Heat this time seize upon Antetokounmpo absence, thrash Bucks 121-99 for 2-1 series lead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

Heat this time seize upon Antetokounmpo absence, thrash Bucks 121-99 for 2-1 series lead There will be basketball at the Miami Heat’s arena beyond Monday night’s Game 4 of this best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks.Saturday night’s 121-99 Jimmy Butler-powered victory assured as much.It might be a Game 6 on Friday night against the Bucks or it might be, as unfathomable as it previously might have sounded for the No. 8 seed Heat, a second-round game against either the New York Knicks or Cleveland Cavaliers.For now, the unexpected reality for Erik Spoelstra’s team is a 2-1 lead series lead over top-seeded Milwaukee, which finds itself on shaky ground, with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing a second consecutive game with a lower-back contusion.Unable to take advantage of Antetokounmpo’s absence in their Wednesday night blowout loss at Fiserv Forum, the Heat this time seized the moment behind sizzling 16-of-33 3-point shooting and a fiery 30-point performance by Jimmy Butler.With Duncan Robinson, K...

Vrioni scores pair in Revs’ 2-1 win over Sporting KC

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

Vrioni scores pair in Revs’ 2-1 win over Sporting KC FOXBORO – The New England Revolution retained a share of first place in the MLS Eastern Conference with a 2-1 victory over hapless Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.Giacomo Vrioni scored both Revs goals.The Revolution (6-1-2) are tied with FC Cincinnati (6-2-1), which beat Portland 2-1 at home.The Revolution are home on Tuesday night (7:30) for a U.S. Open Cup third round match against Hartford Athletic. The Revs resume MLS play on Saturday against FC Cincinnati at Gillette.“We are going to put a team on the field that can win the game and that is our focus on the Open Cup,” said Revolution head coach Bruce Arena. “We have a game on Tuesday that we will take first and then get our team prepared for a very good Cincinnati team.”With the Revs on the dock for three games in eight days, Arena made significant changes to the starting XI battled Columbus to a 1-1 in Ohio on April 15. Arena excused midfielder Latif Blessing from the match. Blessing returned to his ...

Trump defends push to restrict abortion rights after rebuke

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

Trump defends push to restrict abortion rights after rebuke CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Donald Trump, stinging from a rebuke by the nation’s leading anti-abortion group, used a speech Saturday before influential evangelicals in Iowa to spotlight his actions as president to try to restrict abortion rights.Chief among the accomplishments Trump listed were his nominations of three conservative judges to the U.S. Supreme Court. The appointments paved the way for the overturning last year of the landmark Roe. v. Wade ruling, which had affirmed a federal right to abortion. “Those justices delivered a landmark victory for protecting innocent life. Nobody thought it was going to happen,” Trump said, appearing via video to a gathering of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition. “They thought it would be another 50 years. Because Republicans had been trying to do it for exactly that period of time, 50 years.”Trump has often avoided talking about abortion as he campaigns again for the White House, sidestepping the issue less than a year after the...

'Come for the contact’: Chicago’s pro rugby team hoping to grow game organically

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

'Come for the contact’: Chicago’s pro rugby team hoping to grow game organically There’s a new pro team joining the Chicago sports landscape this year: the Chicago Hounds.They are the newest members of Major League Rugby and kicked off their inaugural season in February, just three months after the team was founded.“We try to embody that of a Hound and that of a Chicagoan,” said head coach Sam Harris. “Big shoulders, resilience, blue collar and working hard, whatever is thrown at us we are up for the challenge. That’s what fans can expect.”Harris never set foot in the City of Broad Shoulders until tapped to take over the expansion franchise after two seasons leading Austin. But the former pro rugby player from Australia has immersed himself in Chicago sports history.“I’ve taken a deep dive in the ‘85 Bears, I’ve been a huge 90’s Bulls fan. I wore all my video tapes out as a kid, and wanted to be NBA player growing up,” he said. How Chicago Fire FC, Red Stars have started their 2023 seasons Harris hopes the Hounds can become part of the city’s sports fabric, in...

Central Texas emergency leaders watch for severe weather this weekend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

Central Texas emergency leaders watch for severe weather this weekend AUSTIN (KXAN) — Emergency managers in Central Texas say they're watching for severe thunderstorms this weekend that could bring hail, heavy winds, and potential floods.Officials in the Hill Country early Saturday afternoon said things were calm but storm watchers were on standby in case the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the area.Marsha Hardy, emergency management coordinator for San Saba County, said she consulted the San Saba Sheriff's Office ahead of the severe weather's arrival to notify an outdoor event planned Saturday night."We did have a carnival set up in the park. We're assuming that they probably are staying up with the weather. Just in case we just want to make sure that they're aware of it," Hardy said.KXAN's First Warning Weather team predicted that storms possible in the Hill Country could reach Austin's metro area.Brandon Kimble lives in downtown Austin and says he tries to follow storm basics like staying inside, but does not have an emergency p...

