sports news update

Aaron Gordon was called for a flagrant foul on Kyle Lowry in Sunday's matchup between the Magic and Raptors. Magic forward Aaron Gordon got called for a flagrant foul after he delivered a hard bump to Raptors guard Kyle Lowry in the second quarter of a game on Sunday. The two players have a history of altercations that goes back to last year.  While in transition, Gordon was under the basket and when Lowry came to the paint to defend Gordon as he was calling for the ball, the 235-pound forward put his shoulder down and rammed it into Lowry and the 196-pound guard hit the hardwood.  The flagrant might have been revenge after Lowry injured Gordon on a dangerous play back in August. While driving to the paint and in midair in the bubble, Lowry fouled Gordon and the 6-foot-8 high-flyer ended up hyperextending his left hamstring and left the game with an injury where Lowry was called for a flagrant 1. Even more recently—like the previous possession in Sunday's matchup—...

Beal and Westbrook hit a pair of threes within the game's final 10 seconds as Washington earned a 147-146 win to beat Brooklyn. The Wizards appeared to be headed for their eighth loss in the last nine games on Sunday night as they faced the Nets, trailing Brooklyn 146-141 with 12 seconds remaining. But Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook had other ideas. Beal raced up the floor and hit a three from the top of the key, cutting Brooklyn's lead to two points with just over eight seconds left. Nets guard Joe Harris then tossed the inbounds pass to Washington guard Garrison Matthews, who quickly gave the ball to Westbrook. The 2016-17 MVP let a triple of his own fly, draining the three to put Washington up 147-146 with less than five seconds remaining.  Beal and Westbrook's heroics were almost for naught as Brooklyn had a chance to steal the win with 4.3 seconds remaining. Nets forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had a wide-open look at the rim as time expired, but his layu...

Ex-Michigan QB Dylan McCaffrey announced he is transferring to Northern Colorado to play for under head coach Ed McCaffrey—his father. Former Michigan quarterback Dylan McCaffrey announced he is transferring to Northern Colorado to play for his father Ed McCaffrey, who is the head coach of the Bears football team. The senior signal-caller appeared in only 13 games at quarterback for the Wolverines since joining Michigan in 2017 and was never able to win the starting role. He completed 10-of-20 passes and threw one touchdown over his seven appearances in 2019. He elected to opt-out of the 2020 season.  He still has two years left of eligibility and is joining a young quarterback room that features three players that have to play a snap in a college football game.  Ed McCaffrey was hired to be the Bears' coach in December 2019 but has yet to see the field because the Big Sky postponed its 2020 season until the spring due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.  O...

Jokic is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals Nuggets center Nikola Jokic put on a scoring clinic in the Nuggets' 128-117 win over the Utah Jazz where he tied his career-high of 47 points. The Jazz went into Ball Arena with an 11-game winning streak and were the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference before the upset loss. "I'm just happy that we won the game just because it is against, at this moment, the best team in the NBA," Jokic said after the game. "They're playing amazing." Everything was clicking for the Nuggets from the tip and they exploded for 43 points in the first quarter and never looked back. They shot an absurd 18-for-28 (64.3%) from behind the arc and were 47-for-87 (54%) from the field.  Jokic finished his day 17-for-26, including 4-for-4 from three-point range, and had 12 rebounds with five assists in 37 minutes of action. It was also his 20th double-double of the season in as many games.  Will Barton als...

Gilbert came to LSU as the nation's No. 1 tight end recruit in the class of 2020. Former LSU tight end Arik Gilbert announced his decision to transfer to Florida on Sunday.  Gilbert  entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2 after just one season with the Tigers . "After careful consideration I have decided to commit to the University of Florida," Gilbert tweeted on Sunday. "This is the best situation for me and I’m excited to join the family." Gilbert came to LSU as the No. 1 tight end recruit in the class of 2020, per the 247Sports composite rankings . He caught 35 passes for 368 yards as a freshman, adding a pair of touchdowns as the Tigers finished 5–5.  Florida will add Gilbert for the 2021 season as it looks to replace significant production from its tight ends. Junior Kyle Pitts tallied 43 catches and 12 touchdowns last season, while redshirt junior Kemore Gamble and sophomore Keon Zipperer added an additional five scores. Pitts declared for the ...

