Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls have suffered a significant blow ahead of their upcoming Horizon Series against England’s Roses with the withdrawal of star goal shooter and team captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. Netball Jamaica announced today that Fowler-Nembhard, who has been a crucial presence in the goal circle, will be unable to participate in the series due to medical advice, affecting both the Manchester games on November 16 and 17 and the Jamaican leg on November 25 and 26.
Fowler-Nembhard, who has been training with the team for the past month, was anticipated to play a vital role not only in scoring but also in mentoring the new players who recently joined the senior squad. However, Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson emphasized the importance of prioritizing Fowler-Nembhard’s health. “Netball Jamaica is focused on her health and well-being and will provide updates as necessary regarding her condition. Romelda Aiken-George will instead join the team in England for the series,” Robinson said.
Sunshine Girls’ head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry expressed disappointment over the unexpected loss of Fowler-Nembhard but reinforced the team’s commitment to supporting her recovery. “Jhaniele is the captain and a very important player for Jamaica, and so we are quite disappointed that she will not be able to participate in the Horizon Series. However, our priority at this time is her health, and we are committed to supporting our players every step of the way. Additionally, we remain confident in the strength of our squad as we move forward with the series,” said Henry.
As the Sunshine Girls prepare to depart for England, Netball Jamaica extended their gratitude to fans for their understanding and continued support, assuring them that the team is ready for what promises to be a highly competitive series despite this setback.
Guyana and West Indies cricketers Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul are lending their support to the budding cricket stars of Region One, standing behind the Under-13 Tapeball Competition with a generous sponsorship of $300,000 for the first-place cash prize.
The tournament, which kicked off recently at the Kamwatta Recreation Ground, is organized by the Sebai Primary School PTA and is being held under the impactful theme, “End Child Labour.”
Shepherd, who has been a longtime supporter of the event, and Paul’s involvement mark a strong show of commitment to nurturing youth talent while raising awareness around child labour in the region.
The final match, scheduled for November 16 at Fitzburg Recreational Ground, promises to be a grand affair.
Thanks to the International Organization for Migration, champions will receive beautifully crafted trophies, while the Ministry of Labour has sponsored trophies for sub-regional winners and runners-up.
The competition is the result of a combined community effort, with other sponsors stepping forward to offer their support, as Orlando Rogers of One Plus Total Solutions and Skywest Charter Service have donated the $200,000 second-place prize.
Meanwhile, ASP Chandradat Kooldeep, Maureen Rebeiro, Pro Red Resources, Peter De Freitas, International Imports and Supplies, Breeze Enterprise, Frontier Pharmacy, Mr. Ram Supreme Construction, Toshau Barmeter, CDC Chair Matthew’s Ridge, Alana James Amin, and the Department of Education Region One have all contributed to making the event a success.
Giving the lineup of young talent from various primary schools competing, the Under-13 Tapeball Competition is not just a game but a platform for personal growth and an important message to combat child labour in the community.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick stormed out of a press conference on Wednesday night, frustrated with reporters' line of questioning.
The Lakers were beaten 131-114 by the Memphis Grizzlies, bringing their record to 4-4, and Redick had been asked about his team's lack of energy on the night.
Having previously called for his team to match the commitment shown by LeBron James, he grew frustrated with being pressed by reporters on the subject.
Clearly frustrated about the Lakers' early-season form, when asked about his approach to getting the team to play like James, Redick replied: "I just did." He then put the microphone down, got up and left the press conference.
"He played hard," Redick had said earlier in the press conference, when talking about James.
"Almost 40 years old, played the hardest on our team. Says a lot about him." When asked if he was pleased with the effort from the rest of the team, he said: "No one is."
This comes at a time when the Lakers have assigned rookie Bronny James, LeBron's son, to their G League affiliate South Bay.
But James will be on the Lakers' roster for Friday's games against the Philadelphia 76ers, with the plan for him to only play G League home games as he goes between the Lakers and South Boy.
Redick confirmed last month that the "plan for Bronny to move between the Lakers and South Bay has always been the plan since day one."
