Category: Sport

An exhilarating begin to the NBA season got here to a screeching halt on Thursday, when Miami Warmth guard Terry Rozier, Portland Path Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former participant and coach Damon Jones had been arrested as a part of FBI investigations into unlawful sports activities betting and rigged poker video games.

Questions stay on the standing of these investigations. And whereas these indictments overshadowed the opening days of the NBA’s eightieth season, its first handful of video games confirmed us lots about what might be subsequent on the courtroom.

With that in thoughts, we checked in with league coaches, scouts and executives on what stood out throughout the opening week of the common season. Nothing, although, matched the thrill across the league after Victor Wembanyama’s evisceration of the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night time — a efficiency that felt like a warning to the remainder of the NBA.

Bontemps: Wembanyama, who missed the again half of final season after a deep vein thrombosis prognosis, had a busy summer time off the courtroom. However when he spoke to the media at first of coaching camp, he made positive to emphasise that for no matter folks noticed on social media, he wasn’t spending the summer time enjoyable.

“I can guarantee you, no one has skilled like I did this summer time,” Wembanyama mentioned. “And that is my finest summer time thus far. I can inform the progress is simply unimaginable. I really feel higher, I look stronger and the size says I’m heavier. So, all the pieces is a inexperienced mild.”

Within the wake of Wembanyama’s spectacular 40-point exhibiting in Dallas, these preseason feedback now really feel like an early declaration of what was to come back this season. It might have been taken as Wembanyama being smug, however he mentioned it in a easy, matter-of-fact tone, each as a result of it’s simply what he really believes, and since he’s able to doing issues nearly nobody else has ever contemplated, not to mention been capable of obtain.

After watching him toy with Dallas, there was a transparent recognition that if he retains going like this it’s going to take a number of luck to gradual him down.

“He’s clearly gotten greater, stronger, extra aggressive, enjoying with extra pressure,” a Western Convention scout mentioned. “And he’s going to take over the entire f—ing league if he stays wholesome.”

Windhorst: Within the preseason, scouts began to note one thing about Wembanyama: In lieu of launching from deep, he was enjoying bully ball.

After hoisting a whopping 8.8 3-pointers per sport final 12 months, almost half of the 19 photographs he was averaging per sport and almost 4 extra per night time than throughout his rookie season, Wembanyama was going the other manner. He was driving to the basket, seeking to set up place and even looking for contact.

Final season solely 40% of his photographs had been within the paint. Within the preseason, albeit a small pattern measurement, that quantity soared to 75%. After averaging six free throws per 100 possessions final season, it leapt to 11.8 per 100 within the preseason.

So when Wembanyama dropped 40 within the season opener in Dallas, stealing the present from No. 1 decide Cooper Flagg’s debut with a tour de pressure of basket assaults, it verified the hand he began to indicate the league.

Wembanyama took simply two 3-pointers, his fewest in a sport since his rookie season. (He took fewer than 5 3s as soon as all season.) He had 11 free throws in opposition to the Mavericks. That occurred as soon as in a regulation sport final 12 months.

Stated one group supply: “He’s relishing enjoying bully ball.”

Windhorst: After Amen Thompson left the season opener in time beyond regulation with cramps, Rockets coach Ime Udoka went with large man Alperen Sengun because the de facto level guard. Within the wake of dropping Fred VanVleet and the dedication for the nonetheless uncooked Thompson to be the group’s main level guard, there’s a debate amongst league executives about whether or not the Rockets will finally want to accumulate a veteran level guard as a trusty possibility.

“Their reply is on the roster, I’m a believer in Reed Sheppard and he’ll step into that position [alongside Thompson],” a veteran government mentioned. “You possibly can concentrate on what he can’t do, however I’ve adopted him since he was a youngster and all he’s achieved is overcome doubters. Simply give him time.”

However, once more, there’s a debate.

“Sheppard is such a goal on protection, it’ll be powerful to play him at occasions,” a league scout mentioned. “He doesn’t have good consciousness, he doesn’t present good really feel and he’s typically out of place. He does have good palms.”

Sheppard defended 11 drives within the Rockets’ opening loss to the Thunder, and he was blown by 5 occasions, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.

Bontemps: Though Houston didn’t win the sport, and sure received’t have VanVleet again at any level this season after he tore his ACL final month, the Rockets got here out of Tuesday’s loss having earned a ton of respect from the NBA cognoscenti.

That was led by the efficiency Sengun had. Not solely did he have 39 factors, however his 5 3-pointers on Tuesday had been a outstanding distinction to the 21 triples he made all of final season.

“If he does that,” an assistant coach mentioned of Sengun’s taking pictures, “It’s a sport changer for them.”