In the fourth quarter of Saturday night's Lakers-Celtics game, Marcus Smart left  with a calf injury and did not return. An MRI on Sunday revealed that Celtics guard Marcus Smart suffered a Grade 1 left calf strain on Saturday night against the Lakers, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.  It is unclear exactly how much time he will miss, but a Grade 1 calf strain is the least severe. Smart, a two-time All-Defensive team guard, suffered the calf injury in the fourth quarter of Boston's eventual 96–95 loss to L.A. after making minimal contact with Lakers forward Montrezl Harrell. Smart was immediately helped to the Celtics' locker room and put no weight on his left leg.  He had played 26 minutes against the Lakers, having recorded four points, seven assists and two steals. Entering the game, Smart was averaging a career-best 13.6 points and six assists per game. Smart, the former No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, is playing a career-high 3...

Warriors All-Star Klay Thompson provided a health update on Saturday night and also starred as a game analyst. Warriors All-Star guard Klay Thompson, who tore his Achilles in November and is missing his second consecutive season, provided an update on his rehab Saturday night while appearing on NBC Bay Area's telecast of the Warriors-Pistons game. "I'm living good," Thompson told NBC Bay Area during the game. "To be back in the building that I'm so eagerly awaiting to play in. Just a little bored at times. Stuff's slow with trying to let my Achilles heal and get to the next stage, which is mobility work, but I'm feeling good. I'm happy to be with my teammates, obviously. "Unfortunately, I'm not playing. It kills me every day, but I plan on playing for a long time, and I don't want to have any mishaps come this rehab." Thompson, 30, missed all of the 2020 season after suffering a left ACL tear during the 2019 NBA finals agai...

Smart suffered the injury during the second half and was helped off the court and taken to the locker room. During the fourth quarter of Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart left with an injury to his left calf. The injury occurred while Smart was looking to get in position for a rebound, though he made minimal contact with Lakers center Montrezl Harrell. Smart was taken to the Celtics locker room and could put no weight on his left leg, according to ESPN's Rachel Nichols . Smart played 26 minutes of the game, with four points, seven assists and two steals. Boston lost to Los Angeles, 96-95, after Kemba Walker missed a last-second jumper. Entering the game, Smart was averaging a career-best 13.6 points and 6.0 assists per game this season, his seventh of his career (all with the Celtics). He missed a combined 24 games over the previous two seasons, making 100 starts in that span.

Mond threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the loss Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond was named the Reese's Senior Bowl MVP after his final performance of his collegiate career on Saturday. Mond, who was playing for the American team, was 13-for-25 and threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-24 losing effort against the National team.  Mond also converted on a two-point conversion in the midst of the American team's comeback attempt when down 13-0 in the second quarter. The team would go on to take a 16-13 lead but never regained it after the National team answered with a touchdown to end the third quarter.  "It's a huge sign of everything I've worked for," Mond said. "Obviously I've had some ups and downs during my career, but to finally come out here on a huge stage and perform the way I wanted to and execute, it was definitely huge." Mond is a record-breaking quarterback that Texas A&M will surely miss in 2021. T...

Shumpert, 30, played 13 games for the Nets last during the 2019-20 season, averaging 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. In need of players to fill vacant roster spots following the James Harden trade, the Brooklyn Nets are reportedly signing veteran wing Iman Shumpert, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic . Shumpert, 30, played 13 games for the Nets last season, averaging 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He'll join a guard group that includes Harden, Joe Harris, Landry Shamet, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Bruce Brown. Shumpert has played for five teams during his 10-year career, most notably spending parts of four seasons each with the Knicks and Cavaliers. He won a championship with Cleveland in 2016, appearing in all 21 postseason games while shooting 38.2% on three-point attempts in 17.5 minutes per game. He's a 33.8% career shooter from three-point range and has a reputation as a strong perimeter defender. After dropping two straight games t...