Two 10-year-olds killed in Afton ATV crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

Two 10-year-olds killed in Afton ATV crash Two 10-year-olds died Saturday night after an ATV crash in Afton.First responders and deputies were called around 5 p.m. to the 1000 block of Neal Avenue South in Afton, according to a news release from the Washington County sheriff’s office.Responders found the juveniles trapped under an ATV and performed lifesaving efforts, but both were pronounced dead at the scene, per the release.The cause of the accident is still under investigation.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Nearly 4,500 pay respects to fallen sheriff’s deputy Crime & Public Safety | Slain woman’s son, ex-boyfriend charged with murder in July shootout that killed her in crossfire Crime & Public Safety | Judge dismisses trespassing charges against environmental activist Winona LaDuke Crime & Public Safety | Kim Potter, Brooklyn Center officer who shot Daunte Wright, to be released from prison Monday Crime & Public Safet...

St. Louis-area farmers scramble to save crops from unseasonal cold

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

St. Louis-area farmers scramble to save crops from unseasonal cold ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Mother Nature surprised many around St. Louis on Earth Day, which brings near-freezing weekend temperatures to the region overnight. That freeze has many farmers scrambling to save their crops. If the plants don’t make it, it could be devastating to their bottom line. Andrew Wellie has spent most of the last three days on Theis Farm moving tarps and brinks to cover acres of strawberries. The berries very sensitive this time of year, especially when temperatures are expected to get below freezing.   Top Story: St. Louis police chief’s comment about prosecution crisis may surprise you “This is pretty substantial, getting this cold," said Wellie. "Usually, we might get 35 with a possible frost, but 32 and a freeze is really a bit much at this time." He says the tarp keeps in the heart from the soil, but he still won't sleep well. "I’m going to worry that if the tarps blow off at any point, whatever blows away and becomes exposed to the cold, tho...

Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin out for Game 3 vs. Seattle Kraken with injury

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin out for Game 3 vs. Seattle Kraken with injury SEATTLE — Valeri Nichushkin is dealing with an injury and will miss Game 3 of the Avalanche’s first-round playoff series vs. the Kraken, a team spokesperson told The Post.Nichushkin has been battling an off-and-on ankle injury since undergoing surgery in November. He initially missed a month after the surgery but has been in and out of Colorado’s lineup since returning. He played in 53 regular-season games, scoring 17 goals and 47 points.Nichushkin was moved from the Avs’ top power play unit to the second unit in Game 2 on Thursday, with Artturi Lehkonen moving up. But Nichushkin scored the tying goal in a 3-2 series-knotting win at Ball Arena.His ice time was down 1:20 from Game 1.Nichushkin did not join the Avs for morning skate Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena, but coach Jared Bednar said the absence was only for maintenance.Nichushkin signed an eight-year contract with the Avalanche through 2029-30 last offseason, with an average annual value of $6.125 mi...

Oakland A’s get trounced in Texas as Fujinami is pummeled — again

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

Oakland A’s get trounced in Texas as Fujinami is pummeled — again By SCHUYLER DIXONARLINGTON, Texas — The A’s saw big offseason pickup Shintaro Fujinami get rocked again as the Texas Rangers routed Oakland 18-3 on Saturday night.With their eighth loss in nine games, the A’s set a record for the franchise’s worst-ever start through 21 games at 4-17 and extended a franchise record with a 21st consecutive game to start the season without a victory for a starter. Oakland starters are 0-10 while allowing 95 runs — all earned — in 95 1/3 innings.Fujinami (0-4) had improved in his two previous starts but matched the ugly numbers from his major league debut: eight runs in 2 1/3 innings.The 29-year-old rookie gave up seven hits, walked three, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches as his ERA rose to 14.40. The Japanese right-hander has lost all four starts.The key damage was delivered by Adolis Garcia, who hit three home runs and two doubles on an eight-RBI night. All three of García’s homers were two-run shots, and his first double also scored two ...

One dead, two injured after wrong-way collision near Woodside on I-280

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:54:29 GMT

One dead, two injured after wrong-way collision near Woodside on I-280 One woman died and two other people were injured after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 280 southbound near Woodside on Saturday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol.Three southbound lanes of I-280 south of Highway 92 have been closed, causing heavy traffic in the two remaining lanes. The closures were expected to last until about 6 p.m. Officials advised drivers to seek out alternate routes.According to the CHP, a white Ford sedan driving northbound on the southbound section of the interstate crashed with a black BMW.The woman driving the BMW, who was in her 40s, was killed. A 14-year-old boy passenger in the BMW was transported to a hospital after sustaining major injuries.The driver of the Ford was arrested and transported to a hospital with minor injuries, officials said. It is not currently known if drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.