Nick Kyrgios should face "severe" disciplinary action after a ball boy was almost struck by the Australian's smashed racket, one of the best-known coaches in tennis has said.
American Brad Gilbert, a former tour player who has worked with stars including Andre Agassi and Andy Murray, was taken aback by the tantrum from Kyrgios after a three-set defeat to Rafael Nadal in Indian Wells.
Kyrgios went to the net to shake hands with Nadal, who won 7-6 (7-0) 5-7 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.
But moments later he thrashed his racket against the ground. It bounced up high, travelling half the length of the court and causing a ball boy to take evasive action, stepping out of the way to avoid being hit and potentially hurt.
Kyrgios scornfully answered reporters' questions about the incident after the match, describing it as "a complete accident".
However, the 26-year-old unmistakably lost control in front of a full stadium and could face punishment as a result.
Gilbert wrote on Twitter: "Ridiculous to do that after such a good match, the penalty should be severe."
Gilbert questioned whether that would happen, given the ATP, which runs the men's tour, only handed a suspended eight-week ban to Alexander Zverev, plus a fine, after the world number three violently hit his racket against an umpire's chair.
"Unfortunately ATP lost the plot with Zverev situation and not a good look for kids and our sport," Gilbert wrote.
The 60-year-old Gilbert, who also coached Andy Roddick, said there was "absolutely no reason to snap on court after the match".
He added: "The stick could have easily gone anywhere like the stands and hit someone, seriously awful to see that in front of great crowd."
Kyrgios posted an exchange of text messages with the ball boy, and said he would give him a racket as a token of apology.
Saying sorry for the incident, Kyrgios wrote: "Didn't want it going anywhere near you to be honest."
Sergio Perez believes "it makes sense to have a discussion" around the idea of Formula One drivers being allowed to race with coronavirus.
The 2022 season will be the third affected by COVID-19, already impacting the grid for Sunday's opener at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel has contracted the virus, meaning he will be absent for Aston Martin, while Daniel Ricciardo missed the end of pre-season testing but has recovered to take up his McLaren seat.
Red Bull's Perez missed two races in 2020 due to COVID-19 and suggests drivers – already isolated within their cars during races – should not be ruled out if they are otherwise fit and healthy.
"Going forward, we should discuss whether we allow the drivers to race if the symptoms are mild," the Mexican said.
"The drivers can obviously be the judge, but I think it makes sense to have a discussion.
"There is only so much you can do. I think it's just luck-dependent. It is difficult to not do anything. I'm just very sorry for Seb and for Daniel, but it can happen to anyone."
Nico Hulkenberg, Aston Martin's reserve driver, has replaced four-time world champion Vettel this week.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski revealed his excitement heading into his final NCAA Tournament before bringing an outstanding 42-year tenure to a close.
'Coach K' is leaving Duke at the end of this season, having been the Blue Devils' coach since 1980.
Krzyzewski was denied a 16th ACC Tournament title with defeat to Virginia Tech in the championship game last weekend, but the possibility of a sixth national title remains.
The coach's final March Madness begins with his number two seed facing 15-seed Cal State Fullerton on Friday.
"I'm just going to go for it, and that's what I've tried to do all season long," Krzyzewski said. "I just want to be in the moment. I'm excited."
While Krzyzewski is looking forward to his 'last dance', he acknowledges the emotion around each game is trickier for his Blue Devils players to deal with.
"That's part of the thing this week, is to get them mentally fresh, not just physically fresh," the 75-year-old said.
"There's a lot of emotion with all my stuff, and it's over now. That's a lot for those kids."
The East Regional section of the tournament saw a big upset on Thursday with a 15 seed beating a two seed – Saint Peter's stunning Kentucky.
And Krzyzewski is well aware of the delicate situation Duke find themselves in as they seek to prolong his coaching career.
"Most of the time, they don't realise it's one-and-done until it's done," he said.
How does Formula One go about following up the epic 2021 season?
Well, until that stunning campaign stole the show, this year was long seen as the one to look forward to with the introduction of new regulations to encourage competitive racing right down the grid.
