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  • No homecoming for Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) as Jazz visit Grizzlies

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    (Photo credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images)

    The high-profile homecoming for Jaren Jackson Jr. will not materialize.

    When the Memphis Grizzlies sent the veteran forward to the Utah Jazz shortly before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, they realized the schedule-makers had built in an intriguing mid-February matchup.

    But when the Grizzlies play the visiting Jazz on Friday, Jackson will not be in uniform. The former Defensive Player of the Year, in his eighth NBA season, underwent successful surgery earlier this week in Salt Lake City to remove a localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) growth from his left knee. A physical performed after the trade revealed the growth.

    Jackson, the league’s top defender in 2022-23, will be out for at least four weeks, according to the Jazz, and could return to the court later this season.

    In his team debut on Feb. 7 against the Orlando Magic, he had 22 points, three assists and three steals in 25 minutes. He is averaging 19.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 48 games, all but three with the Grizzlies.

    Jackson, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. went from the Grizzlies to the Jazz on Feb. 3. Memphis received Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round draft picks.

    Utah coach Will Hardy has only worked with Jackson briefly, but he said the Jazz knew the quality person and player they were getting.

    ‘When we traded for Jaren, obviously there is so much talk about (Jaren) the player,’ Hardy said. ‘And I’m very excited about the player. But what we are trying to build as an organization and a program, Jaren’s character, and who he is as a person, is just as important.

    ‘That has been evident since the day that he (joined the Jazz). He is a high-character guy. He has a good sense of humor. He also has a respect level that comes with him because of how he has played during his career.’

    Letting go of another key member of the Grizzlies’ core was difficult for Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman, but it could be a move that pays dividends.

    ‘We felt good about the return (for Jackson) and we felt it healthier for the organization to turn the page as much as we were able to and be able to build this team with a clear mind as to what we’re trying to achieve going forward, which is pivoting to a younger build,’ Kleiman said. ‘We’re not shying away from that. That’s where this team is.’

    While the Grizzlies adjust to life without Jackson for the first time since he was taken with the No. 4 pick in the 2018 draft, they are hoping to snap a four-game losing streak without star guard Ja Morant.

    Sidelined with a left elbow sprain since Jan. 23, Morant missed the team’s last 11 games and is expected to miss another two weeks. He has only appeared in 20 games because of a variety of injuries.

    With Morant out, guard Ty Jerome recently returned from a right calf injury that had him unavailable from the start of the season. In his six games back, Jerome has averaged 19.7 points in 20.2 minutes.

    Other contributions have come from Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer and Cedric Coward, who were selected to play in last Friday’s Rising Stars mini-tournament at NBA All-Star Weekend. Coward was withheld from action due to knee soreness.

    Jazz standout Keyonte George missed six of the final seven games before the break due to injuries to each ankle. He is averaging 23.8 points in 48 games.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Donovan Mitchell’s big night leads Cavs over struggling Magic

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    (Photo credit: David Richard-Imagn Images)

    Donovan Mitchell scored 26 of his 45 points in the first half and Evan Mobley had 20 points and nine rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the visiting Orlando Magic 114-98 on Monday night, sweeping their home-and-home set.

    Jaylon Tyson, named to the Rising Stars Game at All-Star weekend earlier in the day, had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Jarrett Allen scored nine for the Cavaliers. Cleveland won its fourth straight and is 11-4 since Dec. 29, including a 119-105 victory Saturday in Orlando.

    Paolo Banchero scored 15 points in the third quarter, finishing with a season-high 37 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic in their fourth consecutive loss. Desmond Bane had 19 points and Jalen Suggs dished out six assists.

    Orlando also received 14 points from Anthony Black and nine points, seven rebounds, two defensive three-second technicals and an unsportsmanlike technical from Wendell Carter Jr. The Magic’s last win was Jan. 15 over the Memphis Grizzlies in Germany.

    Mitchell buried a pull-up jumper over Noah Penda at the halftime buzzer, wrapping up his 16-point period and extending the Cavaliers’ advantage to 61-56. It gave Mitchell 53 points in his last four quarters against Orlando.

    Mitchell gave the Cavs command early in the third quarter with eight straight points to push their lead out to 69-60.

    Bane scored 10 points and Black had seven points and three steals in the first quarter, leading the Magic to a 32-22 lead. Mitchell had 10 points and Mobley added eight for Cleveland, which committed six turnovers to none by Orlando in the quarter.

    Magic small forward Franz Wagner missed his third straight game with a left high ankle sprain and is out indefinitely. Suggs played in his second in a row after being sidelined since Jan. 2 with an MCL contusion in his right knee.

    Cavaliers swingman Sam Merrill, who has been out since Jan. 16 with a right hand sprain, was inactive for personal reasons. Small forward De’Andre Hunter did not dress for the second consecutive contest with right knee soreness.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell out to torment Magic in rematch

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    (Photo credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

    Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell finished sixth in balloting for the Eastern Conference All-Star starters, one spot shy of earning the nod.

    His quest to be added to the All-Star Game as a reserve continues Monday, when Cleveland welcomes the Orlando Magic in the second half of a home-and-home set.

    Mitchell poured in 27 of his game-high 36 points in the second half Saturday, powering the Cavaliers to a 119-105 win at Orlando. He made 15 of 30 field goal attempts in 38 minutes, four more than he is averaging on the season.

    ‘Good decision by the coach,’ Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said, smiling. ‘I felt like the game was in the balance, so Donovan, we just had to ride him. I usually get him out there in the fourth quarter, but didn’t think we had that option.

    ‘He was great at both ends. He didn’t conserve himself on defense, and obviously the shot-making was insane.’

    Mitchell was sixth in voting by the fans, coaches and media in their independent polls, but ranks first in the NBA in second-half scoring with an average of 17.1 points. He also leads the East with 162 3-pointers.

    The six-time All-Star has driven the Cavaliers to three straight wins, continuing a push that has seen them go 10-4 since Dec. 29. Cleveland now sits fifth in the conference, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Magic for the final playoff position.

    ‘We just continue to find ways,’ said Mitchell, who is averaging a career-high 29.1 points, along with 5.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds. ‘These are the moments you enjoy. We’ll see these guys again Monday, so we’ve got to be ready.’

