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Jokic scores 33 points, leads Nuggets to 125-114 win over Mavericks in NBA tournament opener

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic finished an assist shy of a triple-double and the Denver Nuggets held off the Dallas Mavericks 125-114 on Friday night to open the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.Jokic had 33 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. He was 14 of 16 from the field on Denver’s new, vibrant blue-and-yellow court. Michael Porter Jr. scored 24 points, and Jamal Murray had 18 points and 13 assists for the NBA champion Nuggets, who led by 20 points in the third quarter before seeing Dallas trim it to eight late in the game. Jokic made a cutting layup with 1:11 remaining to seal it.The Mavericks lost for the first time this season. Luka Doncic finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists but also had nine turnovers. Kyrie Irving chipped in 22 points.Dallas was without coach Jason Kidd, who didn’t make the trip due to a non-COVID-19 illness. Top assistant Sean Sweeney took his spot on the bench.Jokic showed rare emotion in the first half, letting out a scream aft...

Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott and Chaka Khan make the crowd go wild at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Sheryl Crow and Olivia Rodrigo kicked off the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night and Missy Elliott closed the show more than four hours later with a roof-shaking set, as the hall celebrated a strong representation of women and Black artists.Chaka Khan, Kate Bush, “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius, The Spinners and DJ Kool Herc were also inducted in a celebration of funk, art-rock, R&B and hip-hop, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Country music was represented by Willie Nelson, punk had Rage Against the Machine, the late George Michael repped pure pop and Link Wray defined guitar heroes.The ceremony’s strong representation of Black and women artists this year came not long after the hall removed Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner from its board of directors. Wenner, who also co-founded the hall, had said that Black and female musicians “didn’t articulate at the level” of the white musicians featured in his new book...

Connor Stalions, the Michigan employee at the center of the NCAA sign-stealing investigation, quits

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

Connor Stalions, the low-level Michigan football staffer who is at the center of an NCAA investigation into sign stealing and alleged scouting improprieties, resigned Friday.Michigan athletics spokesman Kurt Svoboda told The Associated Press that Stalions resigned his position, effective Friday afternoon. The school had no further comment.Stalions’ attorney, in a statement to The Athletic, said his client chose to resign because stories about him have created a distraction for the second-ranked Wolverines, who host Purdue on Saturday night and are among the favorites to reach the College Football Playoff.“Connor also wants to make clear that, to his knowledge, neither Coach (Jim) Harbaugh, nor any other coach or staff member, told anyone to break any rules or were aware of improper conduct regarding the recent allegations of advanced scouting,” attorney Brad Beckworth said.Stalions said in a statement to The Athletic that he loved Michigan and was grateful for the opportunity ...

Boston College wins fifth straight by handing Syracuse fifth loss in row, 17-10

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Quarterback Thomas Castellanos ran 8 yards for the game-winning score with 2:23 remaining and Boston College extended its winning streak to five, defeating Syracuse 17-10 on Friday night and dropping the Orange to their fifth consecutive setback.“Our confidence is sky high,” Castellanos said. “We’re rolling. BC football is back. Today wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win.”Syracuse (4-5, 0-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) played without starting quarterback Garrett Shrader who was out due to an injury suffered against Virginia Tech last Thursday. The nature of the injury was not disclosed.Syracuse coach Dino Babers said Shrader didn’t practice at all during the week, but he didn’t know until Thursday that Shrader wouldn’t be available.Boston College (6-3, 3-2) took over with 5:59 to go on its own 29-yard line and marched down the field for the winning touchdown. The Eagles become bowl eligible with the victory. Syracuse needs to win two of...

Campaigners sound conflict of interest alarm over MEP couple, missing pharma report

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

Campaigners are calling for an investigation into why a report on the sensitive topic of pharmaceutical market rules was withdrawn days after it was published, and whether the romantic relationship between the chair of the commissioning panel and another MEP had anything to do with it.Shari Hinds, a policy officer at Transparency International, said the outstanding questions over the circumstances of the removal of the report “warrant the opening up of a potential conflict of interest case by the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members.” The committee is a Parliamentary body charged with ensuring MEPs follow the Parliament’s Code of Conduct. Hinds said that while it wasn’t clear yet whether there had been a conflict of interest, the relationship between the two MEPs — Pernille Weiss and Christian Ehler — and the potential impact of the report meant there were enough “question marks and concerns surrounding the taking down of the study” to open an invest...