Hayden Richardson filed a federal lawsuit against the university Friday, detailing repeated instances of harassment while a member of the team. Hayden Richardson filed a federal lawsuit against Northwestern University on Friday, detailing repeated instances of harassment while a member of the cheerleading program, according to the Chicago Tribune 's Elyssa Cherney.    Per the 58-page complaint, Richardson experienced being groped by drunken fans and alumni at university-sanctioned events. The program's head coach, Pam Bonnevier, apparently required women cheerleaders to "mingle" with donors for the school's financial gain. “It became clear to [Richardson] that the cheerleaders were being presented as sex objects to titillate the men that funded the majority of Northwestern’s athletics programs,” the lawsuit read, per the Tribune . “After all, the happier these men were, the more money the University would receive from them.” Richardson says that in 2018 to ...

Towns said he was hospitalized after the incident, which occured in Los Angeles. Timberwolves center Karl Anthony Towns revealed on social media on Thursday that he was hit by a drunk driver and was hospitalized before the start of the 2020-21 NBA season. TMZ showed a screenshot  from Towns's Q&A session on his Instagram story where he thanked his girlfriend Jordyn Woods for helping him through hard times and addressed the accident. "My woman has held me down more than the world knows," Towns said. "From my mother and family members dying (1 on her bday in Cabo), getting hit by a drunk driver (was 2pm in the afternoon FYI) in LA this off-season and staying with me in the hospital for the night and helping me in rehab. "My love for her knows no bounds and I would be remiss if I don't acknowledge the power a good woman can have in your life." Towns avoided a serious injury in the accident but has missed Minnesota's last six games this season ...

SI Gambling’s Corey Parson breaks down his Friday NBA wagers and shares his best bets, target lines, props and more. Another big night in NBA action on deck, and just like earlier this week we have another tough slate to deal with. Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid, Lonzo Ball, and O.G. Anunoby are the injuries that we need to keep an eye on for tonight. Also, after looking doubtful for tonight, both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are still considered questionable. The final game on the slate is the night's main attraction. The Utah Jazz will look to win their 11th game in a row when they host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas is on a three-game losing streak, they have not played well to start the season, and it's showing in the MVP odds, Luka Doncic was the MVP favorite to start the season at the DraftKings Sportsbook, well now LeBron James at +400 is the favorite, Luka and Joel Embiid are next at +550, while Kevin Durant is hanging around at +600. If Donovan Mitchel...

Finding new homes for Bradley Beal, Lonzo Ball and more as the trade deadline nears. It’s hard not to feel some sympathy for Bradley Beal at the moment. Washington’s franchise anchor continues to produce at an elite rate, entering Friday averaging 35.4 points per game in his first 13 contests of the season. But Beal’s personal brilliance has been met with, well, complete dysfunction in the nation’s capital. The Wizards currently sit in the Eastern Conference cellar at 3–11. They appear to be on the wrong side of the John Wall–Russell Westbrook swap, and a wave of COVID-19 absences has continued to hamper the roster. Beal’s frustration at this point is palpable. It’s no guarantee we'll see him in a new uniform by the end of March, but as Washington’s season devolves, such a possibility is becoming increasingly likely. So where exactly will Beal land if he’s dealt before the trade deadline? Let’s sift through the top landing spots for Beal, Lonzo Ball and a crop of other potentia...

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost two games in a row, with the latest being to the lowly Detroit Pistons. Of course the Lakers are still considered the class of the NBA, but given the improvements other squads have made, just how big is the gap between the champs and the rest of the league. Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg discussed with SI's Ben Pickman and "The Fantasy Exec" Corey Parson.

The Bucks’ star is committed to refining his three-point shot, but he is leaving a lot of opportunities open in the post. Almost everything that makes Giannis Antetokounmpo great is slightly less impressive right now than it was last season. This matters more than it probably should. Anyone who manufactures 27 points, 11 rebounds and five assists per game—as Giannis currently is—with All-Defensive Team impact, on an offense that’s managing to score nearly two more points per 100 possessions than last year’s Mavericks (the greatest offense in NBA history), is an obvious problem. Antetokounmpo continues to be one of the most impactful two-way players basketball has ever seen. To that end, criticizing a 25-year-old back-to-back reigning MVP who just signed the most lucrative contract in NBA history can feel harsh and reductive. But with great expectations comes an even greater responsibility. Antetokounmpo’s physical advantages are apparent on every play, but how he opts to exploit th...

