Sergio Perez described his 2024 Formula 1 season as "terrible", but is hoping for a strong result at the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend to turn his campaign around.
Perez currently finds himself eighth in the drivers' championship and 204 points behind Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen.
The Mexican started the season strongly with four podium finishes in the first five races, but has since failed to reach the top three.
Back-to-back retirements in Monaco and Canada halted his early season momentum, with Perez not finishing higher than sixth in the last 13 races since.
His recent run of form has seen McLaren overtake Red Bull in the constructors' standings, with the British-based team now 40 points in front heading into the final five races.
"I know I've had a terrible season. It started really well, but it's been really, really difficult," Perez told BBC Sport.
"If I had a strong result, it can definitely change my season massively in terms of personal feeling. So I'm really up for it."
The Mexican's start to the season was rewarded with a new two-year deal, but Perez's subsequent slump has led to sustained speculation about his future.
After Red Bull chose to stick with him beyond the summer break, Perez impressed at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but finished without anything to show for it after a last-lap collision with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.
He then finished 10th and seventh in the following two races in Singapore and the United States.
But the return of highly-rated Liam Lawson, who finished ninth in Austin last weekend in his first race since replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB, has further heightened focus on Perez's form.
Yuki Tsunoda is also still aiming to make his claim for a promotion, while Franco Colapinto has also impressed since taking over from Logan Sargeant at Williams.
"This is Formula 1. Sometimes the results are not coming, and you just have to make sure you keep your head down," Perez said.
"You focus on the stuff that you can control and the rest is something that you cannot get bothered with."
Sean McVay is happy to have Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp back out on the field and "expects it to stay that way".
The Rams caused an upset on Thursday, beating the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 as they were boosted by the returns of Kupp and Puka Nacua, playing together for the first time since their opener.
It is the first time the Rams have recorded back-to-back wins this season, and scored a season-high 30 points, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive games with fewer than 30.
Kupp recovered from a left ankle sprain he suffered in week two to play the Vikings, and had five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.
In the build-up to the game, there was trade speculation over the 31-year-old, with LA reportedly approaching teams about him before the November 5 deadline, but McVay was quick to shut down the idea.
"I'm really glad to have Cooper Kupp back with us and I expect it to stay that way," McVay said.
"Teams reached out," he added when asked about the trade speculation. "Some of the things that I've seen out there, they're just not true.
"We've addressed that with those individuals. Teams have called about him, and we let him know what the dialogue was there. And then there's a lot of stuff out there where there's not a lot of accountability to the reports. And that's unfortunate."
Nacua, meanwhile, was only activated to play on Thursday, having recovered sooner than expected from a posterior cruciate ligament in week one.
He led the team with seven catches for 106 yards on nine targets, making it his eighth career game (out of 19 played) with 100 receiving yards.
Overall, McVay was pleased with the spark that the pair's return provided to the team.
"There's a confidence, there's a comfort, there's a rapport that's been established with Matthew [Stafford] and Cooper over the years and then Puka and Matthew last year and then leading into this season," McVay added.
"And so, these guys are ballers. Matthew brought out the best in everybody. But I thought Puka and Cooper were ready to go. They made an impact."
Derrick White believes Neemias Queta is "more sure of himself" after helping the Boston Celtics cruise to a 122-102 win over the Washington Wizards.
The Celtics maintained their perfect record in the NBA this season with their first road win of the season, with Jayson Tatum leading the charge with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown scored 27, while White added 19 as the reigning champions extended their winning streak over Washington to five games.
The Wizards struggled to gain any momentum in what was their season opener and trailed the Celtics throughout.
Boston were much changed from their opening win over the New York Knicks, as Joe Mazzulla went with a double-big line-up to make up for Sam Hauser's absence.
One of those brought in was Queta, who scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds, including a game-high four on the offensive end.
And White was impressed with the influence Queta had despite his short time on the court.
"He's athletic, seems to get every offensive rebound, and is just a big body around the rim," White said.
"I just think he's a little more comfortable, a lot more sure of himself, of where to be in the offense. I think last year he was maybe thinking too much, but this year he's just playing and doing what he does.
"He was really good for us in training camp and again [against Washington]."
Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet were the other backups brought in by the Celtics, and proved their most efficient scorers, shooting a combined 10-of-14 from the field.
"The standard is the standard and no matter who we put in there, we expect the same things," White added.
"Obviously, it's not Sam Hauser running around out there, but there's a lot of ways for us to create advantages and I thought all the bigs did a great job for us today."