Lamar Jackson threw for three fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the Baltimore Ravens denied Cincinnati on a 2-point conversion with 38 seconds remaining to hold off the Bengals 35-34 on Thursday night.
The Ravens (7-3) rallied from a 21-7 third-quarter deficit, overcoming a huge game from Cincinnati receiver Ja'Marr Chase. He finished with 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns, including a 5-yarder in the final minute to bring the Bengals (4-6) within one. Cincinnati - which lost to Baltimore in overtime last month - decided to go for 2 and the lead, and Joe Burrow's pass for Tanner Hudson sailed high.
Cincinnati had a chance to take control when it was up 14 with the ball in the third, but a fumble by Chase Brown gave the Ravens a short field, and a nifty scramble along the sideline by Jackson set up Derrick Henry’s 1-yard touchdown run.
In the fourth, Tylan Wallace turned a short pass into an 84-yard TD, barely staying inbounds as a couple of Cincinnati defenders failed to stop him. Justin Tucker missed the extra point, but the Ravens were within one.
Cincinnati drove into Baltimore territory, but on both third-and-2 and fourth-and-2, Burrow threw incomplete deep. Jackson gave the Ravens the lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews, and then the two-time MVP-winning quarterback ran himself for a 2-point conversion.
Baltimore had 231 of its 389 total yards in the fourth quarter. Jackson threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns and Burrow passed for 428 yards and four TDs.
Damian Lillard scored 34 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points and 16 rebounds in his return after a one-game absence and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a six-game skid, beating the Utah Jazz 123-100 on Thursday night.
Antetokounmpo was back in action after missing a 116-114 loss at Cleveland on Monday night because of a right adductor strain.
The Bucks hadn’t lost six straight games since March 2015. They avoided their first seven-game skid since March 2014, when they dropped eight in a row.
Jordan Clarkson had 18 off the bench to lead the Jazz.
Utah led 71-70 before the Bucks took command with a 17-1 run late in the third quarter. Lillard and Antetokounmpo combined to score Milwaukee’s first 15 points in that spurt.
Antetokounmpo had six offensive rebounds to increase his career total to 1,469 and become Milwaukee's career leader. Marques Johnson, now part of the Bucks' television broadcast team, had 1,468 offensive rebounds with the Bucks from 1977-84.
Edwards’ all-around game powers Wolves
Anthony Edwards had 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Chicago Bulls 135-119.
Julius Randle had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Rudy Gobert tallied 21 with nine boards for the Wolves, who rallied from a 13-point deficit for their second straight win.
It was Chicago's fourth consecutive loss. Nikola Vucevic scored 25 points for the Bulls on 11-for-15 shooting and Coby White had 24 points and eight assists.
Chicago led 95-90 after three quarters, but Minnesota controlled the action in the fourth. Randle's driving layup lifted the Timberwolves to a 107-106 lead with 6:47 left.
Trailing 106-101 in the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves rattled off a 12-0 run to take the lead for the first time since the game’s opening minutes. Two 3s by Edwards gave the Wolves a 113-106 advantage and forced the Bulls to call a timeout.
Minnesota shot 70.8% from the field in the fourth, including 6 for 11 from 3.
Spurs run past Trail Blazers
Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham each had 17 points and the San Antonio Spurs handled the Portland 118-105 in their fourth game without coach Gregg Popovich.
Popovich has been out since having a medical episode Saturday before a home game against Minnesota. Prior to the game Thursday, Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson said the team is unsure when Popovich will return.
Zach Collins and Julian Champagnie added 14 points apiece to help the Spurs snap a two-game skid. Branham exited two minutes into the fourth quarter after rolling his right ankle.
Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Portland, while Jerami Grant added 21 points and Anfernee Simons contributed 19.
With Portland trailing 64-62, San Antonio was able to extend the lead to four points on a 3-pointer by Branham and off-the-ball foul on Grant that Victor Wembanyama converted into a free throw. The play gave the Spurs a 68-62 lead.
San Antonio reserves Branham, Johnson, Collins and Blake Wesley combined for 58 points.