Lewis Hamilton might have expected a genuine challenge in 2022; instead, in the form of Max Verstappen, it arrived 12 months early.
Excitement for the coming campaign is therefore at an all-time high, with pre-season testing adding to the theory fans should expect the unexpected.
Forecasting the year ahead is tricky, but Stats Perform seeks to identify the key narratives to follow this season ahead of Sunday's 2022 opener in Bahrain.
Max vs Lewis again
For now at least, Verstappen and Hamilton will expect to be the title frontrunners, which should mean another classic campaign.
Verstappen had never even led the standings until winning last year's Monaco Grand Prix, the first of five consecutive Red Bull wins – including four for the Dutchman.
That sequence ended at Silverstone, where contact with Hamilton sent Verstappen into the wall and set the tone for the rest of a frantic season, in which the pair repeatedly went at one another, crashing at Monza.
A titanic back-and-forth deserved a better ending than to be decided by a contentious call from race director Michael Masi in Abu Dhabi.
Now, defending champion Verstappen can attempt to prove he is better than Hamilton regardless of that decision, while the Mercedes man seeks to show his class once again as he pursues a record eighth title.
The midfield challenge
The game-changing 2022 regulations sought to enforce "closer racing", meaning both Verstappen and Hamilton could come under threat rather than simply blowing away the competition.
Early signs are encouraging on that front, with the two title rivals name-checking Ferrari's superb pre-season showing in the past week.
A resurgent Scuderia represent an obvious danger to those two, but so too do McLaren, Ferrari's midfield neighbours in recent seasons.
Lando Norris had four podiums last season before tailing off to finish sixth in the drivers' championship – still two places ahead of team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who endured a tough first year with the team despite a famous win at Monza.
Having been aided by changes to the car for 2022, it is up to Ferrari and McLaren to close the gap considerably to Red Bull and Mercedes.
George a genuine threat?
Of course, Verstappen and Hamilton might typically expect their biggest challenges to come from those in the same cars.
However, Sergio Perez played the role of supporting Red Bull team-mate brilliantly in some key moments last year, while Valtteri Bottas continued to do his own thing without worrying Hamilton.
How a change in the Mercedes garage alters things remains to be seen. Bottas has been replaced by George Russell, who will hope to quickly make his mark.
Russell deputised for Hamilton for a single race the year before last and impressed, so it will be interesting to see if he now intends to push his legendary colleague all the way or will initially settle instead for helping his title bid.
Impact of refereeing reform
It is not only the cars that have had a makeover this year, with the officiating structure reorganised in the aftermath of the criticism aimed at Masi.
He is out as race director, with two men, Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, taking his place, while other changes include the introduction of a "virtual race control room" to "assist the race director in the decision-making process".
Whether these changes suitably appease the team principals, who grew increasingly furious with each controversy last year, remains to be seen.
All parties would agree they would rather see the championship decided on the track – but it is not always as straightforward as that.
Following an eventful, dramatic and – dare we say it – the best Formula One season to date, the 2022 campaign has plenty to live up to.
Lewis Hamilton is going in search of a record eighth world title at the second time of asking after missing out to Max Verstappen on the final lap of the final race in 2021.
Reigning champion Verstappen is himself seeking some personal history this coming campaign, which begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.
Ahead of what will hopefully be an equally as gripping season this time around, Stats Perform picks out some of the key numbers.
Hamilton narrowly missed out on surpassing Michael Schumacher as F1's most successful driver, though he has not missed out on top spot in successive years since joining Mercedes in 2013.
Should he match his achievement from last year, Red Bull's Verstappen (25 years, two months) would surpass Fernandes Alonso (25y, 2m, 23 days) as the second-youngest multiple world champion, behind only Sebastian Vettel (24y, 3m).
Mercedes may have suffered disappointment last time out, but they still finished top of the constructors' standings for a record-extending eighth time in a row. They are one short of equalling Williams as the second-most successful team, though Ferrari (16) are still well out in front.
In terms of other team milestones, Bahrain will be the 250th GP Mercedes have competed in, while they are six fastest laps away from setting 100. McLaren, meanwhile, are seven podiums from reaching 500 in F1.
