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Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Who has the edge, five things to watch and predictions

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

As the Denver Nuggets enter the NBA playoffs for the fifth year in a row, a breakdown of their first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.Who has the edge?Guards: Back in the playoffs for the first time since the Bubble, Jamal Murray has a reputation to uphold. Whether anyone admits it or not, there’s a lot of pressure on Murray to ease the burden on Nikola Jokic in his first postseason since returning from his ACL tear. A nagging thumb injury could limit his effectiveness, though that excuse probably won’t hold water. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was brought to Denver for moments like these. Forget about what he can do offensively; if KCP can impede explosive Wolves guard Anthony Edwards, that would mitigate Minnesota’s most dangerous scorer. T-Wolves point guard Mike Conley, formerly of the Jazz, might know a thing or two about facing Denver in the playoffs. Edge: Denver, slightly.Wings: Considering that Minnesota’s best defensive option, Jaden McDaniels, punched a wall an...

Two teens arrested for murder of 25-year-old on train in Long Beach 

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

Two teenagers from Long Beach have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Los Angeles man that took place on Wednesday. The man, identified by authorities as 25-year-old Luis Fernando Polita of Los Angeles, was stabbed to death aboard a Metro Blue Line train around 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon in the 100 block of East 1st Street. Detectives were able to determine that Polita boarded the Metro Rail outside of Long Beach, and that the male suspects entered the train sometime after it crossed into Long Beach.  “During the assault, one of the suspects produced a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times which ultimately resulted in the victim’s death,” the Long Beach Police Department said in a statement. According to a release from the LBPD, Akili Collins, 18, and Melake Daniel, 19, were arrested on Friday near the 900 block of East Broadway in Long Beach for Polita’s murder.   Man arrested for Hollywood subway train stabbing “Detectives are still actively w...

Coachella Highlights, Part 1

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

Coachella Highlights, Part 1: God damn, Doechii is great. The likes of Pusha T ensured that there was no shortage of quality hip-hop at Coachella Friday, but Doechii was right at the top of that pile. The opening “Ignant” and the career-forging “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” were highlights of a set that could well see her rocket in 2023.The Murder Capital (Courtesy of Coachella/Pooneh Ghana)Irish band the Murder Capital have been produced by Flood, whose list of credits includes New Order, Gary Numan and U2. That makes sense — there’s a swagger mixed with dark energy to the band that was like a bast of weirdly fresh air in the Sonora Stage, out of the desert sun, early in the day.Talking of the Sonora Stage, the fact that it’s one of only two (along with Yuma) that is closed off to the elements and you have to enter through doors means that the lines to watch Magdalena Bay and TV Girl beat us. We were skipping between stages, and couldn’t a...

Giants pitcher and Kings fan Logan Webb shares his thoughts on series with Warriors

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Pitcher Logan Webb was torn earlier this week as he stood at his locker in the Giants clubhouse. He knew what he wanted to say, but he was slightly hesitant. As a Rocklin native, Webb is a long-time Kings fan and thrilled for his hometown team to finally put an end to what was the longest active postseason drought in the NBA. But knowing the challenge that lies ahead — a first-round series against the defending champs — and the fact he plays just down the street from the Warriors made him reluctant to give his thoughts on the series. “Warriors fans are going to hate me, though,” the newly extended right-hander said in a half-joking manner. “They’re all Giants fans, it’s a lose-lose for me.” Still, Webb, who was 11 the last time Sacramento made the playoffs, made his allegiance clear. “The Kings are where I’m from,” he said, “got to represent.”With the NorCal matchup tipping off Saturday with Game 1 in Sacram...

Erik Karlsson’s future in San Jose remains in question as another disappointing Sharks season ends

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

SAN JOSE – Erik Karlsson sees brighter days ahead for the San Jose Sharks organization but did not want to speculate about whether he’ll be with the team at the start of next season.Karlsson just completed the greatest individual season for a defenseman in Sharks history with 101 points, but the team finished in seventh place in the Pacific Division and 29th place in the NHL’s overall standings with a 22-44-16 record.Karlsson, 32, the presumptive front-runner for the Norris Trophy, played in all 82 games and finished with 74 even strength points, fourth most in the NHL among all skaters.But Karlsson has made no bones about the fact that he wants to be on a contending team, and the Sharks, who finished with just 60 points — their fewest in a full season since 1995-96 when they had 47 — appear to be years away from being a legitimate playoff or Stanley Cup contending team.Karlsson had yet to meet with Sharks general manager Mike Grier as of late Saturday morning, but the t...

