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Wendell Carter’s return fuels Magic’s overtime win over Heat

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

The Orlando Magic are hoping the return of their starting big man will lead to better defensive performances.Saturday’s 126-114 overtime win over the Miami Heat at Amway Center was a step in the right direction.Wendell Carter Jr. was back in the lineup after missing the previous three games — losses to the Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz — because of hip pain.“He does so many little things,” coach Jamahl Mosley said pregame. “Like his ability to when to roll and where to roll in pick-and-rolls. It’s why he and Franz [Wagner] have such a great connection in the pick-and-roll.“Defensively, that early talk, that early help with the guards; helping them navigate through screens and being in the right position if something breaks down — those are the things that you don’t really pick up on because he’s covering it so fast.”The Magic’s defensive efficiency tanked without Carter in the previ...

NBA official explains why Celtics’ Marcus Smart was ejected after altercation with Hawks’ Trae Young

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

The Celtics ran into some unneeded adversity late in their win over the Hawks on Saturday night.With 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Celtics led by eight when Marcus Smart was ejected after an altercation with Trae Young. Smart was trailing behind Young when the Hawks star rose up for a shot and inadvertently kicked the Celtics guard in the groin. Smart took issue with Young and charged at him. The two went face to face before they both fell to the floor, with Smart seemingly losing his balance and taking Young with him. Young got up and pointed at Smart as the skirmish continued.After a lengthy review, Smart and Young were assessed double technical fouls, but Smart was ejected and Young stayed in the game. Young made both technical free throws to cut the Celtics’ lead to six, but Boston ultimately prevailed with a 134-125 victory.Marcus Smart was ejected after getting into it with Trae Young (via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/9lR5ZsG7yj— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) Marc...

Sea lion that ingested over 100 rocks returns to ocean

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- SeaWorld San Diego named a young male sea lion they rescued earlier this year "Rocky" for a reason.In early January, the sea lion pup was rescued at La Jolla Cove after ingesting over 100 rocks and suffering from a potentially lethal bacterial disease, Tracy Spahr with SeaWorld San Diego told FOX 5.During the rescue, the sea lion pup was found isolated and lethargic, prompting crews to send him to the SeaWorld San Diego Rescue Center and Hospital for examination, officials said.The veterinary team confirmed the sea lion tested positive for leptospirosis, a potentially lethal zoonotic disease that can be found worldwide in soil and water. Spahr says it was the first positive case for the center in about eight years. Slice of heaven: San Diego-area shop has best pie in CA, according to Yelp Another shocking find took place during the sea lion's rehabilitation when the medical team discovered through x-rays the sea lion pup had ingested over 100 rocks that needed to be r...

Scientists: Hawaii’s Kilauea not erupting, reversing warning

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s second-largest volcano is not erupting, scientists said in an update to a previous warning.The U.S. Geological Survey said in a statement late Saturday that seismic activity beneath the summit of Kilauea “has returned to background levels, ground deformation has stabilized, and no lava has been observed at the surface.”The statement cautioned “another intrusion or resumption may occur in the near future with little or no warning.”The agency previously said a shallow earthquake storm signaled “resumption of eruptive activity at Kilauea summit is likely imminent.” Scientists said Tuesday that lava had stopped flowing after 61 days of volcanic activity. Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanos, erupted from September 2021 to last December. A 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed more than 700 residences.For about two weeks last December, Hawaii’s biggest volcano, Mauna Loa, also was erupting on Hawaii’s Big Island.The dual eruptions of...

Blue Jays introduce $20 general admission tickets for outfield areas at Rogers Centre

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

The Toronto Blue Jays are introducing new $20 general admission tickets for outfield areas of Rogers Centre.Toronto’s downtown ballpark has undergone major renovations this off-season, including the creation of five new “neighbourhoods” within the stadium.#BlueJays announce they'll be selling a $20 general admission ticket this season to all home games. Fans who buy the ticket won't have an assigned seat, but can watch the game (and/or muck a few drinks) in the following areas: pic.twitter.com/63S2v4HMuI— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 11, 2023Blue Jays single game tickets provide fans with a reserved bowl seat but the new $20 outfield district tickets will give them access to the new outfield areas.Those new sections include Park Social, a space on the 500 level overlooking left field.At the same level but above right field is the Corona Rooftop Patio. Directly below that is The Catch, a bar space perched above the visitors’ bullpen, w...

