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Kickin’ It with Kiz: Lakers-Celtics? Nah. Joker-Embiid would be best made-for-TV drama in NBA Finals.

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

The league wants to see the Lakers versus the Celtics in the NBA Finals. That’s why the Lakers shot 80 more free throws than Golden State in their last playoff series. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, it’s tough to beat NBA refs.Drew, ThorntonKiz: Your brain is a terrible thing to waste on conspiracy theories. Boston vs. Los Angeles? Yes, major media markets boost television ratings. But Lakers-Celtics is your grandfather’s NBA. Newsflash: Magic and Bird aren’t lacing ’em up anymore. The league could sell Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets versus Joel Embiid and the Sixers in a showdown to determine the real most valuable player. That could be as juicy a story line as LeBron James’ pursuit of another ring at age 38.We have the Joker. The Lakers? We’re going to smoke ’em. The King and The Brow are midnight floppers.Terrence, Goldendoodle aficionadoKiz: OK, let’s not get carried away. While I expect Denver to beat Los Angeles, LeBron James and Anthony...

Nuggets Journal: In between diaper changes, some thoughts on the Suns and Lakers

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

My daughter’s indoctrination came somewhere around Game 4.Between the diaper changes and the interrupted sleep of a newborn, I monitored the Nuggets’ second-round series against the Suns as best as any new dad could. If you’re wondering about the rotating cast of (outstanding) bylines by my colleagues on the Nuggets, that’s why.While she slept under my watchful eye, I propped my phone next to her bed, volume on low, and watched as Nikola Jokic assembled a 53-point masterclass, tussled with Suns owner Mat Ishbia, and watched from afar as the Nuggets entered a 2-2 tie with Phoenix.Even in my sleep-deprived state, I deduced that the Nuggets weren’t in any serious trouble of bowing out early. The Suns’ two wins were via an average of six points; Denver’s came by an average of 17 once the series was over. The Nuggets confirmed my hunch that they were the deeper team and had more levers to pull than a team disproportionately spearheaded by superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.We’ll ge...

White Sox place INF Elvis Andrus on 10-day IL with oblique injury

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox placed infielder Elvis Andrus on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a strained left oblique.The 34-year-old Andrus got hurt during his final at-bat in the eighth inning of Friday night’s 5-1 loss to Houston. He is batting .201 with a homer and 13 RBIs in 39 games this season.There is no timetable for Andrus’ return.“It’s even hard to evaluate that right now,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “You’ve got to wait a few days to see how it settles down and then see where he’s at. See how much pain there still is there and how he recovers. That’s going to be a slower process.”Infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Gonzalez had been sidelined by right shoulder inflammation.Hanser Alberto is expected to get most of the time at second base while Andrus is out. Gonzalez also could fill in at the spot.Catcher Yasmani Grandal was slated to return Saturday night against Houston, but he was scratched....

Alex Palou wins Indianapolis Grand Prix, moves into IndyCar points lead

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Alex Palou inherited the lead on Lap 65, then drove away from the pack Saturday to win the Indianapolis Grand Prix by 16.8006 seconds over Pato O’Ward.It’s Palou’s first win in 11 career starts at Indy, his first of the season and the first for Chip Ganassi Racing since Marcus Ericsson won the season opener in March. The victory also sent the 2021 IndyCar series champion into the points lead, six ahead of Arrow McLaren’s O’Ward, who has been the runner-up three times in five races this season.Palou has won five times since joining the series in 2020.“We honestly knew we had a fast car yesterday,” the Spaniard said. “The car has been fast all weekend. I just had to execute.”Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, finished third. Pole winner Christian Lundgaard finished fourth for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing — his second straight top-five finish on Indy’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.Felix Rosenqvist, a teammate ...

Argentina: la clase media se empobrece por el azote de la inflación

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

BUENOS AIRES — Gimena Páez es una de las mujeres que espera su turno para retirar algo de carne en un comedor comunitario situado en un barrio de Buenos Aires donde, a diferencia de otros, la pobreza no salta a la vista. Todos los días acude provista de una bolsa para garantizarle una ración de comida nutritiva a su hija.En el pequeño local situado en la planta baja de un edificio del barrio de Nueva Pompeya, otras mujeres se afanan por atender a los vecinos que llegan a partir del mediodía para proveerse de alimentos, lo que en la Argentina actual supone una lucha diaria para aquellos con recursos limitados debido a la aceleración de los precios.Páez, madre de una niña de 11 años, contó a The Associated Press que ha tenido que eliminar bastantes productos de su dieta y la única carne que se ingiere en su casa es la que le suministran en ese comedor.“Yo a veces no como para guardarle un poco de comida a la nena para la noche, o como arroz, pero lo que es carne priorizo para ella”, d...