Sudanese paramilitary group claims control of presidential palace as deadly fighting flares

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

Sudan’s paramilitary chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo claims to have seized most of Khartoum’s official sites after clashes erupted between his armed group and the country’s military on Saturday.“The Rapid Support Forces control more than 90 percent of strategic sites in Khartoum,” Dagalo said in an interview with Sky News Arabia, referring to his paramilitary group.The country’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, disputed Dagalo’s claims and said the military has maintained control over government sites.In an interview with Al Jazeera, Dagalo — also known as Hemedti — described Burhan as a “criminal,” accusing him of instigating fighting on Saturday, which led to three civilian deaths and dozens wounded.Armed clashes were reported throughout Khartoum, including the presidential palace and the capital’s army headquarters. Medical sources at a hospital in central Khartoum told CNN Saturday afternoon the hospital has received dozens of wounded civilians and military personnel...

Blake Sabol’s memorable matchup overshadowed by SF Giants’ second straight walk-off loss to Tigers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

DETROIT — Over breakfast burritos in a suburb about 30 minutes from Comerica Park, two California kids caught up and envisioned the matchup that awaited them Saturday. I want you in there, Tigers right-hander Michael Lorenzen told Giants rookie Blake Sabol, because I’m gonna punch you out. OK, Sabol responded, trade you a strikeout for a home run.“He knows me, I know him,” Sabol said. “We’re competitive.”Competitive, sure. But fortune tellers? Apparently.That is precisely how Sabol’s two at-bats played out against the shaggy-haired kid who played travel ball with his older brother, slept over at their Orange County house and carpooled to games throughout the elder kids’ preteen and teenage years. Six years separate Sabol, playing in his 12th major-league game, and Lorenzen, on his third team in nine seasons, but they each got the best of each other Saturday.Yet, their memorable matchup was overshadowed by the Giants’ second straight wa...

Pegula sends US past Austria to Billie Jean King Cup finals

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

Jessica Pegula sent the U.S. into the Billie Jean King Cup finals Saturday with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Austria’s Julia Grabher.The victory gave the Americans a 3-0 lead and clinched the best-of-five tie in Delray Beach, Florida. The third-ranked Pegula also won her singles match Friday after No. 6 Coco Gauff, playing in her hometown, beat Grabher in the opener.France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Germany, and Italy also secured berths in the finals, scheduled for Nov. 7-12 at a site to be determined. Those nations will join reigning champion Switzerland, 2022 runner-up Australia and one wild-card recipient at the finals, with a couple spots still be determined Saturday on the second day of the two-day qualifiers.All of those nations have won the Cup except Kazakhstan. But it has a chance now after reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina won both her matches in a 3-1 home victory over Poland, clinching a second consecutive finals berth for Kazakhstan with a 6-4, 6...

Tigers rally from 5 down, Cabrera walks off Giants in 11th

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera’s walk-off single in the 11th inning was the last push for the Detroit Tigers, who rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-6 on Saturday. Taylor Rogers (0-2) started the 11th with a wild pitch, which moved Spencer Torkelson to third. Cabrera’s bouncer up the middle was his 3,095th career hit and scored Torkelson. Chasen Shreve (1-1) got the win, with five Detroit relievers combineing to pitch seven shutout innings.The Tigers trailed 6-1 after three innings and were still down 6-3 in the eighth, but Nick Maton singled off John Brebbia and Riley Greene walked. Javier Báez fouled off six two-strike pitches before hitting a two-run double to make it 6-5 and brought Sean Hjelle out of the Giants bullpen.Kerry Carpenter’s deep fly to right moved Baez to third, and Torkelson’s flare over the drawn-in infield tied the game.The Giants’ J.D. Davis has six RBIs in the first two games of the weekend series despite playin...

Rublev and Rune win to reach Monte Carlo Masters final

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:23:43 GMT

MONACO (AP) — Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev reached the Monte Carlo Masters final for the second time after rallying to beat eighth-seeded American Taylor Fritz 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 in a rain-interrupted contest on Saturday.The Russian player, who lost in the final two years ago, goes for his 13th career title and first at Masters level against sixth-seeded Dane Holger Rune. Rune also fought back to win 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 against No. 7 Jannik Sinner of Italy in another rain-marred match, which finished under floodlights at 9:45 p.m. local time.The 21-year-old Sinner was competing in his third straight Masters semi this season and was cheered on by a large contingent of Italian fans.Sinner broke the 19-year-old Rune’s serve twice and served out the first set comfortably. The players went off for a rain delay with Rune leading 3-0 in the second set. Sinner fought back when they returned but Rune held firm to send the match into a deciding set under floodlights.A tense match ended when Sinner s...