Category: Sport

MILWAUKEE — Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo acknowledged Tuesday’s 121-111 victory over the New York Knicks carried some additional significance, however solely as a result of the Knicks swept the Bucks in final season’s sequence.

Certainly, New York went 3-0 towards Milwaukee in 2024-25, profitable these video games by a mean margin of twenty-two factors, which was on Antetokounmpo’s thoughts coming into this recreation.

“They had been approach higher than us final yr, and we didn’t make it powerful for them,” Antetokounmpo stated after scoring 37 factors, grabbing 8 rebounds and dispensing 7 assists. “It was very straightforward for my part. And because the chief of this crew, I bear in mind. I don’t overlook issues. And I attempt to, from early at shootaround, set the tone for the crew and attempt to remind them, final yr, they swept us.”

Milwaukee’s struggles prolonged to every of the highest groups within the Jap Convention a season in the past, going 0-9 towards the highest three seeds within the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics and the Knicks.

However the Bucks set a special tone on Tuesday, rallying from down 14 factors within the first half for a comeback victory.

Antetokounmpo led the cost with an enormous third quarter, throughout which he scored 14 factors and dished out 4 assists because the Bucks outscored the Knicks 35-20. After one sequence halfway by means of the third, Antetokounmpo blocked a layup try from Mikal Bridges then flushed a dunk on the opposite finish of the ground. As Antetokounmpo walked up the court docket, he pointed to himself and motioned to the gang.

“That is my metropolis. I like when it’s powerful,” Antetokounmpo recalled saying. “I thrive when it’s powerful. While you make it powerful, I thrive.”

Antetokounmpo, who grew to become the primary participant in league historical past with not less than 30 factors on 60% capturing or higher in every of his first 4 video games of a season, would add he didn’t have any deeper which means past the message and that it was simply within the warmth of the second.

Antetokounmpo has been related to the Knicks after a report over the summer season from ESPN’s Shams Charania that Antetokounmpo thought of New York the lone vacation spot he would have wished to play outdoors of Milwaukee. The 2 sides engaged in short commerce conversations that by no means gained traction.

But Antetokounmpo didn’t wish to get into offseason hypothesis a lot on Tuesday, saying his focus was on basketball and the Bucks’ subsequent recreation towards the visiting Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

“What issues proper now could be we now have a recreation in two days towards Golden State,” he stated. “Attempt to keep locked in and get two in a row.”

Michael Jordan didn’t imagine in load administration, even when he was violently in poor health.

Jordan addressed the subject of NBA gamers lacking video games within the second installment of a collection that NBC is looking “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” which aired Tuesday night time between video games of a doubleheader on the community.

Requested by interviewer Mike Tirico what he considered the notion of load administration, Jordan didn’t maintain again.

“Nicely, it shouldn’t be wanted, initially,” Jordan mentioned. “You understand, I by no means needed to overlook a sport as a result of it was a possibility to show. It was one thing that I felt just like the followers are there that watch me play. I need to impress that man manner up on prime who in all probability labored his [butt] off to get a ticket or to get cash to purchase the ticket.”

Jordan even mentioned that rule utilized to the individuals who got here to video games to cheer in opposition to him.

“Yeah, as a result of I do know he’s in all probability yelling at me and I need to shut him up,” Jordan mentioned. “You understand, he’s calling me all types of names. I undoubtedly need to shut him up. … You’ve gotten an obligation that in the event that they’re eager to see you, and as an entertainer, I need to present. Proper?”

Jordan informed the story of enjoying via a sprained ankle early in his profession as a result of he needed to make a reputation for himself. And lots of basketball followers — particularly these in Utah — keep in mind what he did in Sport 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.

Jordan says he believes he was coping with a case of meals poisoning on June 11, 1997, the day of Sport 5 of that collection in opposition to the Jazz. He was very sick and bedridden till about 90 minutes earlier than sport time, then didn’t even hassle with a standard warmup. Generally referred to as “The Flu Sport,” Jordan scored 38 factors, led Chicago to a win that put the Bulls one win away from the NBA title, then collapsed onto the chest of teammate Scottie Pippen.

“I used to be going to discover a method to get on the market, even when I used to be a decoy,” Jordan mentioned. “Nicely, as soon as I bought on the market, you by no means understand how — pushing your self — you by no means know what occurs, proper? … Subsequent factor you realize, the feelings, the scenario, the necessity of the group. All these issues catapulted me to, ‘I’m going to intestine this factor out.'”

Jordan and the Bulls went on to win that title, then beat the Jazz within the Finals once more in 1998 after Jordan hit a jumper over Utah’s Bryon Russell with 5.2 seconds left within the series-deciding Sport 6 to assist clinch the crown. Jazz followers nonetheless insist that Jordan pushed off on the play to create the house he wanted for the shot.

The Jazz haven’t forgotten. A wi-fi community in Utah’s enviornment, as not too long ago as Monday, nonetheless carries the identify “JordanPushedOff” — an apparent nod to that well-known play.

