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This time Heat in cruise control (no, really) in 138-119 rout of Grizzlies

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

An Easy Button? Who knew?In a season of sweating just about every finish, the Miami Heat got something completely different Wednesday night at Miami-Dade Arena.This time there was a 28-point lead at the end of the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies and no need to pad their already gaudy numbers of clutch and five-point games.Just a 138-119 victory over an opponent lacking suspended guard Ja Morant.So this time, Jimmy Butler had to play in attack mode for only three quarters, able to sit out the fourth after scoring 23.This time, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro provided ample support, Adebayo with 26 points and eight rebounds, Herro with 24 points and six assists, both watching the finish from the comfort of the bench.And this time Kyle Lowry and Kevin Love were able to establish footing as coach Erik Spoelstra works toward something closer to a playoff rotation.“I literally had to look at the scoreboard probably 10 times during that fourth quarter, like, ‘Is my math...

Magic need to tighten up their 3-point defense

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

The Orlando Magic’s season-long deficit when it comes to 3-point shooting has been evident.Tuesday’s 132-114 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs was just another reminder.The loss also further exposed a micro-issue within the Magic’s battle with 3-point math — Orlando allowing a lot of “open” or “wide-open” 3-pointers.The Spurs knocked down a franchise-best 22 of 41 3s against the Magic.According to the tracking data on the league’s official website, the Spurs went 9-of-19 (47.4%) on “open” 3s (closest defender 4-6 feet away) and 12-of-18 (66.7%) on “wide-open” 3s (closest defender 6-plus feet away).The Spurs’ 3-point accuracy was partially a case of 3-point shooting luck.San Antonio had shot 35% on “open” 3s (12th-best mark in the league) and a league-worst 34.3% on “wide-open” 3s. No team has a season-long accuracy of 39% on open 3s or 43% on wide-open 3s, respectively.Spurs ...

Winderman’s view: Heat rotation coming into view, with Oladipo shuffled out in rout of Grizzlies

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 138-119 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies:– Yes, one game is the ultimate NBA small sample size.– But now that the roster is almost fully healthy, we might be starting to get a read of where Erik Spoelstra might be headed with the rotation.– Kevin Love appears to be trending toward the Luke Babbitt role, starting each half, then called back into action only if needed.– Omer Yurtseven is on the shortest of leashes.– Not a lot of patience there from Erik Spoelstra.– With it looking like Cody Zeller will re-emerge as backup center once the nose is re-set.– And in an element that can’t be overlooked, Victor Oladipo was not part of Wednesday night’s rotation.– Yes, he had been draining 3-pointers lately.– But also plenty of helter-skelter moments, as well.– Spoelstra clearly prefers stability.– That hardly has been Oladipo’s middle nam...

Chicago Bears free-agency news: PJ Walker agrees to a 2-year deal to be the likely backup QB to Justin Fields

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, general manager Ryan Poles has plenty of salary-cap space to rework a roster that finished 3-14 in 2022.With the NFL’s new league year now here, allowing free agents to begin signing with new teams, the Tribune will track all of the Bears’ arrivals and departures and provide insight into what they mean.The free-agency negotiation window opened across the league at 11 a.m. Monday. Unrestricted free agents could finalize deals when the new league year began at 3 p.m. Wednesday.Column: After adding 5 new starters, Bears GM Ryan Poles can wait for prices to fall in free agencyColumn: Bears’ aggressive start to free agency has one common thread — young players entering their prime yearsWhat headline-grabbing move is next? 5 Bears questions before free agency.Column: Ryan Poles checked a big box on the Bears’ offseason list with his bold trade. Now comes the hard part.Bears trade the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL d...

New Giants TE Darren Waller intends to quell ‘legitimate concerns’ about his durability

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

Darren Waller knows what this Giants trade comes down to: he has to stay healthy.“Growth starts with being available as much as possible for the team,” the Giants’ new tight end said Wednesday at the team facility.Waller has had a whirlwind week.He got back from a tropical honeymoon on Monday, received a call from Raiders GM Dave Ziegler that he’d been traded on Tuesday, and arrived in East Rutherford, N.J., on Wednesday.“I did not see this coming,” he said.He passed his physical exam, a source said, making the trade from Vegas official.“Yeah, nobody came and got me and kicked me out of the building yet, so I feel like I’m good,” Waller said with a smile when asked if he was all clear.He knew that was a valid question, though, because it’s the big question surrounding the Giants’ shiniest new acquisition this week:Can Waller, who missed 14 of the Raiders’ 34 games the past two seasons, stay on the field enough t...