Joining Hamilton at Mercedes this season is compatriot George Russell, who along with McLaren's Lando Norris is aiming to become the first Briton other than Hamilton to win a race since Jenson Button in 2012.
Bottas is now at Alfa Romeo and is joined by Guanyu Zhou, who will be China's first ever representative on the grid, making them the 39th country to appear in F1. Indeed, it is the first time three Asian countries will be represented, with Alex Albon (Thailand) and Yuki Tsunoda (Japan) also featuring.
Now 14 years on from their most recent constructors' title, Ferrari will equal their worst-such streak – 15 years between 1984 and 1998 – if they again miss out this term.
Carlos Sainz is Ferrari's big hope and he has either matched or bettered his performance from the previous season – both in terms of points and position – over the past six years when racing for just one team.
While his title chances are slim at best, Fernando Alonso has the opportunity to become the driver with the biggest margin between F1 titles of all time, 16 years on from his most recent success.
Twenty-two events are currently locked in the F1 calendar for this year, with Miami set to become the 77th different circuit used when it hosts its maiden GP in May. It will be the 11th different track used in the United States, which is the most of any country.
After signing a six-year, $120million deal with the Buffalo Bills, future Hall-of-Fame edge rusher Von Miller said it was far from an easy decision.
Miller finished 2021 with 9.5 sacks for the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams, racking up five for Los Angeles in the final four games of the regular season.
His strong play down the stretch carried into the Rams' triumphant postseason, Miller registering a sack in the wins over the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before sacking Joe Burrow twice in their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
He finished the season fifth among edge rushers with at least 100 one-on-one matchups with a stunt-adjusted pass rush win rate of 43.40, according to Stats Perform data.
When reflecting about his free agency, Miller said he was surprised with how difficult the decision was.
"I wasn't expecting it to be like that," Miller told reporters. "I was expecting you win the Super Bowl, you got your offers out here, where do you want to go, pick, go back to the Rams. But it was tough man, it came down to the very end.
"I feel like I let [the Rams] down – I feel like I'm breaking up with my girlfriend. That's just me and the way I go about my business.
"But this was the one time in my life where I had to make a decision for me. I saw what makes Aaron Donald Aaron Donald, and it was hard to walk away from that.
"The only way you can walk away from that is to walk into something special. And what they're doing here is extremely special.
"[The Bills are] gonna win a Super Bowl with or without me. They've built an amazing team."
Five-time All-Star Freddie Freeman will leave the reigning world champion Atlanta Braves for the Los Angeles Dodgers on a bumper multi-year deal according to ESPN.
The 2020 National League (NL) MVP has agreed to a six-year, $162million deal with the Dodgers after reaching free agency for the first time in his career.
The 32-year-old has spent his whole professional career with the Braves dating back to 2007, before guiding them to their first World Series triumph since 1995 last year.
California-native Freeman hit .300 with 31 home runs, 83 RBIs and a NL-best 120 runs in their triumphant 2021 MLB season.
The Dodgers' blockbuster move for Freeman follows lucrative deals for Trevor Bauer in 2021 and Mookie Betts in 2020.
Freeman had rejected the Braves' qualifying offer after his contract expired following the World Series triumph, before becoming a free agent in November.
The Braves had signed Matt Olson earlier this week on an eight-year deal, making Freeman's exit more probable, with the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees also pursuing him.
The Dodgers are yet to confirm the deal with the move subject to Freeman completing a physical.
"Did that really happen?" Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Thursday. "Once Atlanta made that deal for Olson, it kind of came to pass. We're a much better ball club today than we were yesterday."
After his elimination from the Indian Wells Masters, Nick Kyrgios fired back at a reporter who questioned him about an incident after the match where he launched his racket, almost hitting a ball-kid.
Rafael Nadal ultimately emerged victorious in the match 7-6 (7-0) 5-7 6-4, after shaking hands with Nadal and the match umpire, Kyrgios spiked his racket into the ground as he walked back to his bench.