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall nonetheless is coping with the results of the attention poke he suffered in final weekend’s title bout in opposition to Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

Aspinall (15-3) was hospitalized Saturday after Gane (13-2) unintentionally poked each of his eyes throughout an alternate within the first spherical. Aspinall was unable to proceed, and the bout was dominated the primary no-contest in UFC title struggle historical past.

On Tuesday, Aspinall’s father and head coach, Andy, offered a regarding replace on the 32-year-old’s situation.

“It’s not good,” Andy mentioned in a video posted to Aspinall’s YouTube channel. “His proper eye, he can’t see something. It’s simply grey. [Doctors] examined him on phrases, and he simply couldn’t see something. His left eye is 50%. It went about 4 letters [down the chart] after which he couldn’t see letters. So, one is actually, actually blurry — and one isn’t working.”

Andy instructed ESPN on Sunday that his son averted “bone harm” to the realm, however the staff is within the technique of present process additional exams this week. Aspinall has not launched an official assertion because the no-contest however was visibly distraught within the Octagon afterward.

The UFC intends to rebook the matchup between Aspinall and Gane, in keeping with CEO Dana White. A possible date for that rebooking should wait, nevertheless, as Aspinall and his staff account for the long-term impression of the foul.

“Hopefully, it will likely be all proper,” the elder Aspinall mentioned. “But it surely won’t be.”

LOS ANGELES — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run homer off Shohei Ohtani, Shane Bieber pitched four-hit ball into the sixth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays shook off their epic 18-inning loss to even the World Collection with a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Sport 4 on Tuesday night time.

Addison Barger had two hits and drove in a run for the AL champion Blue Jays, who coolly rebounded from their heartbreaking, late-night defeat in Sport 3 with stellar work on the plate and on the mound.

“Yesterday was a troublesome loss, however we flush it immediately,” stated Guerrero, who spurred the Jays together with his seventh homer of the postseason. “To us, it’s one recreation at a time, one pitch at a time.”

By sending the defending champion Dodgers to simply their third loss in 14 video games this postseason, the Blue Jays reclaimed home-field benefit and assured the World Collection trophy shall be gained at Rogers Centre.

“I consider on this workforce, man,” Guerrero stated. “This workforce is one thing particular.”

Sport 5 is Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, with Sport 6 in Toronto on Friday.

Ohtani redefined the idea of quick relaxation by taking the World Collection mound simply over 17 hours after he reached base 9 occasions and smashed 4 extra-base hits within the Dodgers’ stirring victory.

He yielded six hits and 4 runs whereas pitching into the seventh inning with six strikeouts in Sport 4. After Guerrero hit his majestic seventh homer of the postseason within the third, the Blue Jays added two extra whereas chasing Ohtani throughout their four-run seventh inning.

Ohtani couldn’t make up for it on the plate, going 0-for-3 with a stroll and two strikeouts. He was on deck when the sport ended.

The Dodgers had simply six hits, just one for further bases.

“We’re going through high quality arms at the moment of 12 months in opposition to actually good groups,” Ohtani stated by means of his interpreter. “We’re going through one of the best of one of the best, so I believe it’s not that simple. On the identical time, we may do a minimum of the naked minimal and put up some runs.”

The Dodgers’ two-way celebrity was outpitched by Bieber, the Blue Jays newcomer who returned from Tommy John surgical procedure in late August. The 2020 AL Cy Younger Award winner gave up only one run in a resilient World Collection debut.

An Orange County native with family and friends roaring for him from the loge degree at Dodger Stadium, Bieber issued three walks however repeatedly acquired out of bother. He stranded 4 runners earlier than Mason Fluharty relieved him within the sixth and stranded two extra — and the Blue Jays took management moments later with their seventh-inning rally.

“We actually didn’t get an entire lot of fine swings,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “Conversely, you see these [Blue Jays] grinding and utilizing the entire area. … We didn’t have a solution.”

Ohtani took the mound once more 11 days after he hit three homers and struck out 10 Milwaukee Brewers in arguably the best single-game efficiency in baseball playoff historical past to clinch the NL pennant.

Ohtani threw his first pitch to the Blue Jays 17 hours and 21 minutes after celebrating together with his teammates when Freddie Freeman’s walk-off homer cleared the fence. Though his fastball velocity was right down to 97.6 mph from his season common of 98.5, Ohtani largely stayed out of bother with efficient breaking stuff.

“On this state of affairs, I needed to go seven (innings), and it was regrettable that I wasn’t capable of end that inning,” he stated.

Ohtani additionally drew a six-pitch leadoff stroll to achieve base for the eleventh straight time, extending his World Collection file — however he didn’t get on base once more.

The Dodgers scored first for the fourth consecutive recreation when Enrique Hernandez’s sacrifice fly introduced house Max Muncy within the second. However the Blue Jays lastly acquired to Ohtani within the third, ending their 13-inning scoring drought with a giant swing from their star slugger.