San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey will finally make his season debut.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Thursday that McCaffrey is expected to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after missing the first eight games of the season.
Last season’s Offensive Player of the Year has been on injured reserve since the start of the season with what was initially called a calf injury. The injury was later revealed to be Achilles tendonitis in both legs, and McCaffrey met with specialists in Germany in late September.
McCaffrey returned to football activities while the 49ers were on a Week 9 bye and has resumed normal practice this week.
“He's been awesome these last two days,” Shanahan said on a San Francisco radio station on Thursday. “You never know [about] a setback or anything, but these two days have been great, and I expect to see him out there.”
McCaffrey’s return, barring a setback, comes at a key time for 4-4 San Francisco and has apparently boosted team morale.
“It's been awesome,” quarterback Brock Purdy told reporters. “Just what he brings to the table and really just firing everybody else up around. All of us coming off the bye week and feeling good and fresh and then you get 2-3 next to you in the backfield, it's been awesome.
“Looks great moving around and he's trending in the right direction. So, we're excited to see what happens.”
Jordan Mason was off to a tremendous start this season while filling in for McCaffrey and is third in the NFL in rushing yards.
Mason, however, has been limited in recent weeks due to an ongoing shoulder injury, leaving rookie Isaac Guerendo to take on a larger role.
Shanahan also indicated that wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings also benefited from the bye week and are on track to return against the Buccaneers.
The Sunshine Girls staged their final training session Wednesday night at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston ahead of leaving the island on Friday for England for the first two of their four-match Horizon Series on November 16 and 17.
Team coach Sasher-Gaye Henry and captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard were upbeat about their preparation and chances of doing well against England in the series.
“England is a good team and they have been going well. They are coming off about a eight game advantage compared to us so that’s something that is going to be good on their table so it’s good to just see how the girls will go in and give a good account of themselves. The preparation has been going fairly well for us. We have been looking specifically a lot in terms of our strength and conditioning, our court play in terms of our tactical play and we are super excited to see the growth and development especially of our younger players and there is still room for improvement knowing the fact that they are coming in now working with the senior girls. It’s not such a long time that we have had all of them together but the short time that we have them, I think they are improving daily” said coach Henry.
She also said that the new players Teresa Beckford, Chrystal Plummer, Mischa Creary, Rhea Dixon (English based player), Simone Gordon, Zaudi Green and Kimone Shaw are all excited to showcase their talent and do well.
Captain Fowler-Nembhard who joined the training squad for the past month talked about unity in the team and her own readiness for the series. “We are gelling together. The training sessions that we’ve had thus far have been really good and purposeful so yea it’s been good.”
"I just think my game is going well. I had a pretty good year so far and I am going to just transfer that into this series” said Fowler-Nembhard.
The other two matches in the series will be played in Jamaica on the 25th and the 26th of the month at the National indoor Sports Centre.
Joe Schmidt is choosing to view the inclusion of rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for Australia's November international against England as an opportunity rather than a risk.
The inclusion of the 21-year-old former Sydney Roosters player, who signed a lucrative three-year deal to feature for the Waratahs, is the Wallabies' only change from their last fixture with New Zealand back in September.
Head coach Schmidt said the time felt right to give Suaalii, in at centre for the injured Hunter Paisami, his shot at Twickenham on Saturday with the Lions series taking place in 2025.
In quotes reported by BBC Sport, Schmidt said: "The thing that gives me confidence around Joseph is how well he prepares himself.
"He's a very professional young man and hopefully he can hit the ground running in a couple of days’ time.
“Everything's a risk, but I would challenge that with ‘everything's an opportunity’, and it's a fantastic opportunity for a young man who's really excited about getting the chance.
“There are four test matches left this year before we embark on a massive Lions’ tour next year. So if not now, when?
"I think it makes some sense for him to play. It's unlikely it'll go perfectly, but it will be a benchmark that he can build from.”
Australia squad in full:
Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen
Having spent years perfecting her game and inspiring others through her journey, Shanice Beckford views a return to the international stage for the Vitality Horizon Netball Series as another opportunity to parade her skills in front of aspiring players both at home and in England.