Speaking with post-match media, Kyrgios was sarcastic and rude when questioned about it.
"That's a question you're going to say after a three-hour battle against Nadal – that's what you've come here with?" he said.
"What would you like me to say about it? Obviously was that my intention? No, because did I throw the racquet anywhere near him originally? It landed a metre from my foot and skidded and nearly hit him. I'm human.
"Things happen like that obviously, it was a very misfortunate [sic] bounce. What do you want me to say? It was three metres away from the kid.
After his elimination from the Indian Wells Masters, Nick Kyrgios fired back at a reporter who questioned him about an incident after the match where he launched his racket, almost hitting a ball-kid.
Rafael Nadal ultimately emerged victorious in the match 7-6 (7-0) 5-7 6-4, after shaking hands with Nadal and the match umpire, Kyrgios spiked his racket into the ground as he walked back to his bench.
Speaking with post-match media, Kyrgios was sarcastic and rude when questioned about it.
"That's a question you're going to say after a three-hour battle against Nadal – that's what you've come here with?" he said.
"What would you like me to say about it?
"Obviously was that my intention? No, because did I throw the racquet anywhere near him originally? It landed a metre from my foot and skidded and nearly hit him. I'm human.
"Things happen like that obviously, it was a very misfortunate bounce.
"What do you want me to say? It was three metres away from the kid.
Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz set up an all-Spanish semi-final at the Indian Wells Masters, after both secured wins on Thursday.
Nadal overcame a strong start and comeback from Nick Kyrgios to eventually win 7-6(6-0) 5-7 6-4 in the opening quarter-final, before Alcaraz beat defending champion Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-3.
The Spaniard extended his unbeaten run in 2022 to a staggering 19-0, but the win was not without its share of controversy against the fiery Kyrgios.
A shutout tie-break to end the first was followed by a fiery resurgence from Kyrgios, before he eventually collapsed in the third set and nearly hit a ball kid at the end of the match, when the 26-year-old smashed his racquet in frustration before it bounced up dangerously.
Similarly to his fourth-round win over Reilly Opelka, Nadal used all of his tactical nous to nullify Kyrgios’ serve and power, frustrating his opponent to eventually claim the victory.
"It's difficult to play against him [Kyrgios], always tough because he changes the dynamic of the point very quick and his serve is huge, especially the first serve," Nadal said afterwards.
"I think I played a good third set. Returning better, I was solid with the serve. I just suffered in one game with my serve.
"Nick is one of these kinds of players that you’re going to have problems when he’s motivated."
It was a carbon copy of recent matches between the two, with Nadal eventually waiting for Kygrios’ collapse and pouncing. He now leads their head-to-head battle 6-3.
The win set up an exciting match-up with Spanish starlet Alcaraz, who was brimming with confidence against Norrie in the night game.
The 18-year-old gave the Indian Wells defending champion problems with his characteristically flat two-handed backhand, before opening up the shoulders on the forehand side as the game progressed.
It made up for the fact he only won 59 percent of points on first serve, converting on five of his nine break point attempts.
His stroke play from the baseline was at times thrilling, particularly to set up 15-30 in the fourth game before immediately breaking Norrie back.
On a night where only one NBA game was played, Saddiq Bey made the most of the spotlight, scoring a career-high 51 points in the Detroit Pistons' 134-120 win against the Orlando Magic.
Bey, who at 22 became the youngest in Detroit Pistons history to score 50 points in a game, shot 17-of-27 from the field. This included a scorching 10-of-14 from three, while he also notched up nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.
He is the eighth player to score 50 points in an NBA game this month.
With top pick Cade Cunningham out, former number-two pick and newly acquired Piston Marvin Bagley III enjoyed some extra responsibility, scoring 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Chet Holmgren did his lottery chances no harm with a dominant performance in Gonzaga's 93-72 win over Georgia State, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 64-team, single elimination tournament – affectionately known as March Madness – is often where players make a name for themselves in front of crowds full of NBA scouts, and for top prospects to prove that they can do it under bright lights. The potential number-one pick in this year's NBA Draft, Holmgren scored 19 points of 8-for-13 shooting.
