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Raptors inch closer to securing spot in play-in tournament

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 36 points, Fred VanVleet added 20 points and a career-high 20 assists and the Toronto Raptors beat the undermanned Charlotte Hornets 128-108 on Sunday to inch closer to securing a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.O.G. Anunoby added 23 points for the Raptors, who’ll clinch a spot if the Brooklyn Nets beat the Utah Jazz later Sunday.The Raptors (39-39) entered the day tied with the Atlanta Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference and looking to move up in the standings to secure a better chance of advancing out of the play-in tournament. The team finishing eighth needs just one victory; the team finishing ninth would need two to reach the postseason as the No. 8 seed.“It’s really important for us” to get to the 8 seed, VanVleet said. “For the last couple of weeks it has been really simple for us — we’re in a win-every-game mode. There’s not much to think about. You have to go out and perform and play your be...

Newgarden holds off O’Ward for back-to-back wins at Texas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward swapped the lead over and over, each driver refusing to give an inch at Texas Motor Speedway.With two laps to go to reach victory lane, they even touched wheels.“We’re going wheel to wheel like 226 miles an hour or something,” O’Ward said. “It’s pretty insane, I have to say.”Their thrilling race came to an abrupt end when Romain Grosjean crashed with one lap remaining, moments after Newgarden had surged ahead of O’Ward. Newgarden crossed the finish line under caution for a second consecutive victory at Texas, the third of his career.“We had a great car. I don’t know what else to say other than our car was fast,” Newgarden said while wearing Texas’ traditional celebratory cowboy hat presented to the winner. “I don’t know if it fits right. I apologize to any cowboys that would make fun of my fit.”Newgarden and O’Ward were so dominant Sunday — they combined to lead 214 of the 250 laps — that at...

Vosler, Friedl homer to support Ashcraft in Reds’ victory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Graham Ashcraft pitched seven solid innings, Jason Vosler and TJ Friedl hit solo home runs and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Saturday.Ashcraft (1-0) overcame Brian Reynolds’ home run to last seven innings, allowing four hits and one run with a walk and six strikeouts.The right-hander had the longest outing by a Reds starter in the young season as Cincinnati picked up a second straight victory after losing on Opening Day. Hunter Greene lasted 3-1/3 innings in the opener, and Nick Lodolo went five on Saturday.Tyler Stephenson also drove in a run and Vosler, Friedl and Jonathan India each had two hits for the Reds.Alex Young and Derek Law got past two leadoff hits to keep it 3-1 in the eighth. Alexis Diaz pitched the ninth for his first save.Vince Velasquez (0-1), making his Pirates debut after signing in December as a free agent, lasted 4-2/3 innings, giving up five hits and three runs with one walk and three strikeouts.Vosler, who made the R...

Lafrenière and Kakko score, Rangers beat Capitals 5-2

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The kids are proving to be more than all right at just the right time for the New York Rangers. Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko scored goals just over two minutes apart, jumpstarting a 5-2 victory at the Washington Capitals on Sunday to snap a two-game skid. With the playoffs starting in a couple of weeks, the so-called “Kid Line” is heating up and again could be a difference maker on a long run this spring.“They really led the way again,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “They’re playing great and they’re playing with a lot of confidence, so that’s a good sign for us.”The trio of 21-year-old Lafrenière, 22-year-old Kakko and 23-year-old Filip Chytil produced offense for the third time in four games. Chytil, who recently signed a $17.5 million, four-year extension, assisted on Lafrenière’s goal to pick up his fifth point in five games.“You can tell they’re on the same page,” said Mika Zibanejad, who scored on the power play in the third period. “They’...

ANÁLISIS | Por qué Trump sigue siendo el favorito para la nominación republicana, a pesar de su acusación

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

(CNN) — Donald Trump es el primer expresidente en ser acusado. Dado el movimiento de un jurado investigador de Nueva York y los otros casos criminales de alto perfil que involucran a Trump, podrías pensar que su trayectoria política está en peligro.Pero muchos funcionarios republicanos parecen dudar en atacar al expresidente (en su lugar, atacaron al fiscal de distrito de Manhattan, Alvin Bragg, quien presentó los cargos), y las cuotas de apuestas electorales aún favorecen a Trump para la nominación republicana en 2024.Entonces, ¿qué ocurre? Hay una situación obviamente sin precedentes, y la realidad política puede cambiar después de la acusación.Aun así, es probable que los republicanos y los apostadores reaccionen a tres hechos:La ventaja en las encuestas de Trump en las primarias republicanas de 2024 aumentó durante el último mes a medida que se avecinaba una acusación.La mayoría de los republicanos piensan que todas las diferentes investigaciones sobre Trump tienen motivac...