The Utah Jazz are riding a 10-game winning streak. Are they serious contenders in the West? SI's Madelyn Burke, Rohan Nadkarni, and Michael Pina break down the Jazz's hot streak and what's clicking so well for the team.

SI's Madelyn Burke, Rohan Nadkarni, and Michael Pina discuss Joel Embiid's explosive 2021 season Joel Embiid has been on a tear for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. On both sides of the ball, Embiid has been a huge contributor to the Sixers' success in the east, but are his numbers boosting him into conversation for the MVP race. SI's Madelyn Burke, Rohan Nadkarni, and Michael Pina discuss Joel Embiid's explosive 2021 season. 

Bradley Beal is playing at the top of his game this season but looks miserable in Washington. Is it time for him to find a new team? SI's Madelyn Burke, Rohan Nadkarni, and Michael Pina break down Beal's season, when and if the Wizards will be trading him, and what teams should be going for him.

SI's Madelyn Burke, Rohan Nadkarni, and Michael Pina discuss the energy Bam Adebayo is bringing to the Miami Heat this season Bam Adebayo has stepped into the spotlight on a Miami Heat team marred by injury. Adebayo has come into the 2021 season with a new approach to offense - will it help out the Heat as we enter the second quarter of the season? SI's Madelyn Burke, Rohan Nadkarni, and Michael Pina discuss the energy Bam Adebayo is bringing to the Miami Heat this season. 

SI's Madelyn Burke, Rohan Nadkarni, and Michael Pina share the winners of Crossover's first quarter Coach of the Year, Most Improved, and Sixth Man of the Year The Crossover is here with their award picks as we hit the end of the first quarter of the NBA season. On the table today are the picks for Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Sixth Man of the Year. 

SI Gambling’s Corey Parson breaks down his Thursday NBA wagers and shares his best bets, target lines, props and more. There's only four games on the NBA slate tonight and just like yesterday this will be a tough slate to navigate. The Lakers and Clippers are both on the road tonight in games vs Eastern Conference teams, while our National Television games feature four teams from the Western Conference. Since it is a short slate I will give my opinions on all four games. Want even more betting plays and alerts in real-time? The Vegas Whispers sharp information, shared here only at Sports Illustrated, are red-hot on all released plays. Sign up for SI Fantasy PRO and receive real-time updates for all Vegas Whispers information! Join now and instantly become part of an exclusive PREMIUM SI PRO Betting Discord chat community! NBA Betting Plays - Thursday, January 28th Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets (-5) Total: 229 The Trail Blazers and the Rockets have both been ...

Popovich: "It's the right thing to do so we can all get on track again." San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, going public with that announcement Thursday to encourage others to receive the shot when they have the opportunity. Popovich released the news on his 72nd birthday. He made the announcement through the NBA in the form of a video just as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the league's all-time scoring leader, did last week. Both are well within the age guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surrounding vaccine eligibility. "Science-wise, it's a no brainer. It's the right thing to do so we can all get on track again,'' Popovich said in the video. The video also shows Popovich receiving the vaccine. "I didn't feel it,'' he told the health care worker who gave him the shot. The CDC guidelines suggest that priority for receiving the vaccine should go to health care perso...

We know the Brooklyn Nets have a Big Three but could all three be selected as NBA All Star starters now that voting has commenced? Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg discussed the possibility of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving all being named to the All Star starting five with SI's Ben Pickman and "The Fantasy Exec" Corey Parson.

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Lakers behind a big shot from Tobias Harris, and Philly is now 10-0 on the season when all of their starters have played. And given the year Harris has had, could the Sixers actually have a Big Three between he, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Sports Illustrated host Robin Lundberg discussed Philadelphia's core with SI's Ben Pickman and "The Fantasy Exec" Corey Parson.