Holmgren is one of four players who could realistically expect to get picked at number one this year, along with Auburn's Jabari Smith, Purdue's Jaden Ivey and Duke's Paolo Banchero.
As the best player on the tournament's overall number-one seed, Holmgren - who stands at seven-feet tall with a seven-foot-six wingspan - also added 17 rebounds, five assists, seven blocks and two steals as he impacted nearly every possession at both ends of the floor.
Defending champion Sam Burns is one of four players to score a seven-under-par 64, after the first round of play at the Valspar Championship on Thursday.
The world number eight had a busy round on the opening day, with nine birdies and two bogeys. He recovered well after bogey the par-four 16th and reeled off birdies on the final two holes to close out his opening 18 holes.
Following a chaotic weekend at The Players Championship, the Florida weather had a positive effect on the Copperhead course, with Burns reaping the benefits from facilitative greens.
"The greens are really receptive with the rain we’ve gotten last week," he told reporters following his round.
"Yeah, I think the golf course will continue to firm up after we get some sun and wind and I think it’s going to play really well the next few days."
Burns, David Lipsky, Adam Hadwin and Jhonattan Vegas share the lead at Copperhead after the first day of play.
Scott Stallings, Richy Werenski, Davis Riley and Danny Lee are one back at six under, while Justin Thomas, Kramer Hickok and Doc Redman are a further two strokes back.
After missing the cut at TPC Sawgrass, Jason Day opened with a one-under-70, only two weeks after the passing of mother.
Notable names in group at four under include Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Louis Oosthuizen.
Out of the co-leaders, though, Lipsky was the only one to go bogey-free, opening with a birdie on the par-five first to set the tone on a confident front nine. He closed out the round with four consecutive pars.
The 33-year-old has never won on the PGA Tour and has not won an event since his time on the European Tour in 2018.
The Green Bay Packers have agreed to trade superstar wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for a package centred around draft picks.
Adams, 29, is arguably the best player at one of the sport's most important positions, establishing himself as Aaron Rodgers' primary target since arriving in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Leading the league in receiving touchdowns in 2020 (18), Adams has posted combined numbers of 2,927 yards and 29 touchdowns over the past two seasons while attracting intense game-planning from opposition defenses.
Lacking a true number-one receiver, the Raiders are a perfect fit for Adams, and they decided to part with multiple 2022 draft picks, including their first-rounder (22 overall) and second-rounder (53), to get the deal done.
Along with the trade, Adams has also agreed a five-year deal worth up to $141m, making him the highest-paid receiver in league history.
An ESPN report suggested the Packers were willing to match the contract offer that was eventually offered by the Raiders, but bridges had already been burnt during negotiations that have been ongoing for almost a year, with NFL Network adding Rodgers aware of the situation before signing his own extension.
The Packers invested heavily this offseason, re-signing defensive players Preston Smith (four years, $52million) and De'Vondre Campbell (five years, $50m), as well as extending franchise quarterback Rodgers on an eye-watering three-year, $150m deal.
Those moves created a salary cap squeeze and the Packers ended up applying the franchise tag to Adams, which was short of fair value based on his production.
The franchise tag allows a team to go over the salary cap to extend a player's contract for one year, with the value being decided by the average of the top-five salaries in the league at the player's position.
The Packers tagged Adams, but he insisted he would not play for the team without a long-term deal in place.
The trade means a reunion between Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and his new receiver after they played together at Fresno State University.
It continues an active offseason for the Raiders after nailing down its edge rush pairing with a long-term extension of Maxx Crosby and the signing of Chandler Jones, showing the post-Mike Mayock front office is focused on big names at premium positions.
The Packers, who lost in the Divisional Round last year after two consecutive NFC Championship Game losses, must now urgently look to replenish the supporting cast for back-to-back league MVP Rodgers.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has officially requested a trade, saying "the relationship is too far gone to mend".
Mayfield has been with the Browns since being selected with the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, after the team had finished with a record of 0-16 the prior year.
In the four years since arriving in Cleveland, the Browns have won no fewer than six games in each season, including an 11-5 campaign in 2020 that produced the franchise's first playoff appearance in 18 years.