Lando Norris accused Max Verstappen of "incorrect" driving following the incident at the United States Grand Prix that led to him receiving a time penalty.
The McLaren driver overtook Verstappen in the latter stages of the race but was given a five-second penalty for leaving the track to gain an advantage while making the pass.
The penalty meant that Norris dropped from third to fourth, and now sits 57 points behind the Drivers' Championship leader with only five races remaining.
McLaren have announced plans to launch a bid to overturn the penalty on Thursday, saying the Brit was left with no option but to go off the track as Verstappen broke late and ran wide and off the track on the turn.
"We'll ask questions. We've already asked certain questions. It's not something that needs to be done publicly or anything," Norris told Sky Sports F1 when asked about whether the rules need to be clarified when two cars go off track.
"But we can just have conversations on why I got the penalty because I don't believe it was correct. I think the majority of people don't agree it was correct, but that's life and sometimes it doesn't go your way.
"I think things just need to be clear for the future on what's allowed and what's not. I think the fact of getting off your brakes to achieve just the ruling of being ahead at apex, no matter how wide you run on the exit, is incorrect and I don't think that's how racing should be.
"Of course, that's the ruling at the minute and that's just what you've got to deal with. So I think there needs to be some tweaks."
Norris also admitted he did not think Verstappen's driving in the incident was "how racing should be".
"Max is the best in the world in this style of defence and attacking. So, I have to be at his level and at the moment I am not quite at the level I need to be at.
"It's a shame to say, but it's probably the truth. At the same time, it's a chance for me to learn and progress."
However, Verstappen did not understand the frustration, pointing out that he was following the rules during the incident in Austin.
"It's how the rules are written. I don't make the rules, first of all. I just follow the rules, as much as I can," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.
"Of course, sometimes you get caught out with it. We've had that in the past. I just implement the rules and play with them.
"At the end of the day, you cannot overtake outside of the white line. That's a very clear rule, and I've been done by it myself.
"So, I don't understand why then, suddenly now, we need to ask and scream for changes in the regulations when it's been like that forever.
"I mean, I grew up go-karting, F3, F1 - you know that you cannot pass outside of the white line, it's as simple as that."
Klay Thompson was delighted with his "great" debut, after setting a new franchise record in the Dallas Mavericks' win over the San Antonio Spurs.
He got 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes, with eighteen of those points coming from 3-pointers, a record for a Mavericks player.
Thompson, who left the Golden State Warriors after 13 years in the close season, helped push the Mavericks to a 120-109 victory on Thursday.
"Great debut," Thompson said.
"It's only one game in October, but it feels good just to get that first one out of the way.
"I had a ton of excitement, really just an awesome feeling. And you only get the first time of something so often."
Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, finished with 17 points on 5-of-18 shooting with nine rebounds, one assist and a game-high-tying four turnovers to open his second season with the Spurs.
Due to his involvement in the Paris Olympics, Wembanyama was limited to fewer than 40 minutes in preseason, and he admitted he felt that in their season opener.
"Some moments felt great," Wembanyama said. "A little hard conditioning-wise at first, of course [as] I expected.
"But I think we had some good basketball moments and some really bad ones.
"None of us really have played four games since [the] middle of the summer for me. It's a struggle.
"Every player in the NBA goes through it. Conditioning is not an excuse [for missed shots]. I'll have different weapons we need to know when to use.
"So, for the missed shots, it's more getting used to taking shots, getting used to again taking shots in a game."
Anthony Edwards sank two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining and the Minnesota Timberwolves spoiled Sacramento's opener by beating the Kings 117-115 on Thursday night.
Edwards was fouled by Domantas Sabonis on a drive with the game tied and calmly hit the free throws to give him 32 points.
Keegan Murray's 3-point attempt rimmed out at the buzzer for the Kings.
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 33 points in his second game after being acquired in a trade from New York this month.
Demar DeRozan scored 26 points to lead the Kings in his debut for Sacramento after being acquired this summer in a sign-and-trade from Chicago. Sabonis added 24 points and Murray had 23.
Edwards and Naz Reid hit back-to-back 3-pointers that started an 11-0 run for Minnesota that turned a five-point deficit into a 105-99 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
After going 13 for 41 from 3 in the opener, Minnesota shot 20 for 50 from long range against Sacramento. The 91 attempted 3s are the most ever for the Timberwolves in the first two games of a season.
Holmgren's all-around performance powers Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, Chet Holmgren added 25 as part of a stellar all-around game and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 102-87 in the season opener for both teams.