And whereas rival groups usually are not anticipating Sengun to make a number of 3-pointers each night time, the large man regarded comfy sufficient that opposing scouts and executives did purchase it as an actual growth.

Sengun additionally earned plaudits for his imaginative and prescient and shot creation. And whether or not Thompson, Sheppard or one other participant is Houston’s reply at level guard, Sengun will spend loads of time because the Rockets’ offensive hub. Going up in opposition to the most effective group within the league Tuesday night time, it produced big-time outcomes.

“He’s manner higher than I ever thought he can be, and the factor that’s spectacular about him is he’s acquired a very robust command of the sport so far as directing site visitors,” a scout mentioned. “He’s considering the sport at the next degree than a number of his teammates.

“They realize it, and so they’re following his lead.”

Bontemps: Kuminga’s contract negotiations as a restricted free agent supplied drama all summer time lengthy within the Bay Space. However for all of the noise that got here together with these negotiations, if Kuminga can play like he did Tuesday in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers — enjoying with power and energy, sharing the ball and dealing on protection — he will be greater than helpful for Golden State.

“He did what he wanted to do,” a Western Convention assistant coach mentioned.

However what stood out about Kuminga’s efficiency went past his field rating statistics: 17 factors, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 turnover. A minimum of within the eyes of 1 government, it was seeing Kuminga enjoying like somebody thriving in his position.

“Overlook the taking pictures. Overlook the couple performs the place he scored, overlook when he guarded Luka,” they mentioned. “However he was enjoying with a smile on his face. I simply haven’t seen a lot of that from him. It’s all the time been him having a chip on his shoulder and looking out like he’s proving himself. He’s guarding a pair positions, enjoying arduous.

“I believe you’ll see extra video games like that than extra DNPs like within the playoffs.”

Windhorst: You received’t see Al Horford Friday night time when the Warriors play in Portland; he received’t play back-to-backs and he’s going to have restricted minutes by design within the common season. However whereas Kuminga’s contract scenario dominated the dialog across the Warriors over the summer time, Horford’s addition was generally neglected. However not by these within the know.

“Horford was among the best signings within the league over the summer time, it broke our hearts as a result of we needed him badly,” an Japanese Convention government mentioned. “And so they acquired him for $5 million.”

Effectively, $5.6 million, however the level stays. For a group that wants measurement however craves taking pictures and flexibility, Horford is a perfect match.

Bontemps: Sure, it was one sport. Sure, it was one sport being performed with out LeBron James.

However for the issues in regards to the supporting solid round Luka Doncic and James this season and its viability to elevate this group into rivalry standing, Tuesday’s loss did little to quell them.

Deandre Ayton had an ineffectual 10 factors and 6 rebounds in 34 minutes, and no different participant reached double figures exterior of Doncic and Austin Reaves. Marcus Good struggled mightily off the bench. The supporting solid was a mixed 5-for-17 from 3-point vary and had little hope of doing something to gradual Golden State down defensively.

“Luka is superior,” one scout mentioned, “and the remainder of the group is, ‘who we thought they had been.’

“[Reaves] was good till he ran out of gasoline as a result of he had to take action a lot, however exterior of them I couldn’t let you know who their third finest participant was.”

With ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting that James is focusing on a mid-November return, the Lakers can be with out the league’s all-time main scorer for round 15 video games to begin the season. Can the Lakers survive within the brutal West till James returns with out digging themselves too large of a gap?

“They’ve an opportunity as a result of Luka doing that isn’t a one-off efficiency,” the scout mentioned of Doncic’s 43-point night time in opposition to the Warriors. “They want a few of these different guys to step up. So can they survive it? Sure. They’ll have video games the place a few of these guys hit photographs. However you take a look at their roster, and it’s 1-2-3 — and a pair of is out — after which an enormous hole.”

An assistant coach put it merely:

“Luka goes to need to do what he did each night time simply to present them an opportunity.”

Windhorst: Lakers coach JJ Redick tried to nip the concept that James’ physique language was a difficulty within the bud. He mentioned the day after the opener that James was very lively and useful within the Lakers’ full research after the loss. It was a transparent “nothing to see right here” maneuver even when it was completely true. Be that as it could, the Lakers clearly miss James on the ground.

“I do know it’s loopy to say, however their 40-year-old is possibly nonetheless their finest transition participant,” one West scout mentioned. “When he’s not on the market they’re much less dynamic.”

Doncic is likely to be their centerpiece and offensive chief, and Reaves would possibly enhance on his 20 factors per sport common from final 12 months. However James remains to be an offensive engine — and his absence is already felt.