NASCAR-Xfinity Shriners Children’s 200 Results

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

SaturdayAt Darlington RacewayDarlington, S.C.Lap length: 1.37 miles(Start position in parentheses)1. (3) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 147 laps, 0 points.2. (17) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 147, 43.3. (5) Cole Custer, Ford, 147, 47.4. (10) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 147, 46.5. (1) John H. Nemechek, Toyota, 147, 51.6. (25) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 147, 0.7. (13) Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 147, 33.8. (4) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 147, 42.9. (26) Kaz Grala, Toyota, 147, 28.10. (24) Corey Heim, Toyota, 147, 0.11. (9) Sammy Smith, Toyota, 147, 27.12. (15) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 147, 25.13. (23) Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 147, 26.14. (19) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 147, 23.15. (20) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 147, 22.16. (12) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 147, 23.17. (27) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 147, 20.18. (21) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 147, 0.19. (30) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 147, 0.20. (14) Brett Moffitt, Ford, 147, 18.21. (31) Patrick Emerling, Ford, 147, 16.22. (28) Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, 147, 15...

Dustin Johnson goes low for 63, leads by 2 at LIV Golf Tulsa

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) — Dustin Johnson finally looks to be getting his game back together, posting a 7-under 63 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of LIV Golf Tulsa.Johnson, a two-time major winner and former No. 1 player in the world, won the points title in LIV Golf’s final season. But he has yet to finish closer than five shots of the winner in the five events of the Saudi-funded league this year.His 63 at Cedar Ridge came with a bogey on the final hole. Johnson was at 14-under 126, two shots ahead of Branden Grace of South Africa. Grace, who opened with a 61, had a 67.Bubba Watson shot 64 and was four shots behind. No one else was closer than five shots going into the third and final round.Talor Gooch, who grew up in Oklahoma and played at Oklahoma State, won the last two LIV Golf events. He shot a 71 on Saturday and was 13 shots behind.Charles Howell III had the low round among the six players with Oklahoma ties. Howell, who played at Oklahoma Sta...

Israel and Islamic Jihad agree on cease-fire to end 5 days of fighting

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip agreed to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire late Saturday, seeking to halt five days of intense fighting that killed 33 Palestinians, including at least 13 civilians. Two people in Israel were killed by rocket fire. The tenuous cease-fire appeared to take effect just after 10 p.m., with a last-minute burst of rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes stretching several minutes past the deadline announced by Egypt. Late Saturday, Israel reported additional incoming fire and said it was again striking in Gaza. But the calm appeared to be quickly restored.While the calm appeared to bring a sense of relief to Gaza’s more than 2 million people and hundreds of thousands of Israelis who had been largely confined to bomb shelters in recent days, the agreement did nothing to address the underlying issues that have fueled numerous rounds of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Stri...

CIA to change its handling of sexual assault, harassment allegations

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

The Central Intelligence Agency announced this week several measures it will take to address internal sexual assault and harassment allegations, which have recently come under congressional scrutiny and prompted a review by the agency’s watchdog.Multiple victims have approached the Senate and House Intelligence committees with complaints about the agency’s handling of claims of misconduct, citing, for instance, potential obstacles to filing criminal complaints with law enforcement.On Thursday CIA announced the appointment of Dr. Taleeta Jackson, a seasoned psychologist who most recently led the Sexual Assault Prevention Program at the U.S. Navy, as the new head of a dedicated sexual assault and prevention office at CIA. It will also establish an internal task force that will be advised by outside experts and plans to issue new guidance on reporting incidents by the end of May.“I have personally met with several affected officers to hear their concerns and solicit t...

Bichette stars as Blue Jays win 5-2; Braves drop 1st road series

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:46:54 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Bo Bichette singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning and finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 Saturday.The Blue Jays won their second straight over the Braves, handing Atlanta its first series loss on the road this season. The Braves had won six straight series away from home to start the year before coming north to Canada.Erik Swanson (2-1) got five outs for the win and Jordan Romano earned his 10th save in 12 chances.Toronto has won eight straight over Atlanta, sweeping all six games in 2021 before winning the past two. It’s Atlanta’s longest losing streak against a single opponent since 2015, when the Braves lost nine in a row against Washington.After hitting consecutive singles off A.J. Minter (2-5) in the seventh, Kevin Kiermaier and George Springer pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third. Bichette drove in Kiermaier with a base hit through a drawn-in infield before Vladimir Guerrer...