Holmgren proved to be a handful at both ends of the floor. He tied a career-high with 14 rebounds and had five assists and blocked four shots. Reserve Aaron Wiggins added 15 points.
It was an important divisional game right out of the gate. The Thunder and Nuggets both finished 57-25 last season, with the Thunder earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference by virtue of a tiebreaker.
Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had 16 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for his 131st triple-double.
Jokic's point guard partner, Jamal Murray, had 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Christian Braun added 16 points, while Aaron Gordon, fresh off signing a new contract extension, added 12 points. Denver missed 32 of 39 3-pointers.
New addition Russell Westbrook was held to six points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Doncic, Thompson pace Mavericks
Luka Doncic had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Klay Thompson added 22 points in his Dallas debut and the Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-109 in the opener for both teams on Thursday night.
Kyrie Irving had 15 points for the defending Western Conference champions, who got eight assists from Doncic and seven rebounds from Thompson.
Thompson set a franchise record in a debut with six 3-pointers.
He scored 14 points after halftime and was 4 of 5 from long range, as Dallas went 13 of 21 from deep after making just 6 of 23 in the first half. The five-time All-Star and four-time champ with the Warriors also had seven rebounds and three steals.
Victor Wembanyama shot just 5 of 18 from the field for 17 points to open the young French phenom's second year with the Spurs. Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie scored 18 apiece.
Chris Paul had three points on 1-of-6 shooting to go with eight assists and seven rebounds in his Spurs debut.
Anthony Edwards sank two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining and the Minnesota Timberwolves spoiled Sacramento’s opener by beating the Kings 117-115 on Thursday night.
Edwards was fouled by Domantas Sabonis on a drive with the game tied and calmly hit the free throws to give him 32 points.
Keegan Murray's 3-point attempt rimmed out at the buzzer for the Kings.
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 33 points in his second game after being acquired in a trade from New York this month.
Demar DeRozan scored 26 points to lead the Kings in his debut for Sacramento after being acquired this summer in a sign-and-trade from Chicago. Sabonis added 24 points and Murray had 23.
Edwards and Naz Reid hit back-to-back 3-pointers that started an 11-0 run for Minnesota that turned a five-point deficit into a 105-99 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
After going 13 for 41 from 3 in the opener, Minnesota shot 20 for 50 from long range against Sacramento. The 91 attempted 3s are the most ever for the Timberwolves in the first two games of a season.
Holmgren’s all-around performance powers Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, Chet Holmgren added 25 as part of a stellar all-around game and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 102-87 in the season opener for both teams.
Holmgren proved to be a handful at both ends of the floor. He tied a career high with 14 rebounds and had five assists and blocked four shots. Reserve Aaron Wiggins added 15 points.
It was an important divisional game right out of the gate. The Thunder and Nuggets both finished 57-25 last season, with the Thunder earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference by virtue of a tiebreaker.
Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokić had 16 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for his 131st triple-double.
Jokic's point guard partner, Jamal Murray, had 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Christian Braun added 16 points, while Aaron Gordon, fresh off signing a new contract extension, added 12 points. Denver missed 32 of 39 3-pointers.
New addition Russell Westbrook was held to six points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Doncic, Thompson pace Mavericks
Luka Dončić had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Klay Thompson added 22 points in his Dallas debut and the Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs 120-109 in the opener for both teams Thursday night.
Kyrie Irving had 15 points for the defending Western Conference champions, who got eight assists from Doncic and seven rebounds from Thompson.
Thompson set a franchise record in a debut with six 3-pointers.
He scored 14 points after halftime and was 4 of 5 from long range, as Dallas went 13 of 21 from deep after making just 6 of 23 in the first half. The five-time All-Star and four-time champ with the Warriors also had seven rebounds and three steals.
Victor Wembanyama shot just 5 of 18 from the field for 17 points to open the young French phenom's second year with the Spurs. Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie scored 18 apiece.
Chris Paul had three points on 1-of-6 shooting to go with eight assists and seven rebounds in his Spurs debut.
Cooper Kupp caught a touchdown pass and Puka Nacua had 106 yards receiving in their returns from lengthy injury absences, and Matthew Stafford passed for 279 yards and four TDs in the Los Angeles Rams ' 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
Demarcus Robinson caught two TD passes from Stafford as the Rams (3-4) won back-to-back games for the first time this season with 386 yards from an offence that looked exponentially more dangerous with its top two receivers back in uniform.
After missing the previous five games, Nacua had seven catches while posting the eighth 100-yard game of his short career. Kupp returned from a four-game absence with five catches for 51 yards, including a 27-yard grab for a key first down late in the fourth quarter.