“One factor you may say for LeBron that’s been true for greater than 20 years,” the scout mentioned, “is he all the time generates straightforward baskets for himself and his teammates.”

NO MATTER WHERE he goes, former NBA All-Star Shareef Abdur-Rahim is reminded of his brother’s affect.

Whether or not it’s of their hometown of Marietta, Georgia, or so far as 8,000 miles away from the place they grew up, it appears everybody has a narrative about how Amir Abdur-Rahim touched their lives.

“Some man got here as much as me [in China],” Shareef Abdur-Rahim, president of the NBA’s G League, instructed ESPN. “I didn’t know him. He didn’t know me. He was like, ‘I knew your brother, man. He was the perfect.’ What number of occasions I’ve gotten that over this 12 months is unbelievable.”

Amir Abdur-Rahim was simply 43 years previous and a rising star within the faculty basketball teaching ranks when he died one 12 months in the past Friday throughout a medical process for an undisclosed sickness.

Within the 12 months since, the tributes have poured in from gamers, coaches and followers all throughout the globe. Abdur-Rahim was an completed coach. He took Kennesaw State from a 1-28 report in his first season in 2019 to the NCAA event in 2023. And in his solely season at South Florida, he guided the Bulls to the American Convention’s regular-season title.

However when individuals bear in mind Abdur-Rahim now, most of the time, these tales have little to do with basketball. He was a husband, a father, a brother to 12 — and a connector who cared extra about relationships than victories.

“HOW ARE YOU?”

Abdur-Rahim’s spouse, Arianne Abdur-Rahim, shakes her head when she hears this query — she is aware of individuals not often ask it with the intent to kind a real connection the way in which her husband would.

“Most individuals simply say, ‘Hey, how are you doing? How’s it going in the present day?’ and so they’re probably not ready for a response,” she instructed ESPN. “They only need you to say, ‘I’m good.’ And all people goes their separate methods. That’s not him. He actually wished to know the reply. He was actually invested on this reply and simply wished to make individuals really feel seen and really feel higher.

“He had this inherent capacity to make you are feeling seen, to make you are feeling heard, to make you are feeling empowered.”

That was the South Florida group’s expertise with Abdur-Rahim. Somebody’s function on the faculty didn’t matter — he made an effort to construct relationships with everybody he encountered. He purchased Starbucks and donuts for college kids on campus. And after his introductory information convention in 2023, he known as a gathering … with the pinnacle of the coed part.

Abdur-Rahim’s relationship with the Bulls’ soccer coach Alex Golesh was no totally different. Employed inside months of one another, the 2 discovered commonalities not solely in the way in which they wished to educate, however the way in which they wished to be nice fathers.

Golesh — who honored Abdur-Rahim together with his patented phrase “this ain’t the identical South Florida, my brother” after upset wins over AP Prime 25 groups Boise State and Florida to open this 12 months — stated Abdur-Rahim helped him keep the course after a tough begin to the 2024 season, providing him a recreation plan for the street forward as they supported one another.

“It was identical to these texts like, ‘Man, that is what 12 months 1 goes to be, 12 months 2, 12 months 3, 12 months 4,'” Golesh instructed ESPN. “After which we simply acquired nearer and nearer.”

In tough occasions, Abdur-Rahim remained devoted to studying his self-help books and scribbling notes about his visions for the longer term, sharing these goals with the individuals round him — even once they appeared unattainable.

His confidence, in all circumstances, emboldened others. How he made them really feel is core to his legacy.

“He wished to be higher at every little thing he did,” stated Joi Williams, Abdur-Rahim’s pal and chief of workers at South Florida. “He wished to be the perfect and he wished to make it possible for our guys knew how a lot he beloved them. And that was one thing he instructed them.

“At first, a few of these guys checked out him like, ‘You’re loopy. I’m not saying it again.’ However what was actually superb, and I get emotional about it, is that when it acquired right down to the tip, you can see how a lot they had been telling him, ‘I like you.’ And so they’re not afraid to say the phrase ‘love’ as a result of he stated it on a regular basis.”

After leaving Kennesaw State, Abdur-Rahim known as Williams and instructed the then-coach of Murray State’s girls’s basketball workforce that he would name her as soon as he landed his subsequent job. She didn’t imagine him till he provided her the function of chief of workers, a uncommon task for a girl in males’s faculty basketball.

“We all the time talked about and joked about working collectively,” Williams stated. “I stated, ‘Yeah, a variety of you guys say that, however are you actually going to rent a feminine?’ And he was like, ‘I’m telling you. I’m going to do it.'”

As a lot as he confirmed up for others, the energy of Abdur-Rahim’s connections additionally meant he would disappear typically.