    Another positive trend for the Cavaliers is their work on the glass, having outrebounded their foes in six consecutive games, including a 38-37 edge over Orlando. Third-string point guard Lonzo Ball led all players with eight and Evan Mobley had seven.

    On the flip side is Cleveland’s inability to string wins together in its arena. The Cavaliers are 7-8 in their last 15 home contests and just 15-11 there on the season.

    ‘Obviously, we’ve had some injuries, but I love how our young guys continue to impress,’ Atkinson said, singling out second-year swingman Jaylon Tyson. ‘We’re doing it by committee and celebrating our depth. It feels like a collective effort.’

    The Magic have only played twice in the last seven days — dropping home games to the Charlotte Hornets and Cavaliers — following their European trip. Orlando beat the Memphis Grizzlies in Berlin but lost to them in London.

    Paulo Banchero showed some energy by scoring 27 points and making 10 of 12 free throw attempts against Cleveland, but the team in general appeared fatigued in its third straight double-digit defeat.

    The Cavaliers didn’t trail in the final three quarters as Moritz Wagner was the only Magic bench player to make more than one basket. Jalen Suggs did have nine points and six assists in his first action since bruising his right medial collateral ligament on Jan. 2.

    ‘It’s hard to slow down Donovan Mitchell because he’s seen it all,’ Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. ‘Obviously, we know him very well and his ability to score at a high clip. Our ability to guard him with multiple bodies is very important.’

    Though Suggs is expected to play in the rematch, the Magic will not have small forward Franz Wagner for the third game in a row after the pain in his left ankle flared up. He missed six weeks with a high ankle sprain before playing in the overseas games.

    Mosley declined to second-guess the decision to have the Berlin native return in his homeland. Wagner is currently not cleared for contact.

    ‘Those are things I’m not looking at,’ the coach said. ‘When he thought he could go, he went. And when we thought he could go, he went. Now, we’ve got to be smart moving forward with him.’

    –Field Level Media

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  • Vodafone and Three unveil ‘Share Index’: 40% of Brits would share a toothbrush! – Tech Digest

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    Share

    • Vodafone and Three UK unveil ‘The Share Index’, revealing what the UK is most – and least – willing to share, to highlight that their customers can now share each other’s networks automatically. 

    • Almost half (40%) of Brits would share a toothbrush, although 21% would never admit this publicly.

    • Three in ten (31%) couples wouldn’t share a phone charger with their other half. 

    A new study into British sharing habits has revealed a distinct divide in the nation’s willingness to go halves on everything from tech to toothbrushes.

    Published as ‘The Share Index,’ the research highlights that while people are increasingly protective of personal hygiene items, there is a significant demand for shared digital infrastructure.

    The data, based on a survey of 2,000 adults, shows that personal boundaries remain high when it comes to hygiene and technology. More than half of respondents (52%) refuse to share razors, while 46% draw the line at deodorant.

    Surprisingly, despite the intimate nature of the item, 40% of Britons admitted they would share a toothbrush, though 21% said they would never admit to doing so in public.

    Technology has emerged as a particularly contentious area. Over a third of the population (34%) refuse to share earphones. The study noted a gender divide in this category; while 86% of men are comfortable sharing in-ear headphones, 20% of women strictly avoid it.

    Charging cables are another source of domestic friction, with 31% of couples refusing to share a phone charger. One in five respondents admitted they worry their partner would simply not return a charger if it were lent out.

    The research was commissioned by Vodafone and Three UK to promote their new network-sharing initiative. Following the formation of VodafoneThree, customers from both providers can now access each other’s networks automatically.

    This integration currently includes 1,000 shared sites, with plans to bring a further 8,600 online within the first year.

    James Buckley and his wife and podcast co-host, Clair Buckley


    The Share Index: What Brits Will (and Won’t) Share


    For latest tech stories go to TechDigest.tv

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    Chris Price

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  • Magic look for elusive second straight win, battle Wizards

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    (Photo credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

    The Orlando Magic have been unable to record consecutive victories since stringing three wins together back on Nov. 25 to Dec. 1.

    Fresh off an offensive uprising, the Magic will look to do precisely that on Tuesday when they visit the Washington Wizards.

    Desmond Bane scored 31 points and Paolo Banchero added 28 to go along with 12 rebounds on Sunday, lifting Orlando to a 135-127 home victory over the reeling Indiana Pacers.

    ‘Much better offensively, but we’ve still got to figure out how to string together some stops on the defensive end,’ Bane said. ‘We got a few when it mattered, but we’re better than that on that end, for sure.’

    Anthony Black collected 27 points and 10 assists in his return to the starting lineup for the Magic, who finished with a spirited effort to record their fifth win in nine games.

    ‘We just did a good job of staying poised,’ Banchero said. ‘(The Pacers) kept making shots and we were just able to come down and execute late in the game in the fourth quarter.’

    While the offensive numbers were impressive, the performance on the other side of the floor left a bit to be desired as Orlando played without guard Jalen Suggs. The defensive star sustained a Grade 1 MCL contusion in his right knee during Friday’s setback against the Chicago Bulls.

    ‘It’s just going to be collective,’ Bane said of the team’s plan as a means to overcome the loss of Suggs. ‘That’s been our identity and something that we have to lean into. Losing a guy like Jalen, you’ve got to lean into it even more.’

    Banchero scored 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor with 11 rebounds in Orlando’s 125-94 rout in Washington on Nov. 1.

    Like the Magic, the Wizards were rather generous in their last game. The Minnesota Timberwolves scored at least 33 points per quarter and shot a robust 56.1% from the floor in a 141-115 rout of Washington on Sunday.

    Gaudy numbers to be certain, however that came on the heels of the Wizards surrendering just 99 points against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

    ‘Thankfully over the course of the last 15 games or so, we’ve proven this isn’t who we are, so it feels like more of fluke than a bad trend,’ Corey Kispert said of the game versus Minnesota, per the Washington Post.

    CJ McCollum finished with 20 points against the Timberwolves, marking the 13th time that he has scored at least that many points in a game this season.

    McCollum, who averages a team-best 18.6 points per game, was quick to credit with what he views as the future of the Wizards, players such as Alex Sarr (17.2 ppg), injured Kyshawn George (15.0) and Bilal Coulibaly (9.9).