Kyren Williams rushed for 97 yards and caught an early TD pass for the Rams. Robinson caught a 25-yard TD pass late in the third quarter to put Los Angeles ahead, and he caught a 10-yard TD throw with 6:17 to play for a 28-20 lead.
Sam Darnold passed for 240 yards for the Vikings (5-2), who followed up their first loss of the season with an ineffective defensive performance.
Justin Jefferson had eight receptions for 115 yards, while Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield caught TD passes from Darnold. Minnesota was held to two field goals in the final three quarters.
Following an internal investigation by Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), significant gaps in training have been identified, leading to stewarding practices at Caymanas Park falling short of international standards. As a result, SVREL Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe has called for urgent intervention from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to address these issues and ensure the future integrity of horse racing in Jamaica.
The investigation was prompted after the Heroes’ Day race meet at Caymanas Park was abandoned on Monday, October 21, 2024. A group of punters reacted violently to the stewards’ decision in Race 2, leading to the event’s cancellation for safety reasons. Sharpe stressed that the current state of officiating is not up to par for a racing jurisdiction aspiring to world-class status.
“Our internal investigation has identified significant training gaps that have resulted in local stewarding practices falling short of international standards,” Sharpe said. He explained that while SVREL provides the facilities for racing, the stewards' oversight falls under the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), a government-appointed body. Sharpe believes this disparity between local and international standards must be addressed immediately.
In his statement, Sharpe emphasized that improving stewarding standards is critical for the growth of horse racing in Jamaica. He called for the implementation of mandatory certification programs for stewards, ensuring that they are properly trained to handle the complexities of modern racing. He also advocated for regular assessments and retraining of officials to maintain a high level of competence and consistency in their decision-making.
Sharpe further stressed the need for clear accountability frameworks to be established, so that all decisions made by stewards are transparent and based on consistent, well-defined criteria. This, he believes, would help avoid situations like the one on Heroes’ Day, where the lack of clarity led to confusion and frustration among punters. Moreover, Sharpe called for the introduction of an independent appeals mechanism that would allow for the review of stewarding decisions, ensuring fairness and trust in the system.
Sharpe explained that these reforms are essential to creating a level playing field and restoring confidence in the integrity of horse racing at Caymanas Park. He expressed frustration that despite previous discussions with the JRC about the need for improved officiating, little progress has been made.
The incident on Heroes’ Day, which caused significant financial losses estimated at over JMD$70 million, underscored the importance of addressing these issues urgently. While Sharpe acknowledged the passion of racing fans, he firmly condemned the violent behaviour that followed the stewards' decision, stating that it endangered lives and tarnished the reputation of the sport. "While we value our patrons' enthusiasm, any expression of discontent must remain within acceptable bounds of sporting behaviour,” he asserted.
Sharpe also expressed disappointment with the lack of response from industry stakeholders following the incident. He pointed out that many who are typically vocal about SVREL’s operations have remained silent on this serious breach of sporting conduct. He called on all stakeholders to take equal responsibility for the sport’s integrity and to advocate for improvements in officiating and the overall management of races.
“The growth and sustainability of horse racing in Jamaica require more than just infrastructure investment and promotional efforts,” Sharpe said. “It demands the consistent application of international best practices across all aspects of racing.”
SVREL remains committed to modernizing Caymanas Park and advancing Jamaican horse racing. However, Sharpe made it clear that this vision can only be achieved through collective responsibility, with all stakeholders playing an active role in improving the industry’s standards and holding each other accountable.
“The time has come for all stakeholders to demonstrate their commitment to the industry's growth not merely through words, but through actions, consistent engagement, and a willingness to address difficult issues head-on,” Sharpe concluded.
Rough Fight League (RFL) Amateur Lightweight Champion Shiaeine ‘Da Great’ Blake says fans can expect him to make quick work of opponent Daron ‘Avatar’ Weir when the two lock horns in the main event of RFL Ocho at Funland in Hope Gardens in Kingston on Saturday.
‘Da Great,’ who has held the number one spot across three weight classes in the Caribbean, will be making his professional debut against Weir, an accomplished boxer, who is now stepping into the professional MMA scene after taking this fight on short notice.
“I envision him laying on the canvas within eight minutes looking up at me and wondering what went wrong,” Blake told Sportsmax.tv on Tuesday.
“Fans are coming out expecting a fight but they’ll bear witness to a slaughter,” added Blake.
