 points but made just one of his eight three-pointers against the Jazz, acknowledged the team must play better going forward.
"Coach [Nurse] said we just didn't play hard enough," Maxey said. "He felt like the guys who came in, we could've played a lot harder and with a lot more force so he said we'll work on that.
"We'll get back to doing that and playing that way."
Chris Paul will undergo surgery after fracturing his left hand in the Golden State Warriors' win over the Detroit Pistons.
During the third quarter of the Warriors' 113-109 victory on Friday, Paul injured his hand while attempting to grab a rebound, making contact with the Pistons' Jaden Ivey.
Paul went back to the locker room following the incident, and the Warriors have since announced the 38-year-old will have surgery next week.
Paul has averaged 8.9 points, 7.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game this season, and Golden State head coach Steve Kerr is disappointed for the 12-time All-Star.
"I feel so bad for Chris," Kerr told reporters. "I know he's had a couple of hand surgeries before, I believe, maybe on the other hand. I saw him holding it and instantly was worried.
"[I] just got the word after walking off the floor. I feel terrible for Chris, and obviously, guys will step up and be ready to play. We've got to hold down the fort without him."
Stephen Curry acknowledged he and his team-mates will have to step up in Paul's absence, saying: "Especially over the last two years or so, I'm able to adjust to whatever is out there. I know that's another challenge now going back to another different lineup with CP out.
"He's such a cerebral player. He knows how to manage the game, getting us organised. CP is a great addition to that flow.
"I've got to be able to make the adjustments, Klay's [Thompson] got to do the same, for us to continue to be aggressive [without Paul]."
Night And Day beat odds-on stablemate Brandy Love in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase – the only race to take place at Naas on Sunday.
The pair, who are both trained by Willie Mullins, were sent off at odds of 9-1 and 1-4 respectively, with Grade One-winning hurdler Brandy Love the heavy favourite after finishing second on her first spin over fences.
It was an unsatisfactory spectacle, with the start of the race delayed due to heavy fog at the track and extremely limited viewing on offer to spectators both on course and at home once the contest did get under way.
When they emerged from the gloom at the top of the straight Brandy Love was in front, but by the time they came into view again after the last, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Night And Day had a healthy advantage in the hands of Daryl Jacob.
She had been well beaten in fifth on her chasing bow, but took a leap forward with a 10-length victory.
The fixture was subsequently called off due to the fog and Jacob admitted the four-runner race had proved a stern task in the circumstances.
He said: “I had Paul (Townend on Brandy Love) and J J (Slevin on Tophill Low) in front of me and I was speaking to Jack (Kennedy on Jumping Jet) as we were going around but it’s very difficult, I’m not going to lie.
“The fog is thicker down the back straight where we started off. We can see in time for the fences about 100 yards before.
“She settled and jumped well and got into the race nicely. I just got her to relax and breathe properly before getting her into the race.
“Brandy Love was in front and I took it up from the second-last going to the last. She galloped right through the line.”
Sunday’s high-class meeting at Naas was called off after just one race due to fog.
The Kildare track had been the subject of two morning inspections, with officials calling an initial check at 7.30am due to the threat of frost, with the ground perfectly raceable at that stage although visibility was limited.
A second inspection was held at 9.30am, with the fixture eventually getting the go-ahead just before 11am.
However, conditions deteriorated ahead of the first race, with the start delayed before it eventually took place in thick fog, offering racegoers and television viewers only a couple of glimpses of action.
An inquiry was called immediately afterwards, and after consulting with trainers and jockeys, the stewards declared an early halt to proceedings.
The card was due to feature the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, which is now set for Friday along with the remaining races.
The Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and the Denman Chase at Newbury are the two options under consideration for Coral Gold Cup hero Datsalrightgino’s next outing.
The eight-year-old benefited from a masterful Gavin Sheehan ride to win one of the season’s biggest prizes at Newbury in early December and he has justifiably been given an entry for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
His credentials for the blue riband are likely to be tested further on his next start, with a couple of recognised Gold Cup trials under consideration.
Datsalrightgino is also a 33-1 shot for the Randox Grand National, which is not being ruled out by his trainer Jamie Snowden.