Argentina’s initial fervor for Pope Francis has faded

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — When Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina became Pope Francis, much of his home country celebrated as if it had just won a soccer World Cup championship. A decade later, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church generates divided opinions and much less fervor.Francis, who still likes to listen to tango, left Argentina in February 2013 to attend the conclave that elected him as the successor to Benedict XVI on March 13. He never returned. “It’s clear, there are people who are angry at him,” said Argentine journalist Sergio Rubin, who recently co-wrote a book about Francis, “El Pastor,” with Francesca Ambrogetti. It includes interviews with the pope. Rubin and some other analysts agree that the pope is keeping his home country at arm’s length to avoid being drawn into the political polarization that has divided Argentines over the past two decades.“Ninety percent of the reason he doesn’t come is because of the divide,” said Rubin, who writes for Arg...

Chilly weekend ahead after St. Patty's parade in Chicago, snow ahead

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

Saturday's forecast is looking cloudy and chilly with winds up to 10-15 mph. The high is near 40 but a bit cooler by the lake ahead of the St. Patrick's Day parade. Developing snow is expected Saturday night with a low of 32. Sunday: Steady snow tapers into snow showers. Chance of PM rain/snow showers. SSW 5-10 mph. High: 37 Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Extended outlook calls for a return to chillier weather for the work week. Mostly cloudy on Monday with a high of 34 is about ten degrees below normal. The chill in the mid 30s continues on Tuesday with a bit more sunshine. Mostly sunny on Wednesday and highs getting back towards the normal of mid 40s. Thursday looks like the mildest day of the week with highs near 50 and a chance of rain. St. Patrick's Day next Friday looks like a rain/snow mix is possible and high in the lower 40s. Full forecast details at the WGN Weather Center

Austin FC spoils Real Salt Lake's home opener with 2-1 victory

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

SANDY, Utah (KXAN) — Austin FC rebounded from Tuesday's 3-0 CONCACAF Champions League defeat with a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer action Saturday at America First Field.Austin scored twice in the first half on beautiful long-range strikes by Jon Gallagher and Owen Wolff, even though RSL outshot Verde and Black 16-10 and held 57% of the possession. It was only the second time in RSL's history they've been beaten in their home opener. Disaster in the DR: Austin FC falls 3-0 in 1st leg of CONCACAF Champions League opening round Gallagher got Austin on the board in the ninth minute with a missile off his left foot from outside the penalty area. Gallagher's shot beat RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath to the top-right corner of the goal, clipping the bottom of the crossbar before clearing the line. It was Gallagher's second goal of the season.Real Salt Lake tied it up in the 22nd minute with a goal by Justen Glad, but Austin FC answered with another laser into the net from...

Class AA boys hockey: Minnetonka holds off Edina for second state title

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

Getting offensive opportunities has not been a problem this season for unselfish and speedy Minnetonka.They didn’t seem mind a tighter game Saturday.With chances at a premium, the Skippers took advantage on two of the few they had to beat Edina 2-1 and win the Class AA boys hockey title.It was just enough to earn the school’s second title — the other was 2018 — for “Skipper Nation,” as the blue-shirted student section chanted.“It feels bleepin’ awesome. I’ll let you fill in the blanks,” said a smiling Kaizer Nelson, who finished with 22 saves.Ashton Schultz scored midway through the third period, and the Skippers survived a frantic final minute when Edina was inches away from forcing overtime.Hornets winger Matt Vander Vort’s rebound attempt with 31 seconds left clanked off the right post and dribbled parallel across the goal line and just past the left post.On the game-winner, Schultz took a drop pass at the left point, made a quick stop in the left circle getting a defenseman to f...

Men’s hockey: Gophers storm into Big Ten title game, rallying past Spartans after long layoff

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:44:06 GMT

While their opponents were facing a “win or go home” scenario with their season on the line, the Minnesota Gophers decided “win and stay home” was a better idea.Trailing early after a two-week layoff, the Gophers got their legs and their offense cranking to blast past Michigan State 5-1 in the semifinal round of the Big Ten tournament, and return to the conference title game.The Gophers, who won the regular-season title, will face Michigan for the Big Ten tournament crown on Saturday, March 18 at 7 p.m.As the snow fell outside, the Spartans took an early lead only to see Minnesota (26-8-1) storm back on goals by Jaxon Nelson, John Mittelstad, Aaron Huglen and a pair by Logan Cooley, coupled with a 29-save night from goaltender Justen Close.They will play for the conference tournament title for the third consecutive year, having beaten Wisconsin in 2021. Next week’s title game will be a rematch of the 2022 contest, won by Michigan.Michigan State (18-18-2) got an early goal from Jerem...