Knowing that Weir is coming from a strictly boxing background and this being an MMA fight, one would think that the obvious play for Blake is to lean into a wrestling-heavy style on Saturday.
The 29-year-old has other ideas, however, noting that his ego has got the best of him ahead of their bout.
“Knowing that Daron’s style is boxing heavy, I’ve allowed my ego to get a hold of me and challenged myself to beat him primarily with boxing,” Blake said.
“I’ve prepared to beat him where he’s best at. Boxing is his hope, but there cannot be despair without hope so I’ll beat him where he’s best and watch him crumble,” he added.
Blake last fought at the IMMAF Pan American Championships in Monterrey in September, losing via kneebar submission to Mexico’s Diego Rangel in round two of their three-round fight.
That fight is in the past and Blake says he’s going into Saturday’s fight with a clear mind.
“The loss hasn’t really affected me mentally of physically. You win and you lose in sports. That’s given, analyze it, learn from it and move onward,” he said.
Fernando Alonso is gearing up for his landmark 400th Grand Prix this weekend, with the Spaniard believing the milestone highlights "my passion for F1".
The two-time world champion, who is ninth in this season's championship standings, will become the first driver to reach that figure at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Even after all these years, Alonso says getting behind the wheel "pays off all the sacrifices" for the demands of travelling to 24 races a year.
"To reach 400 now is a big number," he told F1's Beyond The Grid podcast.
"Knowing that no one reached that number in the past - maybe someone does in the future, but not many, let's say a group of five or 10 maximum - it just demonstrates my love for racing, for F1, how much I enjoy this lifestyle, motor racing in general."
World champion in 2005 and 2006, Alonso acknowledged he could never have envisaged wracking up 400 races when he entered F1 as a teenager in 2001.
And the 43-year-old's achievement is even more remarkable, 15 years after he considered walking away from the sport for good.
"I think that guy in 2001, I was not really thinking too much about the future," he added. "The dream was coming alive, driving [in] F1, the first race.
"I didn't have a clear roadmap into my career. I didn't know exactly what the next race was, what my next team would be. I was improvising [and] every weekend was a new adventure.
"What I would say is that when I won the [second] championship in 2006, and then I joined McLaren, I had a three-year contract for 2007, 2008 and 2009, and I was 99% sure that 2009 would be my last F1 season. That was my very clear plan in my head.
"When I signed that contract, in my head at that time, it was like a long-term contract and three years may feel long, but this is the last. I had already fulfilled my dream. This was beyond my wildest imagination to be an F1 champion, so what else could I do here?
"I don't think that the 19-year-old, Minardi 2001 Fernando will think something strange about the 400 Grands Prix, because I was not thinking too much into the future. But in 2007, for sure, this would be a surprise."
Steph Curry praised the commitment of the Golden State Warriors after their squad depth was put to the test in their win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Warriors made a winning start to the NBA season, with a 139-104 victory on Wednesday, where coach Steve Kerr used 12 different players on the floor.
Despite Portland leading by nine points in the opening quarter, the Warriors rallied, taking the lead at the break before holding out for the win.
Overall, seven of the Warriors' players scored double figures, with Curry getting 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter.
Curry, who is playing his 16th year in the NBA, is looking forward to using the squad's depth this season.
"It's the identity of this team right now," Curry said. "We're going to rely on our depth.
"You have to have a commitment - no agendas, no egos, or healthy egos, where you know you're supposed to be out there, but if it's not your night, don't bring the team down with your energy.
"Haven't seen any red flags of that."
Buddy Hield led the team with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including five 3-pointers, off the bench. It is the most points scored by a Warriors player in 15 or fewer minutes since 1984.
Curry believes the 31-year-old could be key to filling the gap left behind by Klay Thompson's departure after he joined the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason, especially if the Warriors want to make the playoffs this time around.
"Without Klay, you need shooting, but we needed shooting anyway," Curry added.
"Me and [Hield] have been one and two [in 3-point shooting], and Klay's right there shooting threes for the last eight years, so we know what [Hield's] skill set is, we know what he's capable of doing.
"He's been a very seamless transition so far."
The Warriors face the Utah Jazz in their next game on Friday.
James Harden was frustrated the Los Angeles Clippers could not win on a historic night in their new arena, as they opened the NBA season with an overtime defeat.
Harden had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers but missed a free throw with six seconds left of overtime, which would have tied the game against the Phoenix Suns.
Instead, they suffered a 116-113 defeat in the Intuit Dome, despite leading 99-90 late in the fourth quarter.