He said: “It will be the Cotswold Chase or the Denman, they would be the two races for him depending on how he is and the ground at the time.
“Obviously he’s got an entry in the Gold Cup and we’ll put an entry in the Grand National as well.
“He still thinks he’s the king!”
Promising novice Imagine looks set for a step into open company on his next start, with the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles in his sights.
A useful hurdler last season, Gordon Elliott’s charge has thrived since switching to the larger obstacles this term, scoring in heavy ground at Fairyhouse in November before successfully stepping up to Grade Two company at Punchestown a few weeks later.
Connections had suggested a run at Kempton in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase was a possibility over the Christmas period, but with French raider Il Est Francais convincing most to stay away, the Imagine team decided to hold fire in favour of other options.
Now the Caldwell Construction Ltd-owned six-year-old will tackle two and a half miles for the first time over fences in a Group Two event won by Allaho in two of the past three years.
“He runs at Thurles in a Grade Two over two and a half miles,” said Joey Logan, racing manager for the the owners.
“We just didn’t want to run again to soon with him (after the Craddockstown) and we were thinking of going to Kempton (on Boxing Day) but we decided not to with it being three miles and with the French horse coming over.
“We didn’t want to run him over three miles at Leopardstown, so we said we would keep him fresh and the plan is to go to Thurles on January 21.
“He’s still a baby and there is a similar race coming along for Fil D’or as well. These are all young horses and they are coming along nicely and we’re very lucky to have them.”
Jade De Grugy could put her Cheltenham Festival aspirations to the test at Fairyhouse later this month following an impressive debut for Willie Mullins at Leopardstown.
The five-year-old was snapped up for €230,000 after winning at Saint-Brieuc in late 2022, and after a 452-day absence finally made her first start for her Closutton training team and new owner Kenny Alexander over the festive period.
Sent off the 5-4 favourite in the hands of Paul Townend for a two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle, Jade De Grugy delivered a blistering display, making light work of her rivals to romp home by 15 lengths.
She is now poised for a step up in class for her next start, with Fairyhouse’s SBK Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle on January 27 seen as one possible spot where Jade De Grugy can tune-up for a shot at the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in the spring.
“She was very impressive,” said Alexander’s racing manager Peter Molony.
“We are not sure what she beat, but what she did was very good and Paul was very impressed with her – we are quite excited about her.
“Every option will be open, but something like the Solerina at the end of the month might be something for her.
“If she progresses in the right direction you would be dreaming of the Mares’ Novices’ at Cheltenham. It’s what we’re thinking of at the moment and hoping for.”
Mullins also unleashed another exciting prospect in the colours of Alexander during Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival with French import Kargese finishing second in the Grade Two Mercedes-Benz South Dublin Juvenile Hurdle.
It was the same position Gala Marceau filled in the race on stable bow 12 months ago and Kargese will seek to repeat Gala Marceau’s Grade One winning exploits in her next start at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Molony added: “We were happy with her, she just didn’t settle great on the day. Considering that, she ran very well and the winner had had two runs already so again we’re quite excited about her.
“Hopefully all going well she goes to the Dublin Racing Festival and if things progress well, we will dream of a go at the Triumph Hurdle.”
This afternoon’s card at Naas will go ahead as planned after the track was declared fit to race.
The Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle is the highlight of a seven-race fixture, but fog had put the meeting into some doubt.
However, clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan reports conditions to have improved since inspections at 7.30am and 9.30am, with the meeting given the official go-ahead.
He said: “I can see the last fence now pretty clear, the fog has lifted and at this point in time racing goes ahead.
“We’re good to go. Having chatted to a few of the riders that have gone for a run around the track, they are happy enough they can see. We have been up to the judge’s box and from there you can see the last fence.
“At this point in time, we’re good to go but we will continue to monitor because of fog, it can lift and come back again.”
The ground at Naas is soft, soft to heavy on the chase and hurdles track.
Fog continues to be a concern at Naas ahead of this afternoon’s Grade One card.
The Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle is due to be the highlight of a seven-race fixture, with the ground declared fit for action following an initial 7.30am inspection.