    ‘They’re handpicking the right guys … they have all these guys with intangibles with skillsets with the ability to grow and evolve and develop,’ McCollum said in an appearance with the Club 520 Podcast.

    ‘The sky’s the limit in the next three years. They’re boys, that’s the scary part. Real dogs when they’re 24-25.’

    –Field Level Media

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  • Arizona narrowly holds on to No. 1 spot in AP Top 25 poll

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    (Photo credit: Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

    Arizona maintained the slimmest of grips on No. 1 in the latest Associated Press men’s top 25 poll released Monday.

    The Wildcats (14-0) earned 32 first-place votes, with Michigan (13-0) garnering the remaining 29. In all, Arizona received 1,494 votes, with the Wolverines capturing just one fewer.

    The top six in the voting remained unchanged, with Iowa State (14-0), UConn (14-1), Purdue (13-1) and Duke (13-1) slotting into those spots.

    Houston (13-1) and Gonzaga (16-1) flipped places, with the Cougars moving into the No. 7 slot and the Bulldogs No. 8. BYU (13-1) moved up a spot to No. 9, and Nebraska (14-0) rose three places to No. 10.

    Falling out of the top 10 was Michigan State (12-2), which slid three places after a two-point loss to Nebraska on Friday.

    Iowa (12-2) took the biggest climb on the week, rising six spots to No. 19. The biggest plunge belonged to North Carolina (13-2) and Kansas (10-4), which tumbled five spots each.

    Entering the poll were No. 24 SMU (12-2) and No. 25 UCF (12-1). Out of the top 25 were Southern California and Florida.

    The defending national champion Gators dropped to 9-5 on the season after a 76-74 loss to Missouri.

    The rest of the top 25:

    11. Vanderbilt (14-0)

    12. Michigan State (12-2)

    13. Alabama (11-3)

    14. Texas Tech (11-3)

    15. Arkansas (11-3)

    16. Illinois (11-3)

    17. North Carolina (13-2)

    18. Georgia (13-1)

    19. Iowa (12-2)

    20. Louisville (11-3)

    21. Tennessee (10-4)

    22. Kansas (10-4)

    23. Virginia (12-2)

    24. SMU (12-2)

    25. UCF (12-1)

    –Field Level Media

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  • Trail Blazers see opportunity to make move, starting with Jazz game

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    (Photo credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images)

    The Portland Trail Blazers have an opportunity to climb the standings by hosting eight of their next 10 games.

    Portland looks to begin that stretch on a positive note when it hosts the Utah Jazz on Monday night.

    The Trail Blazers have momentum, having won four of their past five games, beginning with an impressive 114-108 victory over the Boston Celtics.

    The last three were on the road and Portland went 2-1 and put together a strong effort in Saturday’s 115-110 takedown of the San Antonio Spurs. The Trail Blazers never trailed by more than three points against the 25-win Spurs.

    ‘Down the stretch, I think we kept our composure most of the time,’ Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter said afterward. ‘A couple of mistakes, a couple of missed free throws again, but found a way to win the game and got it done.’

    Donovan Clingan excelled with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama (knee) sidelined and recorded a career-best 24 points to go with 12 rebounds.

    Clingan set the tone by scoring Portland’s first 11 points and he knocked down three 3-pointers during the run.

    ‘Just being aggressive,’ Clingan said of coming out of the gates fast. ‘And then once I saw two go in, I knew I had to get up a third. And then I tried a fourth, and I missed that time.’

    Deni Avdija celebrated his 25th birthday by continuing his strong season with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. It was his third triple-double of the season and fifth of his career.

    Toumani Camara also stood out with 20 points and eight rebounds. He knocked down five 3-pointers and is 9 of 20 from behind the arc over the past two games.

    ‘I think I’m playing better than I was earlier,’ Camara said. ‘This season, just kind of finding a rhythm, stop overthinking the game, just playing with more confidence. I think that’s the biggest thing for me.’

    The Trail Blazers beat Utah 136-134 on Oct. 29 in Salt Lake City in this season’s first meeting between the teams.

    Jrue Holiday had 27 points and eight assists for Portland, while Lauri Markkanen had 32 points and Keyonte George added 29 points and eight assists for the Jazz.

    Markkanen scored 35 points on Saturday but Utah lost 123-114 to the host Golden State Warriors. George added 22 points and nine assists but also had seven turnovers.

    The loss was the third straight and seventh in the past nine for the Jazz.

    The game in Portland is the third of a four-game road trip for Utah.

    Veteran Kevin Love collected 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes against the Warriors for his second double-digit outing on the boards in his last four appearances.

    Love, 37, recently displayed his early career form with 16 points and 16 rebounds in a 128-127 overtime loss to the Orlando Magic.

    Utah coach Will Hardy plans to increase Love’s minutes after the recent uptick in production.

    ‘He’s an elite rebounder, and so those things continue to show up,’ Hardy said. ‘And then obviously, just kind of his general savvy in his 18th year — he’s gotten a little more familiar with his teammates, and I think his spacing element gives us a different look.’

    The Jazz are expected to be without big man Jusuf Nurkic (left toe) for the third straight game.

    Holiday (calf) has missed the last 24 games for Portland.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Out to continue home success, Warriors take on Thunder

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    (Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

    The Golden State Warriors will put their newfound home-court success to the ultimate test Friday night when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in San Francisco.

    The Warriors have won five of six overall, including their last three at home over the Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and Dallas Mavericks.

    The league leaders in road games played (20), the Warriors tip off a stretch of 10 of 11 at home, starting with a team that has already won at the Chase Center this season.

    In fact, the Thunder have won pretty much wherever they’ve gone, running up a 12-3 road record with losses only to the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs.

    The latter two defeats have come in Oklahoma City’s most recent road contests against the Spurs and Timberwolves. Having played six of their last eight games at home, as well as a pair in Las Vegas during the NBA Cup competition, the Thunder haven’t won a true road contest in almost a month, since a triumph at Utah on Dec. 7.

    The defending champions begin a two-game trip on a three-game winning streak, having thumped the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and Trail Blazers by a combined 65 points.

    The San Francisco Bay Area visit represents a homecoming for emerging Thunder star Jalen Williams, who played at Santa Clara.

    He has contributed an average of 15.7 points to the winning streak, but Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was quick to point out after the Portland game that scoring numbers don’t tell his entire story.