Up until that final throw, Harden had kept Los Angeles in the game and almost won it for them before Kevin Durant tied the score with 21 seconds remaining of normal time.
The star was left frustrated that they could not get a win over the line.
"I'm so disappointed that we didn't get the win," Harden said. "You know what I mean? That's like one of the most frustrating things that I can think about as far as tonight.
"Like just history in Inglewood. The Intuit Dome. The fans came out, they showed up, and we got the short end of the stick.
"But I think they gave us a great, great energy tonight and I think the more they continue that the better our results will be. So, we appreciate the fans. We got to do our part, and they definitely did theirs tonight.
"Individually, for me, I got to play way better. I think it was just having that week off, getting adjusted to the pace of the game.
"All of the above. Shooting the ball well, something that I can control, taking better shots. … And then just turning the ball over. Not just getting a quality shot possession by possession. … My play has to be a lot better."
Durant scored 25 points and Bradley Beal added 24 to help the Suns make a winning start to the NBA under Mike Buldenhozer.
"You know [the fans are] excited [in overtime]," Durant said.
"They were this close to getting a stop, and then I raised up and shot that and made it. Then it was silent in there. That's one of the best feelings, especially late in a game."
Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Bradley Beal added 24 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Clippers 116-113 in overtime Wednesday night, spoiling Los Angeles' Intuit Dome debut in the opener for both teams.
James Harden had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers. He had a chance to send it to double overtime but missed the second of two free throws with 4.8 seconds remaining.
Jusuf Nurkic gave the Suns a three-point advantage with a pair of free throws. The Clippers had one last chance to send it to another extra session, but Grayson Allen forced a turnover near midcourt after the inbounds pass.
The victory made a winner out of new Suns coach Mike Budenholzer.
Ivica Zubac had 21 points for the Clippers but fouled out with 2:15 remaining in overtime.
The Clippers had a 99-90 lead before the Suns scored 11 straight points to go back on top. Devin Booker had four points during Phoenix's rally but fouled out with 1:27 remaining. Harden scored four straight points to give Los Angeles a 103-101 advantage before Durant tied it with a 15-footer with 21.2 seconds remaining.
Lillard, Antetokounmpo power Bucks
Damian Lillard scored 30 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 124-109 in the season opener for both teams.
Lillard scored 15 points in the third quarter and finished with six 3-pointers, nine rebounds and five assists.
Antetokounmpo shot 8 for 11 from the floor and had a game-high 14 rebounds as Milwaukee got double-figure scoring from six players.
Taurean Prince and Bobby Portis scored 16 points apiece for the Bucks, who shot 53.8 percent (43 of 80) from the field and connected on 16 of 37 from long range.
Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points and Andre Drummond had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia, which was without injured stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, who are sidelined due to knee injuries.
Milwaukee used a 25-12 run in a six-minute span of the second quarter to pull away. Prince hit consecutive 3s to extend the lead to 51-39 with 2:49 left in the first half.
Ball lifts Hornets in return
LaMelo Ball had 34 points and 11 assists in his return from an ankle injury and Grant Williams sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to help the Charlotte Hornets rally for a 110-105 win over the Houston Rockets.
Jalen Green scored five quick points to tie it for the Rockets before Williams put the Hornets on top with his step-back 3 to make it 106-103.
Ball, who was playing in his first regular-season game since Jan. 26, added two free throws to secure the victory. He made four 3-pointers and all 10 of his free throws.
Green led Houston with 28 points and Alperen Sengun added 25 points and 18 rebounds in his return after missing the last 19 games of last season with a severely sprained ankle.
The Hornets used a 10-0 run that spanned from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth to close the gap and put themselves in position for the win after trailing by as many as 16 points in the third quarter.
Charlotte’s Brandon Miller had six points in 11 minutes before sitting out the second half with soreness in his left hip.
Jamaican race drivers Tommi Gore and Senna Summerbell delivered an outstanding performance on Sunday, earning a podium finish in the ADAC GT4 Racing Series in Germany. Competing as the "Reggae Racers," the duo secured third place in the first race and finished in the top five in the final race, marking Jamaica’s first-ever trophies in the prestigious European racing series.
Gore and Summerbell, who drive the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport #32 with its distinctive Jamaican design, made history not only by reaching the podium but also by becoming the first Jamaican team to participate in the renowned ADAC GT4 Series. The competition, which runs across six legendary race courses in Germany and Austria, featured some of the best drivers in Europe, making the achievement even more remarkable.