Josh Hart on Knicks splitting road trip while Jalen Brunson nurses foot injury: ‘We’ll take it’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

“We’ll take it.”That was Josh Hart summing up the Knicks road trip to reporters late Tuesday night, right after they dispatched of the Blazers with a dominating fourth quarter.Following four games on the West Coast without Jalen Brunson (who technically played a half in Sacramento), the Knicks (41-31) finished 2-2 and reclaimed the fifth spot in the East from the plucky Nets.“When you don’t have one of your best players, some teams just crumble,” Hart said. “They go on a losing streak. So to finish the road trip .500, we’ll take it.”With a rare three off-days before the next game, the hope is Brunson’s sore foot feels good enough to play in Saturday’s matinee at Madison Square Garden against the Nuggets.So how did the Knicks, who have tied their most wins in a season since 2013, keep the ship afloat without the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Month? It was a collaborative effort but the overriding theme was p...

Dallas Cowboys release RB Ezekiel Elliott after 7 seasons

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

The Dallas Cowboys released running back Ezekiel Elliott, the team announced Wednesday.Elliott’s contract would’ve counted $16.7 million against the team’s salary cap with a $10.9 million non-guaranteed base salary. The 27-year-old will be designated a post-June 1 cut, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, which means the team will save nearly $11 million against the 2023 cap but he will count a little more than $6 million against the 2024 cap.The move comes weeks after owner Jerry Jones said he would be open to keeping Elliott and running back Tony Pollard. The tandem seemed unlikely with the Cowboys recently placing the franchise tag on Pollard and the team featuring him as the lead running back last season.“Zeke’s impact and influence is seared into the Cowboys franchise in a very special and indelible way,” Jones said in a statement. “He has been a consummate professional and leader that set a tone in our locker room, on the practice ...

San Diego Swift Water Rescue on high alert as water swamps flood prone areas

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- As the storm that brought heavy rain to San Diego departs east, we're now left with several flooded roads spanned across the area, keeping city crews and Swift Water Rescue teams busy. The San Diego River behind the Fashion Valley Mall crested around 10 feet Wednesday afternoon. As the water floods, San Diego Marine Safety Lieutenant Rick Stell says his crews have been up and at it since 6 a.m., prompting yet another long workday after substantial rain hit the county, yet again. New atmospheric river heading for California next week, likely impact zone of Bay Area to San Diego Crews particularly slammed in those infamous low-lying Mission Valley San Diego River crossing locations, listed below, now closed off until water recedes. San Diego Mission Road Ward Road Qualcomm Way Camino De La Reina Mission Center Road Camino Del Este Avenida Del Rio Fashion ValleyCamino Arroyo When you see a barricade…turn around don't go around the barricades of an emergency correspond t...

Mets’ Edwin Díaz injured celebrating Puerto Rico’s WBC win

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — All-Star closer Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets was taken off the field in a wheelchair after injuring his right knee celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night. The right-hander was swarmed by teammates after pitching a perfect ninth inning in a 5-2 win that clinched Puerto Rico a spot in the WBC quarterfinals. The group was jumping together in the infield when Díaz collapsed to the ground, and he immediately reached for his right leg.Díaz — as famous for his trumpet-driven entrance music as his dominant pitching — was in tears and did not put any weight on his right leg as a coach and trainer helped him limp toward the dugout.Díaz’s brother, Alexis, was also crying as Edwin was put in a chair and wheeled away. Mets teammate and Puerto Rico shortstop Francisco Lindor stood nearby with his hands on his head.The Mets said in a statement about an hour after the game that Díaz had a right knee injury and w...

China, Japan trade accusations over maritime incursions

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:01:09 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s dispute with Japan over tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea is heating up again, with both sides accusing the other of infringing on their maritime territory. China says the islands belong to it and refuses to recognize Japan’s claim to the uninhabited chain known as the Senkakus in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Taiwan also claims the islands, which it calls Diaoyutai, but has signed access agreements for its fishermen with Japan and does not actively take part in the dispute. China routinely sends coast guard vessels and planes into waters and airspace surrounding the islands to harass Japanese vessels in the area and force Japan to scramble jets in response. On Wednesday, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson said Chinese vessels had “expelled some Japanese vessels which had illegally entered the territorial waters.” The unidentified official said its moves were routine measures to safeguard sovereignty and maritime interests.Japan’s coast ...