    Williams totaled 20 rebounds, 20 assists and six steals in the wins.

    ‘What makes him a great player is that he’s very good at everything,’ Daigneault said. ‘That’s really what he needs to hang his hat on. It’s how he established himself as a great player. It’s how to continue to be a great player.’

    In a rare NBA matchup of Santa Clara alums, Williams will go head-to-head in San Francisco with Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski. They missed each other by one year at the school.

    Podziemski had three key fourth-quarter 3-pointers and 19 points in all in Golden State’s 132-125 win at Charlotte on Wednesday. He has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games.

    The Warriors flew home from a 2-1 trip riding the momentum of a third, fourth and fifth straight 120-point performance and looking forward to three straight weeks in California. Their only road game in that stretch will be against the Los Angeles Clippers.

    ‘We’ve got to take advantage of it, for sure,’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ‘The schedule was against us for the first couple months of the season, and now it flips back the other way. We’ve got to take advantage.’

    Part of the tough early stretch was the pair of early meetings with the Thunder.

    In a matchup of superstar guards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outscored Stephen Curry 28-11 in a 126-102 romp at Oklahoma City in November, before Curry sat out with a bruised quad and watched his rival pour in 38 points in a 124-112 win in a visit to San Francisco in early December.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Hornets carry modest momentum into clash with Magic

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    (Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

    Hot-shooting rookie Kon Knueppel and the Charlotte Hornets look to continue a surge when they visit the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

    Charlotte has won three of its last five games and Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick out of Duke, leads all rookies in scoring with 19.4 points per game and is shooting 41.9% from 3-point range.

    ‘We’re just going to take one game at a time, compete and try to get a win every night,’ Knueppel said following Tuesday night’s 126-109 win over the Washington Wizards. ‘And going forward, I think if we play our brand of basketball and play the way we want to play, we’re going to have a good chance to do that.’

    Knueppel was one of eight Hornets in double figures with 19 points against the Wizards, sinking 5 of 9 shots from behind the arc.

    LaMelo Ball has been in and out of the Hornets’ lineup, appearing in 20 of 30 games this season dealing with ankle injuries. He is averaging 19.6 points and 8.7 assists, which would rank fifth in the NBA if he had played enough games to qualify.

    Ball had a team-high 23 points with nine assists against Washington. Brandon Miller added 20 points, and Moussa Diabate delivered 12 points and 18 rebounds.

    Second-year Charlotte coach Charles Lee believes the team is turning the corner due to its increased defensive intensity.

    ‘I feel like our defense continues to get better,’ he said on Tuesday. ‘The games that we win, our defensive rating is usually in a really good spot. And then offensively, I feel like ever since the game at Brooklyn (a 116-103 loss on Dec. 1), we’ve done such a better job of trusting the pass, playing the pass.’

    Defense has been the Magic’s calling card for the last few years under coach Jamahl Mosley. That and injuries, unfortunately.

    The Magic’s leading scorer, Franz Wagner, is currently dealing with a left ankle sprain and has missed the last two weeks, and Moritz Wagner is still out after tearing his ACL last season.

    ‘Whoever is out there on the floor, you’re asked to play Magic basketball, and that is playing hard, playing together, playing defense, playing for one another,’ Mosley said Tuesday. ‘This group will continue to show that as we get bodies back, whenever that may be.’

    Orlando has won two of its last three games, most recently a 110-106 win in Portland on Tuesday. Desmond Bane scored 23 points, and Anthony Black added 22.

    Orlando continues to rank among the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA at 34.3%, 27th in the league. Bane, brought over in a monster offseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, is shooting a career-worst 36.6% from downtown, but is coming off making a season-high four 3-pointers on seven attempts against the Trail Blazers.

    Orlando defeated the Hornets 123-107 on Oct. 30 in Charlotte. The Magic have swept the last five meetings and won 10 of the last 11.

    –Field Level Media

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  • NYCFC re-signs M Andres Perea through 2027-28

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    (Photo credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images)

    New York City FC re-signed midfielder Andres Perea to a contract extension through 2027-28 season when MLS switches to a summer-spring schedule.

    The deal with the Tampa, Fla., native, includes an option for 2028-29.

    ‘The past two-and-a-half years with New York City have been incredibly good for me,’ Perea said. ‘I’ve felt so much love from the city, my teammates, the entire staff, and the fans, making me truly happy here. I’m really excited to sign a new contract with New York City.’

    Perea, 25, had an assist in three games of the just-completed MLS Cup playoffs before he came away with a fractured right leg in a first-round series against Charlotte FC.

    In 62 regular-season games with NYCFC over three seasons he has seven goals and three assists.

    In 144 career MLS games over seven seasons with Orlando City (2020-22), the Philadelphia Union (2023) and NYCFC, Perea has 11 goals with six assists.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Three hospitalized in explosion near Hayward listed in stable condition

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    HAYWARD — Three people who were hospitalized Thursday when a PG&E gas line exploded and caused a three-alarm fire at two homes in the Ashland neighborhood of unincorporated Alameda County remained in stable condition Friday, officials said Friday.

    The explosion happened about 9:38 a.m. in the 800 block of East Lewelling Boulevard as workers from PG&E were in the process of repairing the gas line. An independent construction crew not affiliated with the utility or a utility project accidentally cut the line about 7:30 a.m.

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    Rick Hurd

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  • Ruben Dominguez, Rashaun Agee help Texas A&M stomp Florida State

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    (Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images)

    Ruben Dominguez splashed in seven 3-pointers to lead Texas A&M to a dominant 95-59 win over Florida State Friday in the Battle in the Bay in Tampa, Fla.

    Dominguez made 5 of 6 3-pointers in the first half and finished with a team-high 21 points, all of which came from outside the arc.

    The Aggies finished 15-of-34 from 3-point range (44.1%), their third straight game shooting 44% or better from the perimeter.

    USC transfer Rashaun Agee matched his career high with 17 rebounds to go with 17 points. Pop Isaacs hit three 3-pointers, finishing with 15 points.

    Agee set the tone for the Aggies (6-2) on the glass. They outrebounded Florida State 60-40.