In fact, few players are as excited to hit the court as Beckford, especially after a lengthy break from international action, as the upcoming four-match series against England Roses will be the first time the Sunshine Girls have assembled since their bronze medal win at last year’s Netball World Cup.
Beckford’s enthusiasm reflects the strong bond within the team, which is a key factor as they prepare to face their fierce rivals.
England will host the first two games scheduled for November 16 and 17 at the AO Arena in Manchester, with Jamaica set to host the last two encounters on November 25 and 26 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
“I’m happy to be back with the team for another cycle,” Beckford told SportsMax.Tv, radiating positivity.
“Kicking off our first international series with two matches at home is a great feeling. It’s always good vibes when the team gets together so I am excited to be back with the girls and ready to give of my best as usual,” she added.
Beckford’s passion, resilience, and aspirations for the future stem from the fact that she went from humble beginnings in the inner city to being a familiar face in Jamaican netball, as she was determined to break stereotypes and pursue a path beyond her immediate circumstances.
“Growing up in the inner city, I just didn’t want to be treated as stereotype, so netball became my escape, offering me not just the sport but a way to build connections and dream beyond my surroundings,” Beckford, who currently represents West Coast Fever in the Australian Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, shared.
Though her career spanning over 10 years is marked by remarkable moments such as winning three Commonwealth Games medals, three Fast5 medals, and a Netball World Cup medal, for Beckford, her greatest achievement isn’t a particular medal or title but the journey itself—the connections, skills, and personal growth she has experienced along the way.
Still, her path hasn’t always been easy as injuries, disappointing matches, and times of self-doubt have all tested Beckford’s resilience. However, she welcomed successes and setbacks as part of the transformative process, with humility being her guiding principle.
“Even the tough moments have taught me the importance of perseverance and sportsmanship and I cherish this journey and all that it has brought into my life. It feels like I was destined to walk this path, so I will always remain humble, no matter what, and trust the process regardless,” Beckford stated.
The versatile 29-year-old goal-attack, who has earned the love and support of fans worldwide, is no stranger to rubbing shoulders with England, as her agility, sharp shooting, and strategic play have seen her win numerous star player of the game awards against them.
As such, the longstanding rivalry between the two nations not only brings a familiar intensity but also makes Beckford and her number four-ranked Sunshine Girls teammates even more motivated for the challenge as they seek to topple the now number two-ranked England and make a move up the rankings.
“Facing off against England, our long-standing rivals, always brings an electrifying atmosphere and intense competition. Each match against them isn’t just about the battles on the court but is also an opportunity to see our growth as a team,” Beckford declared.
“It’s going to be a good matchup against the Roses. They’re coming off a series win against New Zealand and had decent competition with the Australia Diamonds. All four matches will be tough, but we are ready to secure a favourable outcome at the end,” she noted.
Finally, with this series marking the start of another four-year cycle in her career, Beckford remains focused on her personal and professional growth, with her ultimate ambition being simple yet powerful—continue inspiring others.
“I have been pushing myself to be at peak performance; I’ve put in a lot of work, thanks to my trainers, and I feel ready to compete. The aim is always to be at my best at all times, ensure I am sharpening my skillset, and get ready for another season in SSN,” she explained, emphasizing her dedication to continuous improvement.
“I will continue working hard to not only see where this journey takes me, but more importantly, to continue serving as an inspiration to young athletes who see me as a role model,” Beckford ended
The struggling Philadelphia 76ers will be without Tyrese Maxey for multiple weeks after the All-Star point guard sustained a right hamstring injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Maxey left prior to the fourth quarter Wednesday before Philadelphia fell to 1-6 on the season with a 110-98 loss in Los Angeles.
Maxey entered Wednesday with averages of 30.2 points and 4.3 assists in Philadelphia's first six games.
Selected 21st overall by the 76ers in the 2020 NBA Draft, Maxey was the 2023-24 NBA Most Improved Player and a first-time All-Star last season, when he averaged career highs of 25.9 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 70 games.