Speaking with ESPN's Adam Schefter, Mayfield, added: "It is in the mutual interest of both sides for us to move on."
The request comes just days after Mayfield made a lengthy social media post thanking the city of Cleveland as he referenced "uncertainties", while adding there was no hidden meaning or firm decision to leave.
It is reported that Mayfield's preferred destination would be the Indianapolis Colts, however, he might not have it his way as the Browns are initially "not accommodating his request", per ESPN's Jake Trotter.
The Colts have a competitive roster with a clear need at QB having traded Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders.
Mayfield's post and subsequent trade request follows reports that the Browns met with Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson about his interest in joining the organisation, before ultimately getting rebuffed.
Reports after that development suggested Cleveland's preference was to continue with Mayfield, who struggled with a shoulder injury last year, as their starting QB for the 2022 season.
But while the choice to go public will apply pressure to the Browns to get a deal done, Mayfield is ultimately under contract.
With no replacement lined up, it is unlikely Cleveland - who traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper this offseason - are willing to head into week one without an established, quality starter.
After four uneven years as starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears and one year as a backup for the Buffalo Bills, Mitch Trubisky was ready for a new start.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers came calling, Trubisky knew that was exactly where he wanted to play.
"My goal through free agency was to find a way to get back on the field," the 27-year-old Trubisky said on Thursday, shortly after his two-year, $14 million deal with Pittsburgh became official.
"When an opportunity arose to play for coach [Mike] Tomlin and wear a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, I was so excited. Now I'm ready to roll and get to it."
The second overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft by the Bears, Trubisky's career never quite took off in Chicago.
He helped the Bears to playoff berths in 2018 and '20 and was reportedly well liked among his teammates, but he was never viewed as being a dangerous downfield passer. Among 41 QBs with at least 600 pass attempts from 2017-20, he ranked 24th in completion percentage (64.0), 29th in passer rating (87.2) and 35th in yards per attempt (6.73).
Part of the reason for his lack of success, however, also stems from an offense that failed to take shape under former Bears coach Matt Nagy.
Trubisky spent this past season as Josh Allen's backup in Buffalo and credits his time there as crucial in recognising the type of organisation he wanted to be a part of.
"I think I learned a lot," he said. "I was in a great organisation and the first thing that I really learned when [I got] to Buffalo is what a great culture feels like, and I already feel like that here, already in my short time in Pittsburgh.
"Culture wins. I could tell when I was in Buffalo, and I can tell it's going to be a great fit here with the culture. I'm excited to contribute to that. It was a huge year for me in Buffalo, just to take a reset and get my mind right and continue to hone my skills and just get ready for the next opportunity."
He joins a Steelers team steeped in tradition and one with an opening at quarterback following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger.
During his 18-year career with the Steelers, Roethlisberger led the franchise to a pair of Super Bowl championships, eight AFC North Division titles and 12 playoff berths.
"They didn't really have to make a pitch to me or sell me on anything," Trubisky said. "This is where I wanted to be, play for coach Tomlin, be a part of the rich Pittsburgh Steelers history and contribute to that.”
Trubisky still must prove he is capable of being Roethlisberger’s heir apparent, however.
General manager Kevin Colbert has said before the team is comfortable going forward with Mason Rudolph, who has gone 5-4-1 in 10 starts for the Steelers since being selected in the third round of the 2018 draft.
Trubisky, though, is confident he has the skill set to win the job and earn the trust of his teammates.
"I'm in a situation where I have to prove myself back on the field," he said. "That's what I'm looking forward to doing. You're always betting on yourself in that sense, and I definitely am in this case.
"You've got to bet on yourself and trust what you're capable of."
Two top-ten talents have booked a date in the Indian Wells Open semi-final after Maria Sakkari and Paula Badosa won their quarter-finals in straight sets.
First up, world number six Sakkari took on Ukrainian Elena Rybakina, prevailing 7-5 6-4.
Rybakina won the first three games of the match, working her way to an early 4-1 lead, before her Greek opponent rattled off six of the next seven games to claim the first set.