Ben Fletcher, his former assistant who succeeded him as interim head coach at South Florida, found that when Abdur-Rahim would all of a sudden depart round lunchtime once they had been at Kennesaw State collectively, he’d normally find yourself at a mom-and-pop restaurant. He had a Rolodex of small-town spots and knew the names of their homeowners. He additionally knew the perfect merchandise on every of their menus. For years, Fletcher hinted that he wished to affix him and felt like he’d hit the lottery when Abdur-Rahim lastly agreed to take him to considered one of his favourite joints.

It was among the greatest soul meals Fletcher ever had.

“I’m like, ‘Man, I’ve been right here for 2 years and I’m simply now studying the place this place is?'” Fletcher stated. “I instructed him, ‘See, that’s improper. You improper for that.'”

As centered as Abdur-Rahim was, he didn’t take himself too critically.

His younger gamers at South Florida would usually poke their coach to get an increase out of him. And it didn’t take a lot. In the event that they instructed him LeBron James was the best participant of all time, the Michael Jordan fan would by no means let it slide.

“He would all the time carry up LeBron shedding within the NBA Finals,” stated Kobe Knox, who performed for Abdur-Rahim at South Florida. “And I’d ship him a little bit graphic about LeBron and his success and the subsequent time I’d see him on the facility, he’d be like, ‘Man, why are you sending me that? I ain’t listening to that.'”

These moments helped Abdur-Rahim earn the locker room’s adoration, however he may promote his gamers solely on potential at first — South Florida had by no means gained a convention championship coming into the 2023-24 season and hadn’t reached the NCAA event in additional than a decade.

Abdur-Rahim, nonetheless, didn’t need his gamers to consider the previous. He wished them to imagine sooner or later, so he introduced a ladder and pair of scissors to follow at some point. Months earlier than his workforce made historical past as the primary South Florida males’s basketball workforce to win a convention title, he ready the gamers in a novel occasion with a net-cutting walkthrough.

“He completely believed it,” Williams stated. “Now, clearly, we had been up within the hunt for a convention title on the time, however he wished them to know do it. He stated, ‘I don’t need you guys to only rise up on the ladder. We wish to present you ways the online is meant to be lower.’ And we really did it. I imply all people — coaches, the gamers, all of the assist workers — all people that was going to rise up on that ladder, we did it.”

GOLESH WOULD OFTEN joke with Abdur-Rahim that basketball coaches had extra time on their arms than soccer coaches — jabs pushed by jealousy and admiration.

“I stated, ‘Amir, I see you’re taking your youngsters to highschool. I can’t take my youngsters to highschool. I’m struggling. It’s killing me. Matter of truth, my child will see you drop your youngsters off,'” Golesh stated. “My son, who is identical age as his daughter, is asking me, ‘Dad, why can’t you’re taking me to highschool?’ And in order that’s why I say [our relationship] is a lot deeper than simply, ‘Are you taking part in zone or man?'”

The conversations, textual content messages and laughs abruptly stopped almost a 12 months in the past. Many individuals inside Abdur-Rahim’s circle didn’t find out about his sickness, and his optimistic reactions revealed little about his state of affairs.

“I texted him like, ‘Hey bro, every little thing good?'” Golesh stated. “He would reply, ‘Every part is nice.’ OK. Our first recreation, he wasn’t there. So, I texted him. ‘Amir, you good?’ He texted me again. ‘Man, I’m nice.'”

His gamers acquired related messages. At the same time as they knew he was struggling, Abdur-Rahim continued to educate and nudge them within the last weeks of his life, telling them what they wanted to work on and the drive required to construct on their earlier season and earn an NCAA event bid.

“He was so vigorous nonetheless, regardless that he was coping with all of that, and he was nonetheless joking round,” Knox stated. “We had follow and he would sit on the sideline and he was nonetheless teaching us.”

His loss of life despatched shock waves via South Florida and faculty basketball which are nonetheless rippling.

The Bulls’ scholar part was renamed the “Amir Abdur-Rahim Pupil Part.” The varsity inducted him into its Corridor of Fame. And the American Convention made him honorary Coach of the 12 months — an award he gained in 2024 — final season, too.

His religion, his love for others, his concern for his gamers, his spouse stated, had been all the time the driving forces in his life and the explanations so many individuals have reached out since he handed.

“I need individuals to recollect his legacy having to do with — it’s simply one thing I inform the youngsters on a regular basis — integrity,” she stated. “And it sounds so cliché, but additionally simply attempting to be a very good individual and attempting to assist different individuals.”