The Hall of Famer has become the source of inspiration for players who suffered Achilles injuries. He opens up about Durant and more. Dominique Wilkins was 32 years old when, coming off seven straight All-Star seasons, he tore his Achilles tendon. Today, it’s one of the most devastating injuries a basketball player can endure. Thirty years ago it was a death sentence. But nine months after Wilkins went down, he made an immediate return to form, averaging 30 points and seven rebounds in yet another All-Star campaign the following season. Now a color commentator for the Hawks, Wilkins has long been viewed as a source of inspiration for players who fear a ruptured Achilles will change their ability to produce at a high level. In this conversation with the Hall of Famer, which has been edited for length and clarity, Wilkins discusses Kevin Durant’s own impressive return from the same injury, how hard it is for a superstar to sacrifice shots, early impressions of the Hawks, Trae Young cr...

Who could take home college football's top individual trophy next fall? Alabama star DeVonta Smith shocked the world—and preseason oddsmakers—when he became the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard did so in 1991. It was something of a refreshing deviation from the recent norm of the country’s best passers holding a monopoly on the award. But with several young quarterbacks primed to take a leap in 2021, don’t expect that trend to continue for long. Here’s a look at several candidates poised to make a run at the 2021 Heisman Trophy. Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma Place your bets soon, folks. The Spencer Rattler hype train is just leaving the station, and his odds to win college football’s most coveted individual award are likely to only improve. Rattler looked the part of a freshman at the start of his first season at the helm of the Oklahoma offense (five interceptions in his first four games) but he turned a corner later on—and so did the Sooners. Ra...

Denver rookie Hampton is still adjusting to life in the NBA. He caught up with The Crossover to discuss playing in his first season and more. If there’s an immediate area of improvement for Nuggets rookie R.J. Hampton to focus on, it may be his powers of deduction. You see Hampton, the 24th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, happens to be the godson of NFL legend Deion Sanders, who is close with Hampton’s father. Hampton knew the two-time Super Bowl champ as “Uncle Prime” growing up. Except he didn’t quite understand where the nickname came from. “For the first eight or nine years of my life, I never knew why I called him Uncle Prime,” Hampton explains. “And then one day, my dad was out of town. I think my mom was at work. And [Sanders] comes to pick me up from school. He’s in the carpool line, and my teachers are going crazy. I'm nine-years-old like, what are they talking about?” Hampton, who grew up in Prosper, Texas, would eventually start piecing together why his uncle was such a...

The 2021 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama is taking place despite the global pandemic. For the athletes, it may be their last chance to impress teams enough to make it to the NFL. SI Host Robin Lundberg is joined by Albert Breer of the MMQB for insight. Read more of SI's Daily Cover stories

Harris hit the go-ahead jumper with three seconds remaining as the 76ers handed the Lakers their first road loss of the season. Tobias Harris made a jumper with three seconds left, ending the Lakers’ 13-0 run and sending the Philadelphia 76ers to a 107-106 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday night. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a three-pointer with 1:05 left that pulled the Lakers to 105-104. LeBron James hit Anthony Davis for the go-ahead basket with 11.2 seconds to go for a 106-105 lead and cap that run. Philadelphia led by 14 points with just over five minutes left in the game when the Lakers began their comeback. They went on a 20-5 run to take their first lead since early in the first quarter when Harris came through in the clutch. Harris scored 24 points. Joel Embiid had 28 and Ben Simmons had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. James scored 34 points, and Davis had 23. Embiid appeared to have hurt his back when he was knocked down by James. Embiid, the All-Star...

Shaq lays into Mitchell, The Bucs' got issues, plus fake Kyrie trades. Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a look back at Shaquille O'Neal's controversial postgame interview of Donovan Mitchell on TNT. What did Shaq get right and what did he get wrong in his dismissal of Mitchell? What's the real story about Mitchell and the surging Jazz? Should Inside The NBA  alter its approach or should other media avenues step up in the analysis department? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's uneven opening month, the Milwaukee Bucks' lineup holes, and whether they can get back to an elite level on defense. At the end, the guys process a bunch of Kyrie Irving fake trades sent in by the Open Floor Globe. Kyrie to Orlando? Kyrie to Chicago? Kyrie to Washington? Kyrie to New York? Kyrie to Toronto?  The following transcript is an excerpt from The Open Floor Podcast. Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on ...