However, fog has been slow to lift at the track and while it is forecast to clear, clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan is maintaining a careful watch.
He said: “Met Eireann are saying it’s lifting, but the fact there’s no wind means it’s going to be slow lifting.
“We can see the last fence now which we couldn’t earlier, so it is lifting slowly, but it’s very unpredictable and we will just continue to monitor.”
The ground at Naas is soft, soft to heavy on the chase and hurdles track.
Rafael Nadal will miss the Australian Open after sustaining an injury during the Brisbane International earlier this week.
The 37-year-old Spaniard, who had surgery on the psoas tendon in his left hip in June, was making his comeback at the Brisbane tournament.
Nadal required medical treatment during his quarter-final loss to Jordan Thompson, and the 22-time grand slam champion said in a post on X: “During my last match in Brisbane I had a small problem on a muscle that as you know made me worried.
“Once I got to Melbourne I have had the chance to make an MRI and I have micro tear on a muscle, not in the same part where I had the injury and that’s good news.
“Right now I am not ready to compete at the maximum level of exigence in five sets matches. I’m flying back to Spain to see my doctor, get some treatment and rest.”
He added: “I have worked very hard during the year for this comeback and as I always mentioned my goal is to be at my best level in three months.
“Within the sad news for me for not being able to play in front of the amazing Melbourne crowds, this is not very bad news and we all remain positive with the evolution for the season.
“I really wanted to play here in Australia and I have had the chance to play a few matches that made me very happy and positive. Thanks all for the support and see you soon!”
Former Scotland captain Mike Blair announced his retirement from international rugby on this day in 2013.
Blair made the decision in order to focus on life in France, where he was playing for Brive, while also allowing Scotland to uncover fresh options at scrum-half in time for the 2015 World Cup.
Stepping down from the world stage as a 31-year-old, he had made 85 appearances for the team and led the side 14 times.
“I’m in the very fortunate position of being able to decide myself when my international career ends. For me, that time is now,” said Blair, who retired despite remaining a regular starter.
“The fact that I still feel attuned to playing at international level has made the decision harder, but it’s not been reached lightly and I’m very confident that it’s the right decision.”
The 2009 British and Irish Lions tourist spent only one season at Brive and after two years with Newcastle, he joined Glasgow before his playing career ended in 2016.
This afternoon’s meeting at Naas is subject to a second inspection at 9.30am.
The threat of frost prompted officials to call an initial 7.30am check and while the track is reported to be fit for action, fog is causing some concern at the track.
The fog is forecast to lift, but another inspection is required.
Elena Rybakina defeated world number two Aryna Sabalenka in their Australian Open final rematch with a dominant straight sets win to claim the Brisbane International.
The world number four from Kazakhstan charged out of the blocks, dominating the first set 6-0 and continuing the form through the second set 6-3, winning in just over 70 minutes.
Rybakina was clinical on break points, winning five of a possible seven, and limiting the Belarusian to just one break point.
Sabalenka was on a 15-game winning streak in Australia before the loss, spanning back to the start of 2023 in Adelaide and continuing through her Australian Open-winning campaign.
The win was 24-year-old Rybakina’s sixth career title.
Coco Gauff defended her Auckland title as she beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina to win the ASB Classic in three sets.
The 19-year-old American won 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3 in just over two and a half hours to make it 10 straight wins at the event.
Gauff was put through a difficult, topsy-turvy first set, losing in a tiebreak.
But the teenager turned it around in the second and third sets as she improved her first serve success from 46 per cent to 73 per cent in the second and above 80 per cent in the third.
The win was the 2023 US Open winner’s seventh WTA title.
Elena Rybakina defeated world number two Aryna Sabalenka in their Australian Open final rematch with a dominant straight sets win to claim the Brisbane International.
The world number four from Kazakhstan charged out of the blocks, dominating the first set 6-0 and continuing the form through the second set 6-3, winning in just over 70 minutes.
Rybakina was clinical on break points, winning five of a possible seven, and limiting the Belarusian to just one break point.
Sabalenka was on a 15-game winning streak in Australia before the loss, spanning back to the start of 2023 in Adelaide and continuing through her Australian Open-winning campaign.