The tales Arianne and Shareef Abdur-Rahim have heard since shedding him have saved his reminiscence alive. And like in China, they usually come from shocking locations.

At Abdur-Rahim’s South Florida Corridor of Fame ceremony, Shareef thanked everybody who attended. Within the nook of the constructing, he observed three younger males who didn’t appear to know anybody else within the room — former South Florida gamers who had by no means performed for his brother, however acquired that relationship-building that Abdur-Rahim might be remembered for.

“All people desires a protracted life,” Shareef Abdur-Rahim stated. “You need longevity, however to have the ability to have an effect is the objective. He had an affect, an affect on individuals, how he made individuals really feel. You might have folks that dwell 100 years and aren’t in a position to try this.”

At numerous factors in the course of the fantasy soccer season, accidents, bye weeks and breaking information may cause you to wish reinforcements on your fantasy lineup. Each Friday all through the 2025 NFL season, Matt Bowen will provide up some late-week pickup choices to assist fill these holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.

Due to that, this column will focus totally on gamers rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.

With six groups on a bye this week, the choices are fairly slim, however there are sufficient high quality gamers accessible to drop into deep-league lineups. We’ll begin at quarterback, with two longtime veterans coming off big-time video games. I’m additionally eyeing a pair tight ends who’re offering double-digit fantasy manufacturing, and we’ll hit on a number of operating backs and large receivers, too. As at all times, I’ll provide you with a protection to stream this week, and this one can strain the quarterback.

Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (26.3% rostered; vs. Jets)

Flacco has tried no less than 45 passes in every of his two begins, with 18 or extra fantasy factors in each. Whereas a destructive sport script did play a job, we all know it is a heavy passing offense in Cincy. Plus, Flacco performs with an aggressive throwing mentality, and he has upper-level go catchers in Ja’Marr Chase (23 targets in Week 7) and Tee Higgins. Certain, Flacco tends to get unfastened with the ball at instances, the decision-making can decline, too. However with a Sunday matchup in opposition to a winless Jets group, you might be betting on Flacco to remain scorching in Week 8.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (34.1% rostered; vs. Packers)

From a participant’s perspective, matching up in opposition to your former group does matter. And it goes up a notch if that group moved on from you. Simply one thing to consider right here as Rodgers will get the Packers on Sunday evening. However let’s not overlook that Rodgers was driving the ball — with velocity and site — within the Week 7 sport in opposition to the Bengals. Rodgers completed with 4 landing passes in that one, posting a complete of twenty-two.56 factors. He now has a number of landing throws in three of his previous 4 video games and I feel he’s trending up primarily based on the tape. He suits right here as a deeper-league possibility for Week 8.

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (23.5% rostered; vs. 49ers)

Schultz was restricted in apply earlier this week (again/shoulder), so let’s monitor the studies. Nonetheless, with the harm scenario within the Texans’ large receiver room, Schultz is a great pickup for Sunday’s matchup with the 49ers — if he can go. Within the Monday evening loss to the Seahawks, with Nico Collins (concussion) exiting early and Christian Kirk (hamstring) down for the sport, Schultz had season-highs in receptions (9), targets (10), receiving yards (98) and factors (18.8). That gave Schultz back-to-back video games with double-digit factors, plus he has no less than 5 receptions in 4 straight. Schultz has the seam-stretching potential to work the 49ers’ zone coverages, and we all know he can discover open turf beneath as a goal for C.J. Stroud.

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (39.6% rostered; at Saints)

I’m stunned Otton’s roster proportion isn’t larger after three straight video games with 10 or extra factors. And identical to the Texans, there are a number of accidents on the large receiver spot in Tampa. Otton caught seven of 9 targets for 65 yards (13.3 factors) within the Monday evening loss to Detroit, and he has no less than 4 receptions and 50 yards in his previous three video games. He’s a dependable goal for quarterback Baker Mayfield, with a stable matchup in opposition to a Saints protection that ranks in the course of the street in opposition to opposing tight ends.

Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (31.5% rostered; at Ravens)

Monangai has the traits to enrich the operating model of D’Andre Swift in Chicago, and his utilization is climbing. Within the Week 7 win over the Saints, Monangai had season highs in touches (15), whole yards (94) and factors (17.4), plus he scored his first landing as a professional. He’s an indignant runner, with the contact steadiness and foot quickness to function in tight quarters between the tackles. And the Bears — since popping out of the bye in Week 6 — are operating the soccer with way more effectivity. The rookie from Rutgers has some upside this Sunday versus a Ravens protection that has allowed 29.1 PPG to opposing operating backs, the second most within the league.