Philadelphia is also without former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, who has yet to play this season due to left knee management and a three-game, league-imposed suspension for shoving a member of the media that will need to be served once healthy.
Paul George, though, did make his 76ers debut Monday after Philadelphia signed the nine-time All-Star in the offseason.
George sat out the team’s first five games after injuring his knee during the preseason.
Iga Swiatek suffered a shock exit at the WTA Finals despite her triumph over Daria Kasatkina in Riyadh on Thursday.
Swiatek swept aside Kasatkina 6-1 6-0, with the Russian a late replacement for Jessica Pegula who withdrew from the tournament due to a knee injury.
The Pole then had to rely on Coco Gauff beating Barbora Krejcikova to reach the final four, but the Wimbledon champion came through in straight sets to send Swiatek home.
Swiatek won 51 of 74 points and broke Kasatkina’s serve five of six times, ending the encounter in 51 minutes, which was her shortest match this year.
"It was a pretty solid game. It was a good performance," said Swiatek. "I was hitting the ball really well and picking the right shorts to play faster.
But it mattered little in the end, with Swiatek revealing she was unaware of the scenario surrounding her progression to the semi-finals.
“Honestly, I don’t think it matters. Like we go out on court to win every match anyway. I was not thinking about that. I did not know that was the case," she added.
“I’m professional enough to always give 100 percent, no matter what the stakes are."
Swiatek, though, became the third player in the 2000's to win 10 or more matches against top-10 opponents for three consecutive seasons, after Serena Williams (2012-2014) and Venus Williams (2000-2002).
But the day belonged to Krejcikova, who topped the Orange Group after extending her unbeaten run to two matches over Gauff.
The Czech emerged a 7-5 6-4 victor in just under two hours, saving 11 of the 12 break points she faced against the American to book her place in the semi-finals.
The world number 13 became the lowest-ranked player to make the semi-finals at the WTA Finals since Sandrine Testud (ranked 14th) in 2001.
"I think the calmness that I have in myself is key. I was ready to enjoy and excited. I had nothing to lose," Krejcikova said.
"I mean obviously it was difficult. I was just more strict with my game and that was the key today.
"It's very tough to say because before the tournament, I was dealing with some issues and didn't know what to expect.
"I tried to stay positive and knew I was going to fight to the end.
"I faced Zheng last year, she is playing great and had a great season and it is going to be really difficult but I have nothing to lose and I am just going to try and play my best tennis."
Krejcikova will now face Zheng Qinwen, who came second in the Purple Group, while Gauff will take on world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the other match.
Paul George was treated to a mixed reaction on his return to Los Angeles, receiving a video tribute before boos from the crowd as the Philadelphia 76ers lost.
The Los Angeles Clippers came out on top in a 110-98 victory on Wednesday to compound the Sixers' tough start to the NBA season.
Despite suffering defeat at the Inuit Dome, George impressed, scoring 18 points, making seven of nine shots, and also got seven rebounds and three steals.
George spent five years with the Clippers before signing for the Sixers as a free agent in the close season, signing a four-year $212million max contract, having previously stated he wanted to stay in LA, who declined the contract he wanted.
However, after he left for Philadelphia, he irked some of the Clippers' fans with comments made on his podcast where he described returning to his hometown of Los Angeles like being on the "B team" because rival Lakers fans suggested he should have signed for them instead.
While he appreciated the video tribute from the Clippers, he admitted to being surprised by the fans' reaction, especially after helping the franchise reach their only Western Conference finals in 2021.
"It is stupid," George said. "I mean, I was a free agent, you know what I mean? It wasn't something that I demanded a trade or went against the team here.
"I was a free agent. The team presented something that was team-friendly, and I did what was best for me in that situation.
"So, there were the cheers. I appreciate them. Those were the ones that I played hard for. The boos I didn't get it. I still don't get it when I go [back] to Indy, but it is what it is. It's sports. I look forward to next year being back here and more boos."
Will Jordan says he is "excited" to see what Damian McKenzie can do when he returns to the starting line-up for New Zealand against Ireland.