    The Seminoles (5-2), who entered averaging 93.2 points per game, were held to 28.8% shooting from the floor and 22% from 3-point range (9 of 41). Kobe MaGee almost singlehandedly sparked the offense with 21 points, 18 of which came after halftime after a slow start.

    Kobe MaGee finished as the only Seminole in double figures. Martin Somerville was closest with nine. Lajae Jones, Florida State’s leading scorer entering the game, was held to three points on 1-of-8 shooting while point guard Robert McCray V had 11 assists but just two points.

    Friday’s game was a rout from the jump. The Aggies leapt ahead 11-0 just over two minutes into the game and led 19-3 less than five minutes in.

    Texas A&M hit six of its first seven 3-point shots, with Dominguez making four of those, and finished the first half 9-of-18 from 3-point range.

    After the Seminoles were able to keep the deficit around 16 points for an extended stretch, the Aggies closed the first half in a similarly strong fashion, going on a 16-4 run to take a 52-24 lead into the intermission.

    Agee nearly had his double-double at the half, amassing 10 points and nine rebounds over the first 20 minutes.

    Florida State finished the first half with as many made baskets as it had turnovers (nine). Cam Miles was the leading scorer at the half with five points, needing eight shots to get there.

    The Seminoles went on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 61-42 with 12:02 left, but the Aggies responded immediately with a 16-2 stretch and finished the game on a 10-2 run to grow its margin of victory.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Kings star C Domantas Sabonis has torn meniscus, out at least 3-4 weeks

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    (Photo credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images)

    The skidding Sacramento Kings got more bad news on Thursday when MRI imaging revealed star center Domantas Sabonis has a partial meniscus tear in his left knee, the team announced.

    Sabonis, 29, will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, the Kings said.

    A three-time All-Star, Sabonis last played on Sunday, collecting 17 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in a 123-110 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The team said he experienced left knee soreness following the game.

    He did not play on Wednesday at Oklahoma City, a 113-99 setback. Sacramento (3-12) has lost seven straight games, all by double digits.

    Sabonis is averaging 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 33.2 minutes in 11 games (all starts) this season. Extremely durable over his 10-year career, Sabonis was sidelined for the season opener due to a hamstring strain in the preseason and missed two games this month because of a rib issue.

    The Orlando Magic selected Sabonis with the 11th overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft and traded him the same day to Oklahoma City. The Thunder dealt him to the Pacers in July 2017, and the Kings acquired him in February 2022 in a deal that sent point guard Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana.

    For his career, Sabonis has averaged 16.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 30.8 minutes in 657 regular-season games (517 starts) for the Thunder (2016-17), Pacers (2017-22) and Kings.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Jamichael Stillwell stuffs statsheet as UCF holds off Oakland

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    (Photo credit: Sophia Scheller-Imagn Images)

    Jamichael Stillwell notched his first career UCF double-double and made two key free throws with 38 seconds to go, lifting the Knights to their third straight win by edging the feisty Oakland Golden Grizzlies 87-83 on Monday night in Orlando, Fla.

    The Knights (4-1) led by four at halftime then raced out to a 15-point advantage in the second half, but the Golden Grizzlies (1-4) rallied and tied the game with eight minutes to play.

    Stillwell, Themus Fulks and Riley Kugel made all six of their free throws in the final minute for the victory.

    Stillwell totaled 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Kugel had 18. Jordan Burks scored 13 with seven rebounds. Fulks had 11 points, six rebounds and 10 assists.

    Oakland’s Isaac Garrett had 23 points and seven rebounds. Brett White II had 21 points on 6-of 11-shooting from deep. Brody Robinson scored 20, and Tuburu Navailurua had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.

    After a big road win over Texas A&M their last time out, the Knights created a 10-4 lead over the Horizon League school behind two buckets from Stillwell and three points from Fulks, but the visitors knotted it 10-all on twin 3-pointers by White.

    White, a 27-year-old senior guard, helped shoot Oakland back into it. His long shot and Robinson’s at 8:06 cut it to 17-16 as the Michigan school made 4 of 8 from long range, but Kugel soon hit a pair from the stripe to reach 1,000 career points.

    White’s shooting helped keep the Golden Grizzlies within striking distance in the first half, which UCF led just 44-40.

    He sank 5 of 7 treys — his only shots from the floor — for his 16 points.

    The Knights’ answer was Stillwell, who scored 12 first-half points on 5-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds.

    Stillwell sparked a 9-0 second-half run that pushed the edge to 53-42 and continued to dominate on the glass, especially at the offensive end.

    Kugel’s 3-point play at 11:20 increased the gap to 70-55, but Oakland stormed back and evened it 70-all on a 15-0 run behind Robinson’s three-point play at 8:17.

    The Knights regained the lead on a 3-pointer from Kugel, then mostly held a tenuous lead from there, closing out the win at the line.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Warriors’ Jimmy Butler returns to Florida to take on Magic

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    (Photo credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images)

    The Jimmy Butler two-show Florida reunion tour kicks off Tuesday night when the former Miami Heat standout takes center stage as the Golden State Warriors visit the Orlando Magic.

    Dealt early last February from the Heat to the Warriors, Butler joined Golden State in time for both its visits to Florida last season, which came on separate Southeast excursions.

    The first of the two saw him play a complementary role in new teammate Stephen Curry’s 56-point explosion in a 121-115 win at Orlando in late February. Butler had only five points in the game but tied Brandin Podziemski for game-high assist honors with seven.

    Four of Butler’s assists came on Curry 3-pointers as the all-time distance-shooting king buried 12 in all, including four in a 22-point third-quarter flurry.

    Butler assisted on two of the third-quarter threes then a last one that extended Golden State’s lead to 111-104 lead with 2:37 to go.

    Butler himself inflicted pain upon the Magic many times during his days with the Heat, going for 20 or more points on five separate occasions, including 38 in a visit in March of 2023. He has 358 points, 93 assists and 43 steals in games at Orlando in his career.

    Golden State visits Miami on the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday.

    Butler took time after his last visit to Orlando to describe Curry’s impact on the Warriors.

    ‘It makes everyone want to be great on the defensive side,’ he told reporters after the game, ‘so we can get him the ball back and watch him do something incredible. In a weird way, isn’t it kind of expected?’

    Curry had 46 and 49 points last week when the Warriors, after falling at Oklahoma City, rebounded with a pair of victories at San Antonio. They then won a third in a row Sunday at New Orleans, riding Moses Moody’s 32 points to a 124-106 win.