Bulgarian election too close to call after fifth vote in two years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

No clear winner emerged in Bulgaria’s election on Sunday night, much to the dismay of voters who have been to the polls five times in the last two years.In the first release of results, it seemed that the pro-Western coalition, Continuing the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, had won a narrow majority with 26.4 percent, beating the center-right establishment party, GERB, which scored 25.5 percent. But in a recount, the former scored 24.8 percent while the latter secured the lead with 25.9 percent.Observers expect a clear winner to emerge by Monday after all international voters’ ballots are counted.The vote is seen by many as a make-or-break test for GERB, whose leader Boyko Borissov served as prime minister from 2009 to 2021, until nationwide protests erupted over his government’s role in the country’s rampant corruption.Continuing the Change, led by Harvard graduates Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, and Democratic Bulgaria, led by Hristo Ivanov, have campaigned on a promis...

Kodai Senga dazzles in MLB debut after rocky first inning

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

MIAMI — Kodai Senga was lights-out through 4 1/3 innings in his MLB debut if you don’t count the first one.A game that saw a rough first inning for the Mets ended with a win in the Japanese right-hander’s MLB debut Sunday at LoanDeport Park. Senga (1-0) settled in to look like the dominant pitcher he was in Japan, limiting the Marlins to only a single run over 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three in the Mets’ 5-1 win. He joined Matt Harvey and Collin McHugh as the only Mets pitchers to strike out eight or more hitters and only allow one or fewer runs in their MLB debut.Tommy Pham went 3-for-4 with his first home run of the season off Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers (0-1) and also had a double, two RBI, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.The Mets spotted Senga a 2-0 lead in the first, thanks to an RBI single by Jeff McNeil and an error by Rogers. Senga needed 36 pitches to get through the first inning and threw 28 before even recording an ...

Duvall, offense show out

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

What are we supposed to make of the Boston Red Sox?Is this going to be another long season? Are they about to validate all of their biggest critics? Could this team maybe, just maybe, be a little better than people think?It’s too early to draw any conclusions, but one thing we can safely say about this group is they’ve got some fight in them.After falling behind by six runs in each of their first two games, the Red Sox offense rallied and gave themselves a chance to win it in the ninth, falling short on Thursday before pulling off the dramatic walk-off win Saturday. Then on Sunday they grabbed the early lead and held the Orioles at bay, taking the 9-5 win to clinch the season’s opening series.It was a stark contrast from last year’s team, who, let’s face it, probably would have rolled over or otherwise found some way to lose.“From top to bottom we believe we’re going to put pressure on the opposition,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “There’s certain days it’s not going to work, but...

‘My fuel and my energy’: Kenley Jansen blown away by electric Fenway crowd

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

Kenley Jansen has spent his career pitching with powerhouse teams, but he knew the Red Sox would be different.The veteran closer debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010, and has pitched on postseason teams every year since 2013, when LA began a nine-year postseason appearance streak, including eight consecutive division titles, three pennants, and a World Series championship. He spent 2022 with the Atlanta Braves, who went 101-61 and won their division.Both franchises have passionate fan bases, but in Game 2 of the season, Jansen was already feeling the Boston difference.“It was awesome. Right when I got out there, it’s just, that level of energy,” the 35-year-old righty raved. “The excitement, you can hear the crowd.”Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth for his season debut. He gave up a hit and walk but struck out two, including the last batter he faced. Ending the frame on that exclamation point delighted the Fenway Faithful, who roared in approval....

Red Sox notebook: Tanner Houck delivers in series finale

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:21:48 GMT

Alex Cora wanted five innings out of Tanner Houck.Corey Kluber and Chris Sale failed to pitch four innings in their respective starts on Thursday and Saturday. For the sake of the bullpen, Cora needed Houck to go deep.“Today’s a big one for us,” the Red Sox manager said on Sunday morning. “Hopefully Tanner can give us five, that’d be great.”Houck, who debuted as a starter in 2020 and has been used in every conceivable role over three years in the majors, delivered. Over five innings in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, Houck gave up three earned runs on five hits, walked one, and struck out five. He threw 70 pitches, 45 for strikes.That final line belies how strong the 26-year-old righty was in his season debut. He’s the first Red Sox starter to have a scoreless first inning, the first to complete four innings, and the first to earn a win.“He was around the plate with good stuff,” Cora said. “Gave us a chance to win.”The offense and bullpen too...