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (32.8% rostered; at Colts)

In deeper codecs, managers can check out Spears on this week’s assembly with the Colts on account of his receiving numbers. He has caught no less than three passes in back-to-back video games, with 4 targets in every, and he can function beneath as an outlet for quarterback Cam Ward. Sure, I’d prefer to see Spears get extra carries (5 in every of his previous two video games), however you’ll be able to plan for 8-10 touches within the lineup. And with six groups on a bye this week, you may need to take a flier on him.

Tez Johnson (30.8% rostered) and Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16.4% rostered; at Saints)

Mike Evans (collarbone) is probably going accomplished for the season and Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) is uncertain for Sunday’s sport. So, we’ve two choices for potential replacements in Tampa, relying on what you want. Johnson offers managers the next ceiling. He has big-play juice, plus he’s slippery after the catch. Johnson caught 4 of 9 targets for 58 yards and a landing (15.8 factors) within the Week 7 matchup with Detroit, his second straight sport with a scoring seize. Shepard, in the meantime, has the next ground. He netted solely 25 yards receiving in opposition to Detroit, however he caught all seven of his targets, and he has two video games with double-digit factors this season. Me? I at all times take the higher-ceiling possibility (Johnson), however Shepard has PPR worth this Sunday, too.

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (31.9% rostered; vs. Payments)

Legette had profession highs in final week’s victory over the Jets, catching 9 of 11 targets for 92 yards and a landing (24.2 factors). And whereas backup quarterback Andy Dalton will begin this week for an injured Bryce Younger (ankle), Legette nonetheless has upside because the Panthers’ No. 2 versus a zone-heavy Payments protection. Scheme open the home windows and script the shot performs for Dalton.

Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (2.2% rostered; at Colts)

With Calvin Ridley coping with a hamstring harm, large receiver Elic Ayomanor (22.3% rostered) will also be picked up this week because of the constructive matchup in opposition to the Colts. However I’ll go along with Dike first due to the big-play potential he brings to the sphere. He’s a burner, with 4.34 velocity, and we noticed that on his 38-yard landing catch final week in opposition to the Patriots. He can run away from protection on deep overs and crossers. Dike caught all 4 of his targets for 70 yards, ending with a career-best 16.9 factors. Take the upside right here with Dike — if Ridley is out.

Buffalo Payments (41.9% rostered; at Panthers)

The Payments’ protection hasn’t taken the ball away at a excessive charge this season (eight whole turnovers compelled). I’d prefer to see the next quantity there. However this unit has a strain charge of 38.9% (second highest within the league), and so they have no less than two sacks in 5 of six video games performed. With the quantity of groups on a bye this week, taking a protection that faces a backup quarterback (Dalton) is healthier than anticipated.

Manchester United are contemplating a January transfer for Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, whereas AFC Bournemouth have set a switch price for Chelsea and Liverpool tagret Antoine Semenyo. Be part of us for the newest switch information and rumors from across the globe.

Transfers residence web page | Males’s grades | Girls’s grades

– Lionel Messi extends Inter Miami contract via 2028
– Rashford reveals earlier Barça talks over Man United exit
– Arsenal prodigy Dowman, 15, agrees scholarship deal – sources

– Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher is on Manchester United shortlist of midfielders to signal within the January switch window, in accordance with talkSPORT. The 25-year-old has made greater than 60 appearances for the LaLiga membership since becoming a member of them final yr. since signing from Chelsea in 2024 for 40 million. Nonetheless, whereas the Previous Trafford hierarchy would like to safe a mortgage deal, talkSPORT experiences that Atlético wish to transfer him on completely for a price much like the 40 million they paid Chelsea for him. In the meantime, Diario AS that Gallagher is being “extra questioned on a regular basis” at Atlético. The newspaper says the England midfielder “isn’t in his greatest second” after the crew’s efficiency dropped when Gallagher got here off the bench within the 4-0 loss at Arsenal in midweek.

– A suggestion price in extra of £75m will likely be required to signal Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, experiences the Every day Mail. Curiosity is constant to develop within the 25-year-old, with Chelsea believed to be eager on a transfer, whereas Liverpool in addition to golf equipment in Europe’s prime leagues would even be able to compete to signal him. The Cherries are anticipated to withstand presents for Semenyo in January as they appear to show down all approaches earlier than subsequent summer time, following a formidable season which has seen him straight contribute to 9 targets in eight Premier League matches.

– Bayern Munich have made Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi and Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck the highest choices of their seek for a center-back, Florian Plettenberg experiences. The Bundesliga champions are “totally concerned within the race” for Guéhi, 25, with plans to problem Actual Madrid and Liverpool for his signature. They may additionally look to 25-year-old Schlotterbeck as a second reinforcement if each Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-Jae go away the Allianz Area, with Upamecano but to comply with phrases on a brand new contract. In the meantime, Bild experiences that AC Milan and Internazionale are eager on Bayern defender Kim. Each golf equipment are a possible January transfer for the 28-year-old South Korea worldwide, who has made only one begin within the Bundesliga thus far this season.

