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NBA in Mexico: G League team hopes it’s laying foundation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A reggaeton song by Puerto Rican artist Daddy Yankee is blasting through the Arena Ciudad de México with the lights out while fans wave their cell phones and dance to the rhythm of the music.Then comes a drumbeat followed by a loud “Ca-pi-ta-nes, Ca-pi-ta-nes” chant.Welcome to NBA G League action in Mexico City. And if fans get their wish, the atmosphere at Capitanes’ games will become the staple for home games of an actual NBA team in the city. It’s a longshot but that hasn’t dampened the optimism.When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver visited Mexico in December, he said the Capitanes would give the league a great opportunity to see if Mexico could be considered for a franchise in the future.So far, it appears the organization is on the right path.Though the Capitanes lost a three-way tiebreaker and missed the G League playoffs — the finals begin Tuesday — they provided some answers to off-court concerns in their first season in Mexico City.Following their inaug...

Nets’ Bridges starts 83rd game, extends streak, then leaves

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges kept his ironman streak alive Sunday, starting his 83rd game of the season before committing a foul and immediately checking out of the game after four seconds.Bridges was the only starter to play for either team when the Nets hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in their season finale, a week before they will meet in the first round of the playoffs.Bridges was playing only to keep alive his streak of never missing a game in college or the pros. The game Sunday was his 392nd straight in the NBA and completed his longest regular-season yet.He had played in 56 for Phoenix before being part of the trade for Kevin Durant on Feb. 9, then started the Nets’ final 27 games. The guard became the 42nd NBA player to play in 83 or more games in a season and the first since Josh Smith for Detroit and Houston in 2014-15.Before the game, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn revealed what his strategy would be for Bridges.“I’m going to bring these other dudes aroun...

Mariners place pitcher Andrés Muñoz on 15-day injured list

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Andrés Muñoz, who led AL relievers in strikeouts last season, was put on the 15-day injured list by the Seattle Mariners on Sunday because of a right deltoid strain.Muñoz struck out 96 while going 2-5 with four saves and a 2.49 ERA in 64 appearances last year. He had ankle surgery in November, which delayed his first spring training appearance until March 20. Muñoz hasn’t allowed a run in 3 1/3 innings this season. Manager Scott Servais said Muñoz has felt soreness in the back of his shoulder.“He didn’t have his normal buildup in spring training,” Servais said. “He just hasn’t felt great. We’re playing the long game here. For us to be really good throughout the course of the season we need him. The decision was made to give him a couple weeks down time now and let him get back to what he’s used to being.”Right-hander Matt Festa was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma with a 10.80 ERA over three appearances in which he allowed four runs in 3 1/3...

Celtics, Hawks sit many players for regular-season finale

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks both have numerous players out for Sunday’s season finale. Boston is sitting usual starters Jayson Tatum, the team’s leading scorer at 30.1 per game, Al Horford, Jaylen Brown (cut finger) and Marcus Smart. Also out are reserves Malcolm Brogdon (lower back pain) and Robert Williams III.The Hawks are playing without leading scorer Trae Young (right groin soreness), Dejounte Murray (sore left ankle), Clint Capela (right calf tightness), John Collins (tight lower back) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (sore right knee).The Hawks, locked into eighth place, will face Miami in the play-in round of the playoffs. Boston is the No. 2 seed and will play the winner of that game in their opening-round series. ___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Roxbury deadly shooting: Boston police investigating after man dies following shooting

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

A man died after he was shot in Roxbury Saturday night, according to Boston police who are investigating the fatal shooting.Officers responded to a call for a person shot in the area of 2055 Columbus Ave., in Roxbury, at about 10:17 p.m. on Saturday.Upon arrival, officers saw a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.Boston EMS transported the man to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.“The Boston Police Department is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident,” police said in a statement. “Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470.”Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Teacher shot by 6-year-old student files $40 million lawsuit Crime & Public Safety | East High shooting suspect died by suicide, DA says; leaders vow to put police back in schools Crime & Public Safety | 2 administrators shot at D...