Nathan Lukes acquired a one-out single earlier than Guerrero hammered a breaking ball from Ohtani over the left-center wall. Guerrero has set Toronto franchise postseason information with seven homers and 14 RBIs this month.

“Trying again, it was only a regrettable pitch, one thing that I want I may have taken again,” Ohtani stated. “It was simply in a foul spot.”

Ohtani retired 11 of 12 after Guerrero’s homer, however the Blue Jays chased him with Daulton Varsho’s single and Ernie Clement’s double off the wall to begin the seventh. Toronto scored on Andrés Giménez’s single and Ty France’s groundout off Anthony Banda earlier than Bo Bichette and Barger added RBI singles off struggling Blake Treinen.

Toronto performed with out ALCS hero George Springer, who left Sport 3 within the seventh inning after injuring his proper facet on a swing.

The Dodgers’ Blake Snell (3-1, 2.42 ERA) faces Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage (2-1, 4.26) within the pivotal Sport 5. It’s a pitching rematch of the sequence opener, when Toronto handed Snell his solely lack of a beforehand dominant postseason by chasing him in the beginning of a nine-run sixth inning in an 11-4 win. Yesavage pitched 4 innings of two-run ball.

The New England Patriots traded away two former defensive starters Tuesday night time, sending defensive finish Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers and security Kyle Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers, sources informed ESPN.

The Pats acquired a 2026 sixth-round decide from the Niners in change for White and a 2026 seventh-round decide, in response to sources. They acquired a 2026 sixth-round decide from the Steelers, who acquired Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round decide, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Patriots will assist cowl a part of Dugger’s remaining wage, which quantities to $9.75 million, in response to sources.

White and Dugger had been starters underneath the previous Patriots regimes led by Invoice Belichick and Jerod Mayo however had been backups underneath first-year head coach Mike Vrabel.

White was a 2023 second-round draft decide underneath Belichick who totaled 5 sacks in his second season. His addition comes at a essential time for the Niners, who’ve seen their group of defensive ends dwindle by the week due to accidents. The most important loss got here in Week 3 when star finish Nick Bosa was misplaced for the season with a torn proper anterior cruciate ligament.

The Niners left Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans with ends Bryce Huff (hamstring), Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) coping with accidents that both prevented them from taking part in in that recreation or had been suffered throughout it.

Though Huff and Gross-Matos are anticipated again quickly and Okuayinonu is day-to-day this week, the 49ers clearly wanted assist on the place following their struggles producing any cross rush towards Houston. For the season, the Niners rank final within the NFL in strain share (21.3%) and twenty fifth in pass-rush win price (33.8%).

In White, the Niners are taking a flier on a once-promising prospect who fell out of favor in New England as his slot in Vrabel’s scheme wasn’t as clear. He was a wholesome scratch within the Patriots’ win towards the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and performed in simply 26% of the defensive snaps this season with six tackles and one strain.

White was initially a second-round decide of New England’s within the 2023 NFL draft, the ultimate draft with Belichick as head coach. He performed in 16 video games as a rookie, with 4 begins, totaling 26 tackles, 1 sack, 5 quarterback hits and a pair of cross breakups.

When Mayo, a former Belichick assistant, took over as head coach in 2024, White’s position expanded as he performed in each recreation (13 begins) and amassed 56 tackles, 5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, 5 cross breakups and a pair of compelled fumbles.

White has one yr remaining on his rookie deal at a base wage of $1.812 million for 2026. Given the accidents on the roster, the Niners may not be achieved making trades, with extra assist for the defensive position nonetheless a chance as they await the returns of Huff, Gross-Matos and Okuayinonu.

Dugger signed a four-year, $58 million contract as a free agent final yr after initially being assigned the transition tag by the crew. A second-round decide in 2020, he has began 69 video games, together with 4 this season, and totaled 9 interceptions.

The Steelers added Dugger largely as a result of beginning sturdy security DeShon Elliott hyperextended his knee within the loss to the Packers on Sunday night time. Elliott was a hub of communication within the secondary and was a bodily presence within the run recreation.

“He’s a major factor of what we do, significantly relative to a number of the issues that Indy does effectively,” Tomlin mentioned of Elliott on Tuesday. “He’s a central determine in our secondary by way of run protection for instance. He covers tight ends oftentimes in passing circumstances and so definitely we’ve some adapting to do by way of how we divide the labor up this week, however that’s at all times the case if you lose somebody, significantly somebody vital, it’s not a one-person job, it’s a multi-person job.”

With out Elliott, the Steelers struggled to sluggish tight finish Tucker Kraft utilizing security Chuck Clark, they usually have an equally troublesome process in Week 9 towards the Colts and rookie Tyler Warren.

Elliott missed time with a distinct knee harm earlier this season, and the Steelers helped substitute him by signing former Patriots security Jabrill Peppers.

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.