– Everton are eager on reuniting with Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison, in accordance with TEAMtalk. The Toffees are believed to be prioritising a transfer to bolster their ahead line within the subsequent switch window, with hopes of touchdown an skilled Premier League ahead. Richarlison has scored three targets in eight league video games thus far this season, however it’s reported that Spurs can be open to letting the 28-year-old go away in 2026, with perception that each Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani can be forward of him within the pecking order.

– Golf equipment in MLS are attentive to the state of affairs of RB Leipzig ahead Timo Werner, in accordance with Florian Plettenberg. Werner, 29, has performed only one minute thus far this season when approaching instead within the 1-0 league win over Wolfsburg in September, and it seems as if the Bundesliga will look to half methods with him in January. Philipp Hinze experiences that Werner is open to calling time on his spell in Germany, with Leipzig keen to simply accept a proposal price lower than 1m.

ESPN’s Alex Kirkland seems at what the longer term would possibly maintain for Conor Gallagher at Atlético Madrid:

– AC Milan just lately made an enquiry relating to Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski (Diario Sport)

– Manchester United ahead Joshua Zirkzee plans to ask the membership to let him go away in January. He has beforehand been linked with West Ham, in addition to golf equipment within the Serie A. (Every day Mirror)

– An settlement has been reached between Arsenal and midfielder Max Dowman over scholarship phrases. (The Athletic)

– Paris Saint-Germain center-back Willian Pacho has agreed phrases relating to a brand new contract on the Parc des Princes till the summer time of 2030. (Nicolò Schira)

– Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade stays open to a swap to Bayern Munich. (Bild)

– Two golf equipment within the Serie A have been supplied the chance to signal Actual Madrid Endrick on mortgage. (Nicolò Schira)

– Borussia Dortmund are “optimistic” that ahead Karim Adeyemi will signal a brand new contract, with talks at the moment ongoing. (Florian Plettenberg)

– LAFC, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Montreal are set to problem Chelsea within the race for Randers FC ahead Mohamed Toure. (TEAMtalk)

– Golf equipment in Europe might look to tempt Sao Paulo ahead Lucca away in January. A launch clause in his contract permits golf equipment from exterior of Brazil to signal him for 80m. (Ekrem Konur)

– Al-Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly is about to increase his stick with the membership till the summer time of 2027. (NIcolo Schira)

SAN FRANCISCO — Aaron Gordon’s tenth and last made 3 on Thursday night time at Chase Middle felt like the ultimate dagger. It got here with 26 seconds left in regulation, placing the visiting Denver Nuggets up by three and punctuating a profession night time for the Twelfth-year ahead.

However the largest perimeter fireworks present in Gordon’s life occurred to come back in opposition to the best shooter of all time.

5 seconds later, out of a timeout, Stephen Curry stepped right into a semi-contested 34-footer off a display screen and buried it to tie the rating. 5 minutes later, after Curry opened extra time with one other made 3 and closed it with two free throws, the Golden State Warriors completed a 137-131 win to overshadow Gordon’s 50-point masterpiece.

“The larger the second, the extra he rises,” Draymond Inexperienced mentioned of Curry. “He’s this quiet man … however he loves the present. Anytime there’s a present to be placed on, he’s going to do it.”

Gordon’s stat line was jaw-dropping: 50 factors on 17-of-21 capturing and 10-of-11 from 3. He made eight straight 3s to open the sport, one shy of an NBA report.

“Ridiculous,” Curry mentioned. “No matter he did this summer time, it labored.”

Two seasons in the past, Gordon made solely 29% of his 1.9 tried 3s per recreation. Final season, he made a major leap, hitting 43.6% of his 3.4 per recreation.

However Thursday night time’s efficiency was altogether completely different. Gordon had by no means made greater than seven 3s in a recreation. In opposition to the Warriors, he grew to become solely the seventeenth participant in historical past to make 10 3s in a shedding effort. That has occurred to Curry seven instances and no different participant greater than as soon as.

This time, Curry was the one delivering disappointment to quell a particular night time. Curry’s 42 factors — on 14-of-25 capturing and 6 3s — had been the second most he has scored in his 17 house openers. The Warriors struggled when he was off the ground in opposition to the Nuggets however gained his minutes by 15 factors.