    The Orlando visit is a reunion of sorts for Moody as well. He played his final two prep seasons at Montverde Academy near Orlando, where he joined Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham and Day’Ron Sharpe on a 25-0 club in 2020.

    The Magic has won three of their last four, seeing a winning streak come to an end in a 117-113 overtime loss at Houston on Sunday night.

    The head-to-head with Golden State will be the first for Desmond Bane since he was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies via trade in June. He’s averaged 22.3 points over the last four games, connecting on multiple 3-pointers in each of the last three.

    Bane faced the Warriors 22 times during his days with Memphis, including in the 2022 playoffs, when he outshot Curry 48.5% to 32.9% on 3-pointers in the Grizzlies’ 4-2 loss to the eventual champs in the Western semifinals.

    With star Paolo Banchero out for a second straight game with a groin injury, Bane found the ball in his hands with a chance to play hero at the end of regulation at Houston. However, he had his driving attempt blocked by Alperen Sengun with five seconds left and later wished he had it to do over again.

    ‘Something that we’ve talked about — getting the last shot of the game. I went a little bit too fast,’ he admitted to reporters. ‘We had our opportunities. Hopefully we learn from those moments and become better because of it.’

    –Field Level Media

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  • Strong defensive effort leads Houston to tight win over UCF

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    (Photo credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

    Ethan Sanchez kicked a tiebreaking 22-yard field goal with 2:31 left and the Houston defense allowed just three second-half points as the Cougars came from 10 points down to defeat UCF 30-27 on Friday in Orlando.

    Conner Weigman, despite throwing three interceptions, helped Houston (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) rebound after a rough loss to West Virginia a week ago. The quarterback produced 223 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-31 passing and added 82 yards on 22 carries. Amare Thomas had five receptions for 103 yards and a TD.

    Sanchez’s game-winner came on a 15-play, 62-yard drive that lasted 7:51.

    Phillip Dunnam nabbed all three interceptions of Weigman to become the first player in school history to pick off three passes in one game.

    UCF (4-5, 1-5) had four of its six second-half drives end in punts, and not a single one went more than 28 yards.

    Knights quarterback Tayven Jackson completed 15 of his 29 passes but for only 136 yards and an interception.

    Jackson was benched on the final drive of the game for Davi Belfort, who had a pass intercepted by Kentrell Webb in the end zone with 11 seconds left, sealing the outcome.

    Houston’s Dean Connors scored the lone touchdown of the second half on a 9-yard pass from Weigman to tie the game 24-24 with 7:38 left in the third.

    The teams then traded field goals, a 54-yarder from Noe Ruelas and a 30-yarder from Sanchez, before the eventual game-winner.

    Ruelas kicked off the scoring with a 37-yard field goal with 4:17 left in the first.

    Myles Montgomery capitalized off of a Houston muffed punt with a 1-yard run to extend the lead to 10-0 with 9:39 left in the half.

    Weigman found his favorite target streaking down the sideline, and Thomas went untouched into the end zone for a 64-yard score to cut it to 10-7 in the middle of the second quarter.

    Just 1:16 later, Houston struck again as Latreveon McCutchin picked off a Jackson pass and returned it 45 yards for the Cougars’ first lead of the night.

    UCF responded with Jaden Nixon rushing 15 yards for a 17-14 lead with 2:05 remaining in the half.

    Weigman then threw his own pick-six as Dunnam returned it 43 yards to extend the lead to 10 with 96 seconds left before the break.

    Houston salvaged a 40-yard field goal with no time left to cut the deficit to 24-17 at the half.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Fire end playoff-win drought, KO Orlando in East wild-card game

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    (Photo credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images)

    Hugo Cuypers recorded a second-half brace and the Chicago Fire picked up their first playoff win in 16 years with a dominating 3-1 triumph over Orlando City in an Eastern Conference wild-card match on Wednesday night in Bridgeview, Ill.

    Brian Gutierrez also scored for the eighth-seeded Fire, who ended the longest playoff-victory drought in MLS history. It also was Chicago’s first postseason match since 2017.

    The Fire advance to play the top-seeded Philadelphia Union. Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round series is Sunday at Chester, Pa.

    Tyrese Spicer scored the lone goal for ninth-seeded Orlando City, who struggled on offense. The Fire outshot the Lions 25-7 and had a 9-4 edge in shots on target.

    Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady registered three saves, while Lions counterpart Pedro Gallese had six stops.

    The Fire broke a scoreless tie with two goals early in the second half.

    In the 48th minute, Jonathan Dean sent a cross to the left side and Gutierrez collected the ball. Gutierrez then booted a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net.

    Three minutes later, Gutierrez had another opportunity, but his right-footed shot hit the right goalpost.

    In the 57th minute, the ball came toward Cuypers, who hit it forward. He rushed after it and Gallese came out to kick it away, but the ball smacked off Cuypers’ shin and bounced into the net to give the Fire a 2-0 advantage.

    Orlando City had a good chance in the 60th minute, but a left-footed blast by Marco Pasalic was stopped by Brady.

    Gallese made a solid save on Jonathan Bamba’s left-footed shot in the 66th minute and the ball went directly to Gutierrez. With the net open, Gutierrez hit the right goalpost to miss his opportunity for the brace.

    Cuypers got his brace two minutes later when he drilled a right-footed shot past Gallese.

    Orlando spoiled Brady’s shutout bid in the 89th minute. Spicer advanced in and took a left-footed shot that hit off the goalie’s hands and went into the top of the net.

    Chicago controlled the first half and had a 9-1 advantage in shots.

    The Fire had a big opportunity in the 36th minute when Cuypers broke in and a sliding Gallese knocked aside his left-footed shot.

    Orlando City took their first shot in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Rodrigo Schlegel sent a header wide left.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Packers defeat Bengals, 27-18

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    Green Bay struggled to put Cincinnati away but got the win

    byWes Hodkiewicz&Mike Spofford

    GREEN BAY The Packers survived a back-and-forth second half with the Bengals to post a 27-18 victory on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

    The win improves Green Bay to 3-1-1 on the season while Cincinnati drops to 2-4.