For Gore and Summerbell, both sons of prominent Jamaican race drivers, the result marks a significant step in their careers. The 22-year-old Summerbell and 19-year-old Gore have quickly established themselves as rising stars on the international racing scene.
Reflecting on their success, Gore credited their mid-season switch to W&S Motorsport as a pivotal moment. "We ended up switching teams mid-season to W&S Motorsport, driving their Porsche GT4 RS. This was a great move and allowed us to showcase our talent," he said. "Since the move, we’ve finished in the top 10 in four out of the last six races, including three top-five finishes and a podium in the penultimate race."
Gore added, "Another great result to end off the year, along with the podium yesterday! Actually putting us 14th overall in the championship with only scoring points for the last three events in the Porsche!"
The team’s strong performance in Germany against experienced professional drivers, some with over three years in the championship, impressed their new team and demonstrated the potential of Jamaican motorsport talent. "Immediately having the pace in a new car and being able to fight on track with much more experienced and accomplished drivers was a testament to our local roots and the level of Jamaican motorsport," Gore explained.
Gore and Summerbell’s efforts saw them currently 14th overall in the championship, a commendable achievement for their first season in the series. Their success has garnered attention both in Jamaica and Europe, and the duo is eager to continue representing their country on the international stage.
The Reggae Racers expressed their gratitude for the support from their sponsors, including S Hotel, Q8 Oils, Sandals Resorts, Visit Jamaica (JTB), Sherwin Williams, Barita Investments, the Jamaica Sim Racing Association (JSRA), Mobay Freight Services, and Bell Safety.
With a promising future ahead, Gore and Summerbell are poised to continue building on their achievements and representing Jamaica with pride in the world of motorsport.
Jamaica's bodybuilders made their mark at the 51st Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships in Georgetown, Guyana, held from October 19-20, bringing home five medals in a competitive field that featured over 200 athletes from more than 20 countries. While the host nation dominated the event with 25 medals, Jamaica held their own with two gold and three silver medals.
Leading the charge for Jamaica were Rayon Henry and Sean Taylor, who both captured gold in their respective categories. Henry, fresh off winning a national title, triumphed in the Medium Class (176 cm), showcasing his refined physique and superior form. Taylor, competing in the Short Class (170 cm), delivered a standout performance after a challenging year, rebounding from earlier fourth-place finishes in the Muscular Men’s Physique and Men’s Physique Short Class to claim the top spot.
Nicolas Wilson also impressed on his international debut, taking home a silver medal in the highly competitive Bodybuilding Middleweight category (80 kg). Wilson's disciplined preparation paid off, as he made a strong impression against seasoned competitors, proving that he's a rising talent in the sport.
On the women’s side, Jamaica’s national champion Dianne Brown captured a silver medal in the Bikini Fitness Tall Class (169 cm). A former pageant expert, Brown dazzled both the audience and the judges with her flawless physique and commanding stage presence, solidifying her place among the top contenders in the region. Shana Davis Roman added another silver to Jamaica's medal tally in the Fitness Challenge, displaying exceptional athleticism and versatility in the demanding category.
Natasha Gordon also delivered commendable performances, placing fourth in both the Bikini Fitness Open and Masters divisions, contributing to the overall success of Jamaica’s six-member team, which was led by former JABBFA and CAC President, Lt. Col. Bruce Bartley.
Despite competing against a large field of athletes, Jamaica’s bodybuilders proved they could hold their own on the international stage, bringing home valuable hardware from the prestigious event.
Novak Djokovic has confirmed his withdrawal from next week's Paris Masters.
The 24-time major winner announced via his social media channels he will not be participating in the ATP Masters event at Paris-Bercy, where he is a seven-time champion.
Djokovic was a gold medal winner at the Paris Olympics in August, while he has already reached finals at Wimbledon and Shanghai this season, in which he has a 37-9 record.
The Serb featured in last week's inaugural 6 Kings Slam in Riyadh, where he finished in third place after defeating long-time rival Rafael Nadal.
"Unfortunately I won't be playing @rolexparismasters this year," he wrote on Instagram Stories.
"Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me play there. Wishing all the players, sponsors, organisers and fans a great tournament. I have a lot of great memories winning seven titles there and hope to be back with you next year."
Team Jamaica returned to the island earlier this week as five-time winners of the Caribbean Golf Association’s 4-Ball Championship, which was held in Trinidad and Tobago at the Plantation Golf and Country Club.
Since 2020, when Jamaica won the overall trophy or the Ambrose Gouthro Cup, the island’s golfers have distinguished themselves by winning the cup each year including this year having amassed 73 points over Trinidad and Tobago’s 56.