Sakkari again faced adversity early in the second set, coming back from 40-0 down in the second game to hold serve, before breaking the very next game to pinch the match-winning lead.
The Phoenix Suns have been dominant in the NBA this season, but go up against this year's leading scorer in the NBA, DeMar DeRozan, when the Chicago Bulls come to town on Friday.
Phoenix sit way out on top of the Western Conference at 56-14 and have won seven of their last nine games.
However, the Bulls – fifth in the Eastern Conference at 41-28 – will take solace in the fact the Suns have lost three of their last six home games, though Chicago themselves have lost two straight on the road, winning just two of their last nine overall.
If Billy Donovan's team is to have any chance of pulling off a win in Arizona, they will surely be reliant on DeRozan having another big game.
The 32-year-old has a league-high 1,814 points to his name this season, averaging 27.9 points per game. He has scored at least 21 points in each of his last seven outings, and has only once not managed that many in a game in his last 28 (when he scored 18 vs the Miami Heat).
It would be harsh to say the Bulls are a one-man team, but with Zach LaVine – averaging 24.8 points per game – Lonzo Ball and Patrick Williams all reportedly out injured again, DeRozan will be heavily leaned on once more.
The quality is spread right throughout Monty Williams' Suns though, hence their relentless ability to win games this season.
Devin Booker is their point-scoring leader with an average of 25.8 per game (10th best in the league), ably supported by Deandre Ayton (17.0) and five other players all averaging more than 10 per game.
These two teams have already met once this season when the Suns edged an exciting encounter 127-124 in Chicago in February.
The Bulls will be after revenge at Footprint Center but as with any team that comes up against Phoenix, that is very much easier said than done.
PIVOTAL PERFORMERS
Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker
Against the high-scoring Bulls it will be important to respond in kind, which is exactly what Booker did in their February meeting, matching DeRozan by scoring 38 points, which was immensely helpful given the late comeback from Chicago (41-25 in the fourth quarter).
The 25-year-old has scored at least 30 points in four of his last seven games.
Chicago Bulls – Nikola Vucevic
I mean, strictly speaking it should be DeRozan, but we've covered him (which is also what the Suns are likely to try and do) and so the pressure will come onto Vucevic to step up, particularly in LaVine's absence.
The Montenegrin averages 18.0 points per game this season, third-best at the Bulls, and also averages 11.5 rebounds. His total of 699 rebounds is the sixth-highest in the league.
KEY BATTLES – Watch the threes
Only the Miami Heat (37.4 per cent) have better success from beyond the arc than the Bulls (37.3 per cent) in the league this season.
The Suns (36.6 per cent) are sixth best from downtown, though, and so both will need to be careful not to give too much space for three-point attempts, even though the temptation will be there considering how dangerous both are all over the court.
These two teams are the two best in the NBA this season for field goal percentage (Suns - 48.5, Bulls 48.2).
HEAD-TO-HEAD
As mentioned, the Suns beat the Bulls in February, and have actually won the last four meetings between the two. The last Chicago win came in March 2019 (116-101 in Phoenix).
After reportedly agreeing to a four-year, $35million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith is back on the market.
Smith is the third player since this season's free agency discussions began to pull out of a deal that was widely-reported.
Randy Gregory was believed to have extended with the Dallas Cowboys before backing out and signing with the Denver Broncos, as J.D. McKissic cooled on his decision to join the Buffalo Bills, instead re-signing with the Washington Commanders.
Questions started to arise after the Ravens had not announced the signing through official team channels, with general manager Eric DeCosta saying, "I think over the coming days we'll have more to say on other moves that we make."
Smith missed the last 16 games of this past regular season after two dominant years in 2019 and 2020, and at 29 years old, the offer from the Ravens appeared to be strong.
However, in the days following Smith's apparent signing, both Von Miller and Chandler Jones – who are multiple years older than Smith – signed contracts worth nearly double the annual salary of the deal offered by the Ravens.
Playing at one of the league's premier positions, Smith should have a strong market as a reliable source of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
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