The win was 24-year-old Rybakina’s sixth career title.
Sam Reinhart recorded a hat trick and Aleksander Barkov had four assists to lead the visiting Florida Panthers to their season-high seventh straight victory, 8-4 over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Carter Verhaeghe had two goals and an assist and Matthew Tkachuk added a goal and two assists for the Panthers, who have scored 31 goals – including 10 on the power play – during the win streak.
Reinhart has 10 goals in the seven-game run, including three multigoal games. He ranks among the NHL leaders with 28 goals this season, three fewer than he had in 82 games in 2022-23.
Cale Makar and Valeri Nichushkin each scored one goal and set up another as Colorado had a seven-game point streak snapped.
Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to extend his home point streak to 21 games to start the season.
Streaking Oilers win behind Hyman’s hat trick
Zach Hyman notched his third hat trick of the season and the Edmonton Oilers extended their winning streak to seven games on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots and Evan Bouchard had three assists for Edmonton, which has overcome a 5-12-1 start by going 15-3-0 in their last 18.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch became the first coach in NHL history to have two seven-game winning streaks in his first 25 games in the position.
The Senators got their lone goal from Parker Kelly and dropped their third straight.
Fleury ties Roy as Wild win
Marc-Andre Fleury tied Patrick Roy on the all-time wins list with Marco Rossi’s overtime goal that gave the Minnesota Wild a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fleury made 25 saves to match Roy with his 551st win and now trails only Martin Brodeur (691) on the career list.
Matt Boldy scored two power-play goals and Marcus Johansson also tallied for the Wild, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Columbus’ Cole Sillinger scored all three goals for his second career hat trick.
Jayson Tatum poured in 38 points with a season-high eight 3-pointers and Jaylen Brown added 31 points to help the Boston Celtics snap the Indiana Pacers’ six-game winning streak, 118-101 on Saturday.
Tatum, who also had 13 rebounds and six assists, combined with Brown for 27 of Boston’s 46 baskets on a night they never trailed.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points, seven assists and six rebounds and five steals. Indiana was held to a season-low point total and lost the rebounding battle, 70-42.
The Pacers were within 84-81 entering the fourth quarter, but the Celtics went up 100-85 on Tatum’s 3-pointer with 7:30 remaining.
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis played only six minutes due to an eye laceration.
Rockets survive Antetokounmpo’s 48 points
Alperen Sengun had 21 points and the Houston Rockets overcame 48 points and 17 rebounds from Giannis Antetokounmpo to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 112-108.
Antetokounmpo shot 16 of 25 from the field for his seventh straight double-double but teammate Damian Lillard shot 5 of 16, including 1 for 8 from long range, and missed a season-high three free throws on 10 attempts.
Jalen Green scored 16 points and Fred VanVleet added 14 with seven assists for Houston, which has won three of four following a three-game skid.
Randle leads Knicks over Wizards
Julius Randle scored 39 points and Jalen Brunson had 33 as the New York Knicks won their fourth straight game, 121-105 over the Washington Wizards.
Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 19 rebounds as New York showed no letup following an impressive 128-92 rout of the 76ers a night earlier.
Kyle Kuzma had 27 points and Deni Avdija added 23 for Washington, which has lost four in a row and seven of eight.
American Chris Kirk heads into the final round of the PGA Tour season opener in Hawaii with a one-stroke lead.
Kirk hit eight birdies and a bogey in a third-round 66 to push his way into pole position at The Sentry in Maui.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, the halfway leader, hit a 71 to drop three shots off the lead.
Tyrell Hatton could not replicate Friday’s 62, carding a 72 and dropping into a tie for 14th a further two shots back.
Fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick is four shots off the pace in a share of 10th after a 69.
American Akshay Bhatia, 21, pushed his way into second spot, one stroke behind Kirk on 20 under, while Xander Schauffele, Jordan Speith and Byeong Hun An are a further stroke back in third.
Kirk said he will have to remain aggressive to hold his lead.
“You certainly can’t protect anything out here, that’s for sure,” he said.
“When it’s a shootout like this and the scores are really low, you just stay aggressive and just go do your thing.”
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