He comes in as one of two enforced changes, replacing Beauden Barrett at fly-half, while hooker Asafo Aumua comes in for Codie Taylor, with the duo injured in their dramatic late win over England last weekend.
And Jordan is looking forward to seeing him back in the number 10 jersey when they walk out in Dublin.
"It's exciting. Damian is someone who loves to play the game with an attacking mindset and flair," said Jordan.
"I've had a couple of games with him at ten and me out the back, and I've enjoyed the combination we've had.
"I know he'll be excited to take this opportunity. He's had some great moments for us in the black jersey this year, and I'm sure he'll go out and nail it on Friday."
It is the first meeting between the two sides since the All Blacks clinched a 28-24 victory over Ireland in the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals, ending the latter's hopes of winning a second consecutive tournament.
They will be without the tighthead prop due to a hamstring injury on Friday, but Ronan Kelleher has won his fitness race to deputise for the injured Dan Sheehan.
Ireland are targeting a 20th straight win at the Aviva Stadium, but head coach Andy Farrell is expecting a tight affair.
"Irish rugby is in a good place and I think everyone knows New Zealand are always the team to beat," he said.
"I expect it to be as good as ever, if not better."
Despite improving to a 7-1 record by beating the Boston Celtics, Steph Curry insists the Golden State Warriors "haven't done anything yet".
Curry impressed in the Warriors' 118-112 victory over the reigning NBA champions, as he finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and four steals.
He played 34 minutes after missing a week with a sprained ankle, and moved to 30th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, passing Charles Barkley when he scored the 23,747th point of his career in the third quarter.
The win moved the Warriors joint-top of the Western Conference, but despite what looks to be a statement win, Curry was not getting ahead of himself.
"We haven't done anything yet," Curry said.
"A good team, or a relevant team, wins the games they are supposed to win, you steal a couple on the road against good teams, you protect your home court. We've done those things so far, but we got two more games on this road trip, two tough tests.
"So, I like where we're at, obviously. But [there's a] long way to go.
"Until proven otherwise, that's how we have to play [splitting up the contributors]. And we've talked about it.
"Coach has talked about it until he's blue in the face already. Every practice, every film session, every pregame, it's the same message. So, it is who we are right now. It's who we have to be."
The Celtics had taken the lead in the first quarter after a strong start, but they struggled to cope as the Warriors' constant rotation among defenders wreaked havoc on the hosts' offense.
Boston committed 12 turnovers as they failed to find their rhythm for most of the game, though coach Joe Mazzulla was fairly pleased with how his team adapted.
"They're physical, so they force you to fight for your space," Mazzulla said. "They have active hands, so I think in the first half, they got a ton of deflections.
"They were able to get some stuff there, but I thought we did a better job of handling the physicality in the second half and just have to put - again, we talk physicality, it's just as much about defense as offense.
"So, it took us a little while to get adjusted to that. Once we did, we executed really well. And then it just came down to a couple possessions at the end."
The Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who hold a perfect record so far.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said "you have to" enjoy the moment after they continued their perfect start to the NBA season.
The Cavs won 131-122 against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, opening their season 9-0 for the first time in the franchise's 55-year history.
Cleveland had previously recorded an 8-0 start in 1976-77, but they have surpassed that, with Atkinson becoming the first NBA coach to win his first nine games with a new team.
Cleveland got 50 points from reserves, led by Caris LeVert (16 points) and Ty Jerome (11).
"You have to [enjoy it]," said Atkinson. "This season's so long. It's so hard to win in this league. So, when you do have moments like this, you have to celebrate a little.
"Everyone contributes. It's what good teams do. We're in a good place physically. We're in a good place mentally.
"When you win nine in a row, it's not one or two guys; it's the whole roster."
The Cavs were led by Donovan Mitchell, who scored 29 points, while Jarrett Allen added 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to add to their winning record.
They had to rally back from an early 12-point deficit though, and did so in part by shooting 54.2% overall, including 48.6% from 3-point range.
"What I think about is this team and the camaraderie they have, and the chemistry we have going and how connected they are," Atkinson added.