Jayson Tatum becomes first player in Celtics history to break 30-point scoring average in single season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

Jayson Tatum made history on Sunday, and he didn’t even play.Tatum and the rest of the Celtics regulars sat out for the regular season finale against the Hawks, and Boston’s superstar clinched a historic feat by doing so. Tatum became the first player in Celtics history to score 30 or more points per game in a single season, finishing the regular season at 30.1 points per game in 74 games. The previous franchise high was set by Larry Bird in 1987-88, when he had 29.9 points per game.Tatum’s 2,225 points are the fifth-most in Celtics history, and the most since Isaiah Thomas scored 2,199 points in 2016-17.Tatum’s career year was done in 74 games in a year in which he battled through lingering injuries. He dealt with wrist and finger problems, and more recently, a left hip contusion. An MVP candidate early in the season, Tatum’s play regressed after the All-Star break and he seemed to hit a wall. But Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said on Sunday that he’...

Reports: IS land mine kills at least 6 civilians in Syria

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A deadly land mine explosion in Syria killed at least six people on Sunday, according to state media.News agency SANA said the explosion hit civilians who were foraging for truffles in the countryside, and blamed the incident on a land mine planted by the Islamic State group in the southern Deir Ez-Zor province. The area is a former stronghold of the militants.A day earlier, SANA reported six people – also heading to search for truffles – were killed by an anti-tank mine left by IS in the desert of Homs’ eastern countryside.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, put the number killed Sunday at seven. The monitor said the incident brings to 137 the number of civilians reported killed this year as a result of the explosion of mines and other explosive objects left over from the war, including 30 children. The truffles are a seasonal delicacy that can be sold for a high price. Since truffle hunters work in large groups in r...

8 people missing in fiery collapse of Marseille building

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Eight people remained missing after the building they lived in exploded and collapsed early Sunday near the port of Marseille, leaving mounds of burning debris hampering rescue operations, officials said.More than 100 firefighters worked against a ticking clock to extinguish flames deep within the rubble of the five-story building, but more than 17 hours later “the situation is not yet stabilized,” Marseille Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said at an evening news conference.Earlier in the day, officials had thought that between four and 10 people may have been trapped. Laurens said police have yet to confirm the apparent disappearance of a ninth person who lived in a next-door building. Five people suffered minor injuries from the collapse, which occurred shortly before 1 a.m.Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan said two buildings that share walls with the one that collapsed were partially brought down before one later caved in, another complication in the search and r...

Suspect arrested in Florida after killings of 3 teens

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — A 16-year-old boy wanted as part of an investigation into the killings of three teenagers in central Florida was captured by authorities, days after another teenager and a 12-year-old were charged in the deaths.The teen was arrested Saturday by U.S. marshals in Groveland, Florida, located 30 miles west of Orlando. He is facing charges of carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and tampering with an electronic monitoring device, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.The two suspects previously in custody were charged with first-degree murder last week. Prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine whether the suspects will be charged as adults. The Associated Press does not publish the names of juveniles unless they have been charged with adult crimes.The shooting suspects and victims were all in a vehicle belonging to 16-year-old Layla Silvernai...

Guyana’s Rupununi Rodeo celebrates local cowboy culture

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:39:52 GMT

LETHEM, Guyana (AP) — Their horses’ hooves kick up dust amid blaring country music as participants enter the arena to begin the Rupununi Ranchers Rodeo, a celebration of the cowboy lifestyle on Guyana’s rugged Rupununi savannah.The two-day, annual rodeo draws thousands of visitors from Guyana’s capital and other countries, especially neighboring Brazil. The event is held in Lethem town in the Rupununi Region also known as Region 9 – Upper-Takutu-Upper Essequibo in southwest Guyana.Competitions include bareback bronco riding, saddle bronco, steer roping, ribbon roping and wild cow milking. The event has become so popular it even has participants from Britain, the United States and Brazil. But most of the participants are local cowboys who get together to pit their skills.Rancher Ian RodrIguez has lived his whole life in Rupununi and owns the lot of land where the rodeo is held. His father was chief judge of the rodeo before he died. RodrIguez is following in his father’s footst...