‘Not again’: Bent rim delays Nuggets for 2nd time‘Not again’: Bent rim delays Nuggets for 2nd time
The Nuggets game against the Cavaliers on Friday was delayed because of a crooked rim, the second time that’s happened to Denver this week.
Day: January 7, 2023
Introspective Irving lifts Nets late despite off nightIntrospective Irving lifts Nets late despite off night
Kyrie Irving helped lift the Nets despite a cold shooting night, draining a dagger 3 to put away the Pelicans on Friday night.
Crooked rim redux: Basket delays Nuggets againCrooked rim redux: Basket delays Nuggets again
The Nuggets game against the Cavaliers on Friday was delayed because of a crooked rim, the second time that’s happened to Denver this week.
Collin Morikawa builds two-shot lead at Sentry Tournament of ChampionsCollin Morikawa builds two-shot lead at Sentry Tournament of Champions
KAPALUA, Hawaii — Winless last year for the first time in his young career, Collin Morikawa is playing as though he wants to put that behind him quickly. Morikawa was dialed in with his irons early and took advantage of some of the scoring holes late in his second round Friday for a 7-under 66 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He was at 16-under 130 and without a bogey over two rounds on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. Masters champion Scottie Scheffler had a good laugh on the first tee with U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and then ran off nine birdies in his round of 66, leaving him two shots behind along with Kapalua newcomer J.J. Spaun (68). Scheffler can return to No. 1 in the world this week with a two-way tie for third at better, with Rory McIlroy choosing to sit out this week. Jordan Spieth had two eagles — one a 7-iron that came inches away from an albatross on the par-5 fifth hole — and had a 66. He was three shots behind. Morikawa ordinarily wouldn’t be at Kapalua for the winners-only start to the year. But in this new year of trying to bring together the top players more often, the PGA TOUR expanded the field from exclusively winners in 2022 to include those who reached the FedExCup finale at East Lake. Morikawa shared the 18-hole lead by running off six straight birdies to start the back nine. On a gorgeous Friday afternoon on Maui with a little more wind, he did most of his damage early. It started with a 20-foot birdie putt on the opening hole, followed by short irons to 3 feet and 8 feet. From there, everyone else did well to keep pace. Scheffler was introduced on the first tee with a mention of all four of his wins last year, from the Waste Management Phoenix Open to the Masters. Next up was Fitzpatrick, who beat Scheffler by one shot at Brookline. He was introduced as the U.S. Open champion. “You don’t have that one,” Fitzpatrick said as they laughed. Scoring remained low enough that only two players were over par — Billy Horschel (71) and Chad Ramey (76) were 2 over. Morikawa had a chance to tie the 36-hole scoring record that Cameron Smith set last year at 17-under 129. He was just off the front of the 18th green when he muffed his chip and saw it run out to only 30 feet, and his long birdie putt banged off the lip. No matter. He was still in the lead, his first time with at least a share of the 36-hole lead since the U.S. Open last summer. Missing from Kapalua is Xander Schauffele, the No. 6 player in the world who withdraw after eight holes because of an ailing back. Schauffele said he was headed home to Las Vegas to figure out what’s going on.
Knicks top Raptors; first win in Canada since ’15Knicks top Raptors; first win in Canada since ’15
Julius Randle’s 32 points led the New York Knicks to a 112-108 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, the Knicks’ first win in Canada since 2015.
Dodgers cut ties with embattled pitcher BauerDodgers cut ties with embattled pitcher Bauer
The Dodgers cut ties with Trevor Bauer two weeks after the pitcher was reinstated from his suspension, which followed allegations of sexual assault.
After release from Dodgers, what’s next for Trevor Bauer?After release from Dodgers, what’s next for Trevor Bauer?
Bauer can join another team for just the major league minimum, and he’s available to pitch on Opening Day. But the question is, will any team sign him?
Xander Schauffele withdraws from Sentry TOCXander Schauffele withdraws from Sentry TOC
KAPALUA, Maui – World No. 6 Xander Schauffele withdrew from the Sentry Tournament of Champions after playing eight holes of his second round Friday at Kapalua. A three-time winner last season, Schauffele, 29, has been fighting back pain for the first time in his career and was 1 over for his second round, 2 under for the tournament, when he withdrew. “I got everyone working on it,” Schauffele, a seven-time PGA TOUR winner, said after signing for a 3-under 70 in the opening round. “Just trying to figure out what it is.” But all the work did not allow him to continue. The loss of Schauffele brings the total number of players in this elite, no-cut event down to 38, meaning no one else will have to play as a single over the weekend. Max Homa was paired with Schauffele for the second round and was left to take on the back nine on his own. Schauffele is coming off a banner season in which he won three times, including back-to-back starts at the Travelers Championship and Genesis Scottish Open, and scored the clinching point for the U.S. Presidents Cup Team. He said he began experiencing back pain while finishing fourth at the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December. His WD at the Sentry comes after he had to skip the Wednesday pro-am. “Speed’s down,” he said after the first round. “Kind of just swinging, a little powderpuffing it out there on a few holes. … Just chipping it around.”