"I've been fortunate to land with a really good group, a group that's been really successful in the past, and I'm happy for them -- and I think they're happy for me in the locker room.
"There's a bond between the head coach and a team. You've got to celebrate those moments, and it's pretty cool."
Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 131-122 on Wednesday night to open 9-0 for the first time in their 55-year NBA history.
Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen each added 16 points, and Allen grabbed 14 rebounds as the Cavaliers surpassed an 8-0 start by the 1976-77 squad that finished 43-39 under coach Bill Fitch.
Zion Williamson returned from a two-game absence and had 29 points for the Pelicans. He temporarily took himself out after playing 10 minutes but returned to start the second half and scored 23 after halftime.
Jose Alvarado hit all seven 3-pointers he took and finished with 27 points for New Orleans. Brandon Ingram added 20 points for the Pelicans, who have lost three straight and six of seven.
Cleveland had no trouble rallying back from an early 12-point deficit on the road and did so in part by shooting 54.2% overall, including 48.6% from 3-point range.
After Alvarado's back-to-back 3s made it 112-106, Mitchell responded with a hesitation move in the lane and a floater to make it 114-106 and stem the Pelicans' momentum with 5:20 left.
Cleveland got 50 points from reserves, led by LeVert and Ty Jerome (11 points).
Rookie Risacher has best game to lift Hawks
No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher scored 33 points and had seven rebounds and the Atlanta Hawks rallied late to beat the New York Knicks 121-116.
Risacher's 33 points were the most by a rookie this season. He shot 11 for 18 overall, including 6 for 10 from 3-point range, and also had three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
The Hawks trailed 110-105 with 2:57 to play but went on a 13-1 run to put the game away.
Jalen Johnson had 23 points and 15 rebounds. Trae Young had 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds one game after scoring just two points on 1-for-10 shooting against Boston.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 34 points and 16 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson scored 21 points.
Clint Capela capped a 9-1 run with a fast break dunk with 46.9 seconds remaining to give the Hawks a 114-111 lead. Young started a fast-break off a 3-point miss from Towns and dished it to a sprinting Capela for the dunk.
Surging Suns rally past Heat
Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Jusuf Nurkic had 20 and 18 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 15-point deficit for a 115-112 victory over the Miami Heat to extend their winning streak to six games.
The Suns trailed 79-64 in the third quarter but finished the period on a 15-3 run to cut the Heat’s lead to three.
Neither team could take control in the fourth, but Durant’s jumper from the free-throw line with 16 seconds to play gave Phoenix a four-point lead.
Devin Booker had 22 points and nine assists for Phoenix (7-1), which has won its last five games by six points or fewer. Booker made one of two free throws with 4.8 seconds to go, giving the Heat a chance, but Miami failed to get a shot off before time expired.
Grayson Allen scored 12 points and Tyus Jones matched Booker with nine assists for the Suns.
Tyler Herro led the Heat with 28 points. Reserve forward Haywood Highsmith scored 19 and Jimmy Butler added 15. Bam Adebayo had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Bradley Beal’s 3-pointer put the Suns ahead to stay at 106-103 with 3:52 remaining. Beal didn’t score in the first half and was in foul trouble. He finished with seven points.
The Suns’ 7-1 start matches the best in franchise history, equalling three previous seasons (1980-81, 2000-01, 2009-10).
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has refused to confirm whether Deshaun Watson will remain the franchise's starting quarterback when he returns from his Achilles injury.
Watson endured a dismal start to the 2024 season as the Browns went 1-5 before he suffered the season-ending injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7.
They failed to score 20 points in any of their seven games with Watson starting but did so at the first time of asking without him, beating the Baltimore Ravens 29-24 with Jameis Winston standing in at quarterback two weeks ago.
Watson's relationship with the Browns' fanbase had already become strained after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate behaviour in massage sessions.
He served an 11-game suspension to start the 2022 season – his first campaign with the team after being handed a five-year, $230million contract following his trade from the Houston Texans.