Liberté, égalité and military hardware: France sets its sights on Russia’s former allies

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

PARIS — France is elbowing its way into Russia’s backyard.In a matter of a few weeks, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced arms deals with both Moldova and Armenia, two former Soviet republics increasingly looking to the West for new friends. This week, French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with the clearly stated objective of France becoming an alternative to Russia and China in Central Asia. And while the focus was mainly energy and critical raw materials, Macron did allude on Wednesday to contracts with Kazakhstan for Thales-made Ground Master 400 air defense radar systems, which Paris said would boost the country’s “sovereignty.”Kazakhstan is a close Russian ally and a member of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military pact, but the government hasn’t backed Russia’s war in Ukraine and has pledged to comply with international sanctions against Moscow.O...

Chicago White Sox decline $15M option on Liam Hendriks, the cancer survivor who will miss most of 2024 after elbow surgery

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

The Chicago White Sox answered one of their big offseason questions, declining the $15 million club option on reliever Liam Hendriks.It was one of four roster moves the Sox announced Friday afternoon.Starter Mike Clevinger declined his $12 million mutual option, and the team outrighted outfielders Clint Frazier and Trayce Thompson to Triple-A Charlotte.Hendriks’ deal included a $15 million buyout that would be paid in 10 equal installments from 2024-33. The closer expressed a desire to return, saying before the final game of the season, “I’d love to be back.”“As I’ve said, I have unfinished business here,” Hendriks said Oct. 1. “I signed here to win here. I think there’s a good core group that has an opportunity to win. There’s some definite avenues where we can improve. But I signed here to win here and that’s the goal right now.”Hendriks was a major addition ahead of the 2021 season. And he delivered, earning ...

Patrick Williams yanked from Chicago Bulls lineup after lackluster start to season: ‘He’s got to help our team’

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

From the opening week of the Chicago Bulls season, it felt like a question of when — not if — Patrick Williams would be pulled from the starting lineup.Coach Billy Donovan finally pulled the trigger Friday, replacing Williams with Torrey Craig. The change came only six games into Williams’ fourth season with the Bulls.Although Donovan did not confirm he would bench Williams until lineups were announced, he emphasized pregame that the forward needs to make more out of his minutes — even if they come off the bench.“We need Patrick,” Donovan said before the game. “Whatever role he is in, he’s got to help our team. Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, I still think he’s an important piece and component to our team.”The change seemed to work for Williams, who recorded his best performance of the season. Williams scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. He looked confident in transition, moving the ball at a fa...

Stolen vehicle suspect arrested after CHP pursuit in San Diego County

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man suspected of stealing a white Cadillac SUV led authorities on a pursuit Friday to several areas of San Diego County was arrested, authorities said.Alfredo Estrada, 47, of Santa Ana, was identified as the suspect, Salvador Castro with the California Highway Patrol said in a news release. He was taken to a hospital for medical clearance and was booked into the San Diego County Jail.Around 5:04 p.m., California Highway Patrol units in the San Diego area took over a pursuit on Interstate 5 southbound from north of Las Flores Creek once it reached Del Mar Heights Road, Salvador Castro with the California Highway Patrol said in a news release.The suspect then led officers on Interstate 805 southbound, where an unknown black vehicle appeared to try to run the suspect's car off the road. The pursuit continued onto surface streets in Kearny Mesa and Serra Mesa, ultimately ending in a residential community in the Linda Vista neighborhood.The suspect's vehicle circled the Fa...

LAPD pursues vehicle in L.A. County

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:53:11 GMT

At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Friday night.The two suspects inside the car were initially wanted for an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.As the vehicle traveled at high speeds through freeways and surface streets, the suspects eventually pulled over in a neighborhood near West Louise Street and Pacific Avenue in Long Beach.At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, ...