The other islands in the six-team championship were Bermuda in third place with 38 points, the Bahamas on 34, Barbados on 23, and the Cayman Islands placed sixth with nine points.
Jamaica entered the championship with the largest number of golfers, numbering twenty, followed by host country Trinidad and Tobago with sixteen. There were six-trophy categories within the championship. Jamaica won four of the six categories, came second in one and fifth in the other, while putting on a dominant display over its Caribbean partners. The male/female trophy breakdown showed three wins and a fifth place for the men, while the women won one and came second in the other.
Dr. Mark Newnham and Owen Samuda teamed up to capture the Francis Steele & Perkins Cup for the senior men ahead of Bermuda after posting seven under par 209 over the three rounds, to one under par 215 by Bermuda. They had two very good rounds of three under par each for the second and third rounds, respectively, while scoring one under par 71 in the first round.
The duo of Radcliff Knibbs and Keith Stein posted even more impressive scores to take the Higgs & Higgs Trophy. Their three-day total of eleven under par 205 resulted from three under par 69 in the first round and four under par 68 in the last two rounds. The B team of Metry Seaga and Mike Glieckman came in second with a four under par 212 score, while Trinidad came in third with one over par 217.
The Ashraph Ali Trophy for Masters or men over 70 went to Jamaica’s men’s team of Dorrel Allen and Victor Hudson. They posted a combined score of 220 to share the trophy with the Bahamas, who posted the same score.
The local duo of Andre Dhanpaul and Delroy Johnson were no match for Bermuda in the quest for the Ramon Baez Romano Trophy for mid amateur men. Bermuda’s total score was nine under par 207 while Jamaica posted 24 over par 240 for fifth place.
The combination of Michelle McCreath and Maggie Lyn grabbed the Dessie Henry Trophy for females 45 and over. They scored 252 ahead Trinidad and Tobago’s 264 in second place.
Trinidad and Tobago turned the tables on Jodi Munn-Barrow and Lisa Gardner to take the Maria Nunes Trophy for ladies 25 and over. Trinidad and Tobago’s combined score of 240 was just two strokes ahead of Jamaica’s 242.
President of the Jamaica Golf Association, Jodi Munn-Barrow, expressed delight at the accomplishment.
“I am extremely proud of team Jamaica at this year’s 4-Ball Championships, victorious in all except one category this year and a second place finish. We continue to streak five years as overall champion and everybody went out there, the team played hard, the conditions were tough, course was windy but we all played to our game plan and I am very very proud of all of all of the team members," she said.
Another star wide receiver is on the move, as NFL.com reported on Wednesday that the Kansas City Chiefs are finalising a trade with the Tennessee Titans for five-time Pro Bowl selection DeAndre Hopkins.
The Titans will reportedly receive a fifth-round draft pick that can become a fourth-rounder if certain conditions are met. Tennessee will also retain some of Hopkins' remaining salary to facilitate the trade.
Hopkins, who recorded his seventh career 1,000-yard season in 2023, fills an obvious need for the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who have been hit hard by injuries at the wide receiver position.
Kansas City lost top wideout Rashee Rice to a season-ending right knee injury in Week 4 and is also without projected starter Hollywood Brown, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and aiming to return for the playoffs. Veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster is also currently sidelined after injuring his hamstring in the Chiefs' win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Hopkins has just 15 catches totalling 173 yards and one touchdown in six games this season while hindered by the 1–5 Titans' instability at quarterback, but bounced back from a pair of injury-plagued campaigns during his first season in Tennessee in 2023. The three-time All-Pro registered 75 receptions for 1,057 yards with seven touchdowns while playing in all 17 games.
The 32-year-old missed a total of 15 games over the course of the 2021 and 2022 seasons while then with the Arizona Cardinals. Hopkins dealt with hamstring and knee injuries in 2021 and sat out the first six games of 2022 while serving a suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Tennessee signed Hopkins, who spent his first seven seasons with the Houston Texans from 2013-19, to a two-year, $26 million contract following his release by the Cardinals in May 2023.
The 6–0 Chiefs are the NFL's lone unbeaten team this season despite an offence that's lacked consistency. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has just one 300-yard passing game thus far and has thrown more interceptions (eight) than touchdown passes (six).
Hopkins became the third accomplished veteran wide receiver to be traded in just over a week. The New York Jets acquired six-time Pro Bowl honouree Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 15, and the Buffalo Bills swung a deal with the Cleveland Browns for Amari Cooper the same day.
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