"Really our focus with Deshaun, I would say for any player with a season-ending injury and a major injury, is first and foremost and to make sure that he gets healthy," Berry said on Wednesday.
"Everything else, we'll deal with at a later moment."
Berry added, however, that the team's issues were not all of Watson's making.
"We haven't played well as a team and we haven't played well as a unit on offense," Berry said.
"I think oftentimes when you don't play well on offense, obviously your starting quarterback and your play caller will get the most criticism.
"But the reality of it is, offenses, it comes down to organization and synchronization. There's a lot of shared ownership across the different groups in terms of why we didn't perform."
Qinwen Zheng booked her place in the last four of the WTA Finals with a dominant 6-1 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini.
The Olympic gold medallist hit 12 aces as she powered past this season's French Open and Wimbledon finalist in just over an hour in Riyadh.
This was the winner-takes-all clash in Purple Group, with both players aiming to join world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
The form player since Wimbledon with 29 wins from 34 matches - also including titles in Palermo and Tokyo, plus a run to the final in Wuhan - Zheng quickly asserted her authority on proceedings.
The 22-year-old scored five breaks of serve on the way to becoming the youngest semi-finalist on her WTA Finals debut since Petra Kvitova in 2011.
"Finally, I showed off some tennis I really want to play," she said. "Of course, when you enter the match, you are nervous, but at the same time, you feel confidence because you know your level. And I know how capable I am.
"I remember in 2022, my serve was quite strong. I don't know why but, suddenly in 2023, my serve started to drop. In this tournament and the rest of this half-year, it is the first time I've felt like the serve is starting to come back."
Beating two top-10 players in the same tournament for the first time, Zheng is the first Chinese player to achieve the feat since Li Na (four) at this event 11 years ago.
The seventh seed also follows in the footsteps of Na and Kimiko Date in 1994 as one of three players representing an Asian country to reach the last four at the WTA Finals.
Sabalenka's place in the semi-finals was already secured, rendering her 6-4 3-6 6-1 defeat by Elena Rybakina academic, though ending a seven-match winning streak.
Having shared the two meetings this season in Brisbane and Madrid, the players took a close set each here, but it was one-way traffic in the decider.
In the final match of her first tournament since withdrawing from the US Open with a back injury, Rybakina did not face a single break point in the final set, while winning all 12 points on her first serve, to bow out with victory.
Though academic, it was an historic victory for the Kazahstani, who became the first player representing an Asian country to defeat the world number one at the WTA Finals.
Rybakina is also the fourth player to achieve six or more wins over the WTA's number one across a two-season span, after Tracy Austin (1979-80), Venus Williams (1999-00) and Lindsay Davenport (2000-01).
George Furbank thinks England are "starting to create a DNA" as they prepare to face Australia on Saturday.
Steve Borthwick's side are gearing up for their second match of this year's Autumn Nations Series, which began with a narrow 24-22 defeat against New Zealand last weekend.
Borthwick has named an unchanged starting XV to face the All Blacks, with Furbank set to earn his 12th cap.
The Northampton Saints full-back believes that consistency is key for England, who are targeting an 11th win from 12 meetings with the Wallabies.
"We wanted to win all four of these autumn games," Furbank told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We put ourselves in a great position to win the first one, but didn't, so now the focus is on the next one.
"It is now about creating a new energy and a new drive against fresh opposition. Australia play differently to New Zealand, so it will be a different challenge.
"I don't think we are going to change our gameplan too much. We are starting to create a DNA in the way we want to play in attack and defence.
"Australia are definitely building as a side, like we are, and I have never played Australia before, so I'm quite excited about that."
The only tweaks from last weekend come in the centre partnership with Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence swapping places, while Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ollie Sleightholme replace Theo Dan and Ben Curry on the bench.
"Ollie [Lawrence] and Sladey have been interchangeable in the way they play from an attack and defence point of view," Borthwick explained.
"The number of Test matches they have played together in a row as a centre partnership is also very high in terms of frequency.
"They have a good understanding of how we wish to play, so I'm looking forward to seeing them go in their slightly tweaked roles this weekend."
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