“The shot he made to tie it towards the top [of regulation], it’s a shot that solely he could make,” Nuggets coach David Adelman mentioned.

The Warriors’ largest strategic alternative of the night time got here late within the fourth quarter. Throughout a timeout huddle, assistant coaches Terry Stotts and Chris DeMarco prompt to go coach Steve Kerr that he deploy a much bigger lineup of Curry, Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, Inexperienced and the newly acquired Al Horford.

It’s a five-man, jumbo-sized grouping (by Warriors’ requirements) that Kerr mentioned he hadn’t even thought of utilizing throughout coaching camp. They’d by no means even practiced collectively.

“The place we going to attain?” Kerr mentioned. “That was my largest concern. Might we execute [offensively]? However [Stotts and DeMarco] jogged my memory we’ve got Steph and Jimmy, and so they’ll discover a option to rating.”

Using a bigger lineup for the usually smaller Warriors allowed them to match up higher defensively, particularly with Horford’s capability to change on the heart place and Kuminga’s continued development as a two-way wing to open his fifth season.

“It was actually enjoyable to observe a bunch that’s by no means performed collectively shut a recreation in opposition to the most effective groups within the league,” Kerr mentioned.

That five-man group erased a seven-point Denver lead within the last 3:50 of regulation and beat the Nuggets by six in extra time.

“I did [previously] suppose that was a risk to be a closing lineup,” Inexperienced mentioned. “Or a beginning lineup. Or a center of the sport lineup.”

The win moved the Warriors to 2-0, gathering some early momentum as they attempt to set up themselves as a professional convention contender within the Denver tier. The Nuggets (0-1) journey house to face the Suns on Saturday night time.

LOS ANGELES — The Minnesota Vikings look like clearing the best way for J.J. McCarthy to return as their beginning quarterback subsequent week after a six-week restoration from a excessive proper ankle sprain.

McCarthy has served because the Vikings’ emergency third quarterback for 2 consecutive video games, together with Thursday night time’s 37-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Afterward, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell reaffirmed his dedication to getting McCarthy again on the sector as quickly as attainable.

“If J.J. is wholesome, J.J. will play,” O’Connell stated. “That’s been the case for the reason that damage. That’s all the time been form of my mindset, and I imagine we’re proper — hopefully — across the nook from seeing him be wholesome, have every week of preparation and go compete.”

McCarthy began the Vikings’ first two video games of the season however reported vital soreness in his proper ankle the morning after a 22-6 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 14. O’Connell initially labeled McCarthy’s standing as “week-to-week,” and McCarthy later stated he acquired a timetable of as much as six weeks for a full restoration. The Vikings put him by a exercise Tuesday at their apply facility to see if enjoying towards the Chargers was an possibility, however O’Connell stated: “J.J. and the medical employees didn’t fairly really feel like he was there but.”

With a “mini-bye” this weekend, after which an additional apply scheduled for Monday, the Vikings will give McCarthy a full runway to transition again to the beginning position in time for his or her Nov. 2 sport on the Detroit Lions.

Backup Carson Wentz has began 5 video games in McCarthy’s place, compiling a 2-3 file, however has been enjoying with a big left shoulder damage that had him in apparent misery Thursday night time. He stated it “fairly presumably” was essentially the most ache he has been in throughout a soccer sport, and attributed it largely to his shortened restoration time due to a Thursday night time sport.

The Vikings’ medical employees fitted him with a shoulder harness and a number of other different protecting wraps, which Wentz stated he had by no means worn “something remotely near” with the intention to play. He completed 15-of-27 for 144 yards with 1 landing and 1 interception. He took 5 sacks and was hit eight occasions. After taking successful on a fourth-down incompletion within the fourth quarter, Wentz threw his helmet on the bench — for which he later apologized to the staff’s tools employees — and coated his face with a towel.

“The ache is ache,” Wentz stated. “I felt like I may nonetheless assist this staff and discover a method to go down and rating and all that stuff. So we knew that coming into the sport, that it was going to be a part of it. And once more, that’s the powerful a part of Thursday night time video games. [You] simply don’t fairly get the possibility to get better, however that’s no excuse by any means.”

O’Connell stated he was in fixed dialog with Wentz and the staff’s medical employees however by no means thought he wanted to interchange him till the sport was out of attain. With McCarthy designated the emergency quarterback, the primary obtainable possibility by rule would have been undrafted rookie Max Brosmer.

Brosmer didn’t enter the sport till 1 minute, 56 seconds remained.

“Carson’s a veteran participant,” O’Connell stated, “and he understands a few of our circumstances tonight. I believe it’s very tough to ask a rookie to go in there for his first efficiency and need to be weathering it a bit bit for the group.”