    The Packers led 10-0 at halftime with their defense dominating a Bengals offense led by new QB Joe Flacco. But Cincinnati was a totally different offense in the second half, keeping the Bengals in the game.

    A touchdown after a drive of 10 minutes to start the third quarter made it a 10-7 game, but the Packers answered with a TD of their own. Then a Bengals field goal was answered by another Packers TD for a 14-point lead at 24-10.

    Cincinnati kept fighting, with WR Ja’Marr Chase making a circus catch for a TD, which was followed by a two-point conversion to make it 24-18. The Packers responded yet again, driving for a field goal for a two-score lead again, with rookie WRMatthew Goldencatching a huge third-down conversion.

    The see-saw affair finally ended in the last minute when Bengals K Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field goal wide right with 41 seconds left and the Packers kneeled it out.

    For Green Bay, RBJosh Jacobshad 18 carries for 93 yards and two TDs, plus five catches for 57 yards for 150 yards from scrimmage. QBJordan Lovewas 19-of-26 for 259 yards with one TD, one INT and a 101.3 passer rating. Golden had three catches for 86 yards, WRRomeo Doubshad five receptions for 55 yards, and TETucker Krafthad two catches for 43 yards and a TD.

    For Cincinnati, Flacco was 29-of-45 for 219 yards with two TDs and a 90.9 rating. Chase had 10 catches for 94 yards and a score, while WR Tee Higgins added five catches for 62 yards. RB Chase Brown had nine carries for 42 yards.

    Here’s a recap of all the action:

    Packers and Bengals scoreless after the first quarter

    Cincinnati won the opening coin toss and elected to defer.Zach Tom,Rasheed WalkerandAaron Banksall started on the offensive line after being questionable.Jordan MorganandSean Rhyanopened in a rotation right guard before Morgan took over on an every down basis.

    AfterSavion Williamsreturned the kickoff to the Green Bay 34, Romeo Doubs came free in the middle of the field for a 21-yard gain on the Packers’ first offensive play.

    Jordan Love converted on the next two first downs with his free a scramble on third-and-7 and a sneak on fourth-and-1 to the Cincinnati 24.

    Josh Jacobs was stopped for a 2-yard loss on second-and-3 from the Bengals’ 7 and Cincinnati safety Geno Stone ended the scoring threat when he intercepted Love off a tipped pass and returned it to the Bengals’ 36.

    Javon Bullardsniffed out a sweep to Ja’Marr Chase for a 3-yard loss on first down, leading to a Bengals three-and-out. Green Bay started at its 4-yard line after a holding penalty on the punt.

    The Packers converted the initial first down with a 9-yard pass toDontayvion Wicksand a 7-yard Jacobs run to the Green Bay 20.

    Matthew Golden gained eight yards on pitch to the flat before pushing the Packers across midfield on a 20-yard pass to Matthew Golden. Golden then gained eight yards on a sweep for the first down at the Cincinnati 29.

    Packers lead Bengals 10-0 at halftime

    The second quarter began withLucas Havrisikkicking for an injuredBrandon McManus(right quadricep) making a 43-yard field goal to put the Packers up 3-0 over Cincinnati with 14 minutes, 15 seconds left in the second quarter.

    Cincinnati gained a first down on a 14-yard pass to Tee Higgins, but that’s all the Bengals could muster.Karl Brookssniffed out a screen to Chase Brown, causing Joe Flacco to dirt the ball on first down and Flacco was pressured into two incompletions.

    The Packers took over at their 16 after Cincinnati punted. Green Bay went three-and-out afterEmanuel Wilsonlost four yards on a third-and-2 pass from Love.

    A 56-yard punt fromDaniel Whelanplaced the Bengals at their 37 after a 13-yard Charlie Jones return. Green Bay’s defense forced another three-and-out afterKeisean Nixontackled Tanner Hudson for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-2 pass.

    Starting at their 20 after touchback, the Packers converted the initial first down with a 6-yard pass to Wicks before Love fired a 35-yard pass to Golden over Cam Taylor-Britt on third-and-10.

    Love then found an open Jacobs on a checkdown that the Pro Bowl running back extended for 29 yards to the Cincinnati 6.

    A defensive holding penalty on Taylor-Britt moved the Packers three yards closer. Jacobs scored on a 3-yard run on the next play to extend Green Bay’s lead to 10-0 with 4:05 left in the first half.

    Despite starting at their 40 after a personal foul penalty, the Bengals was forced to punt after losing two yards on another three-and-out with less than three minutes left in the half.

    The first half reached the two-minute warning after a 24-yard pass to Tucker Kraft down the seam and a 12-yard Jacobs run to the Cincinnati 47. The drive stalled after a third-and-5 pass to Doubs fell incomplete. The Bengals started at their own 7 after a fair catch on Whelan’s 35-yard punt.

    Cincinnati ran a two-minute and sent Evan McPherson out for a 67-yard field goal with one second left. His first kick bounced through the uprights but Head Coach Matt LaFleur was credited for the timeout. The next fell short to end the half.

    Trey Hendrickson went to the locker room with a back injury and is questionable.

    Packers lead Bengals 10-7 after three quarters

    Cincinnati moved the ball on its first possession of the second half, converting three third-and-short scenarios to push the ball to the Green Bay 25. A 13-yard pass to Tee Higgins set up first-and-goal at the Packers’ 1 but a false start on Noah Fant during no-huddle pushed Cincinnati back.

    On second-and-goal,Lukas Van Nessbeat left Orlando Brown for a sack of Flacco for a loss of six yards. Cincinnati used its first timeout.

    Hudson picked up eight yards on a check down and then caught a 2-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal to cut Green Bay’s lead to 10-7 with 4:46 left in the third quarter. The 17-play, 78-yard drive lasted 10:14.

    Van Ness was injured after the sack with a foot injury and is questionable. Hendrickson also was ruled out.

    The Packers started at their 34 after a 32-yard Williams return. An 8-yard pass to Doubs on a slant gave Green Bay the initial first down. An 11-yard Jacobs run moved the Packers across midfield.

    Green Bay moved to the Cincinnati 29 on a 12-yard pass to Doubs underneath.Luke Musgrave’s 7-yard catch and a Jacobs 5-yard run gave the Packers a first down at the Bengals’ 17.

    It was announced Wicks has an ankle injury and is questionable to return.

    Packers outlast Bengals 27-18, improve to 3-1-1

    The third quarter began with Jacobs powering up the middle for a 14-yard touchdown to push the Packers’ lead to 17-7 with 14:56 left in regulation.

    Flacco opened with an 18-yard pass to Chase. On third-and-6, Flacco avoided an unblockedBarryn Sorrellto find Tee Higgins for seven yards and the first down. Higgins caught a 19-yard pass on the next play

    The drive stalled at the Green Bay 27 and Cincinnati settled for a 45-yard McPherson field goal to cut the Packers’ lead to 17-10 with 10:43 remaining.

    Bo Meltonn returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the Green Bay 38. Doubs caught a 15-yard pass on first down. Love scrambled for four yards on third-and-2 to the Bengals’ 35.

    The Packers moved into the red zone with a 16-yard Jacobs run and Kraft torpedoed into the end zone on a 19-yard touchdown to put the Packers ahead 24-10 with 7:33 left.

    Bullard exited to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.

    Flacco and the Bengals pushed the ball down the field again beforeCarrington Valentinedeflected a third-and-5 pass to Chase at the Green Bay 19.

    On fourth down, Flacco connected with Chase for the 19-yard touchdown with 4:11 remaining. The Bengals made it 24-16 after a pass from Flacco to Brown for the two-point conversion.

    The Packers started again at their 38 after a 36-yard Williams return. On third-and-8, Golden came free for a 31-yard completion to the Bengals’ 29. Cincinnati used its second timeout with 2:19 left after a 3-yard Jacobs run. Love scrambled on a bootleg for five yards to reach the two-minute warning.

    Love and Golden couldn’t connect on fourth-and-2, but Havrisik was good from 39 to give Green Bay a two-score lead, 27-18, with 1:52 remaining.

    Cincinnati worked the ball up to the Green Bay 38 before sending out McPherson for a 56-yard field goal on first down with 46 seconds left. He missed wide right and Love kneeled out the win.

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  • Cincinnati brings dominant offensive line into test vs. UCF

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    (Photo credit: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

    Coming off a win over then-No. 14 Iowa State on Saturday, its first over a ranked team in head coach Scott Satterfield’s tenure, Cincinnati is on the cusp of the AP Top 25.

    Cincinnati (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) is 2-0 in the Big 12 for the first time in three seasons as a Power Four program, and expectations are rising both inside and outside the program as it prepares to host UCF on Saturday.

    The Bearcats, for starters, are one of three teams in the country to allow only one sack through six weeks. Their offensive line has been named the Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week three times, including for their performance this past week, when they paved the way for the Bearcats’ 260 rushing yards and 474 total yards in a 38-30 upset.

    Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has thrown for 12 touchdowns and just one interception this season, with that one interception coming against Nebraska in Week 1. He’s also rushed for 291 yards and five touchdowns.

    ‘This offensive line group is special. I believe that,’ Bearcats center Gavin Gerhardt said. ‘We have gotten better as time moves on.’

    ‘It starts with (offensive line) Coach (Nic) Cardwell. I don’t think there is a better offensive line coach in the country. I have had three offensive line coaches in my career, but Coach Cardwell is the best offensive line coach for many reasons.’

    Cincinnati’s offensive line will face a stiff test against the visiting Knights.

    UCF (3-2, 0-2 Big 12) boasts a strong defensive front, which has recorded nine sacks and 29 tackles for loss through five games. The Knights are coming off a 27-20 home loss to Kansas, where they were stuffed on three straight runs from the 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter.

    Quarterback Tayven Jackson left with an injury in the third quarter and was wearing a sling on the sideline later in the game. This was one week after he left UCF’s game against Kansas State with a sprained left shoulder joint.

    If Jackson can’t go Saturday, it will be Cam Fancher at quarterback for the Knights.

    ‘This team is good enough to win some of these games, and we just have to be much better in all phases, and more consistent,’ head coach Scott Frost said. ‘We’re awfully close to where we need to be to win some of these games. We haven’t done it yet.’

    The winner of Saturday’s game will take the lead in the all-time series, 6-5. Cincinnati won last year’s meeting 19-13 on the road. Its last home win against UCF was in 2021, the same season Cincinnati went to the College Football Playoff.

    –Field Level Media

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  • Orlando City, Columbus Crew meet in pivotal pre-playoff matchup

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    (Photo credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images)

    Orlando City and the Columbus Crew will meet in Central Florida on Saturday night in a match that will be critical for both teams’ playoff positioning.

    All nine Eastern Conference MLS Cup Playoff participants have already been finalized more than two weeks ahead of the final day of regular-season play on Oct. 18.

    But both seventh-place Orlando (14-7-10, 52 points) and ninth-place Columbus (13-8-11, 50 points) are still fighting to avoid the East wild-card game, which will be between the teams finishing in eighth and ninth.

    For much of the season, Columbus looked on track to be competing for the higher East positions.

    But after a stretch of only one win and six points earned in the last seven matches, manager Wilfried Nancy’s side would face a must-win wild-card match on the road if the postseason began now. With only two games left on the schedule, Nancy is trying to impart to his team that it still has the quality of the side that took 24 points from its first 11 games.

    ‘We are qualified for the playoffs,’ Nancy said, ‘because of the way we started the season. And this we have to think about it. … We are qualified because we had the best start of the season in the club’s history. So they can not forget that.’

    Nancy also suggested leading scorer Diego Rossi is questionable this week after missing the last three matches.

    Orlando’s trajectory has been the reverse, with the Lions at one point winning four straight league games through July and August.

    More recently, the team has used stoppage-time goals from Duncan McGuire and Alex Freeman, respectively, to earn dramatic late results in a 3-2 home win over Nashville on Sept. 20 and a 1-1 draw at FC Cincinnati last Sunday.

    Orlando City have also won three in a row at home and could move as high as fifth with a fourth consecutive home victory and other favorable results Saturday. Orlando also has a match in hand on Charlotte and Nashville, the current fifth- and sixth-place sides.

    ‘It’s something that at the beginning of the season was a challenge, but now we have that record that inspires us,’ Orlando manager Oscar Pareja said of that recent home form. ‘The boys were talking about it … how important the game is, but how important it is to play it in front of our people.’

    –Field Level Media

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