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Donovan Mitchell facing the Knicks with something to prove after playoff failures

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

CLEVELAND — The New Yorker has something to prove against the Knicks.With Cleveland hosting a playoff game for the first time without LeBron James on its roster since (get this!) 1998, Donovan Mitchell is the focus of the playoff series and has plenty of motivators.Beyond playing against his hometown squad — and beyond facing his mentor, Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant — Mitchell has an opportunity to change the narrative of his playoff failures. It sets up perfectly against Jalen Brunson, the point guard who outplayed Mitchell in last year’s series between the Mavericks and Jazz.Both players switched conferences in the summer — and were almost teammates in New York — but the defeat remains haunting to Mitchell.He’s now just 2-4 in playoff series, while Brunson is coming off last year’s run to a place Mitchell has never seen: the conference finals.“[I remember] how early I was at my house,” Mitchell, who is from ...

Bruins notebook: Patrice Bergeron held out of practice

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

When the Bruins took the Warrior Ice Arena sheet for their first post-season practice on Saturday, there was a one notable absence. Soon, a second key player would leave the session early.Captain Patrice Bergeron, who left the regular season finale in Montreal with what was termed an “upper body” injury, did not suit up while his long-time linemate Brad Marchand left after a few twirls and line rushes.But the word of the week – “precautionary” – held for another day.“We’re just giving (Bergeron) extra rest. He’s had a long year. Same thing with Marchie,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “Marchie wanted to give it a try today and he…had a little bit of soreness so I said ‘Get off the ice.’ And we knew it was going to be a hard practice, so I was going to be very cautious. (Matt Grzelcyk) is a little sore, so he didn’t partake in the scrimmage portion of it. It’s just precautionary. The reason I wanted to have a hard practice with some scrimmage inv...

Yankees Notebook: Aaron Boone reflects on Jackie Robinson’s legacy; DJ LeMahieu returns to lineup

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

Yankees manager Aaron Boone reflected on the importance of Jackie Robinson and spoke about the Hall of Famer’s legacy prior to the first pitch of Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Twins.“Larger than baseball,” Boone said about Robinson’s importance. “I think one of the most important figures in American history when you look at it. Obviously amazing athlete, but [he’s] so much more than that. And now April 15 is synonymous with him.”The manager also mentioned it’s an “honor” to see players wearing No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day.Saturday marked the 76th anniversary of Robinson becoming the first Black player to break the color barrier and play in the major leagues.Each player on every team wears No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day to celebrate the legend.DJ IS BACKDJ LeMahieu (quad tightness) returned to the lineup Saturday hitting leadoff after missing the previous three games. Boone said there are no restrictions on the...

Pat Leonard’s NFL Notes: 5 most interesting teams who could shake up the 2023 NFL Draft

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

Some years, there is a lot of noise about possible NFL Draft day trades and action, and then the phones go cold and the picks roll in predictably and without much juice.This doesn’t feel like one of those years.In a draft without many can’t-miss studs but plenty of depth, the feeling among many league sources is that several teams are feeling out a trade up to get one of their few preferred first-rounders.But not many teams have made a deal yet because they are having a difficult time predicting the board, even at the very top.This could make for some exciting draft night trades on April 27 and some surprise picks by teams who stay put. And it could put some teams with significant capital in the drivers’ seat to clean up over the three-day event.So here are the Daily News’ top five most influential teams who could shake up this year’s NFL Draft:5. New England Patriots: The Detroit Lions probably belong here, with picks No. 6 and 18 in the first round an...

Montreal man wanted for assaulting woman east of Toronto

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

Toronto police are searching for a man who allegedly assaulted a woman east of the city.On Saturday, police were called to the Don Valley Parkway South and the Bayview/Bloor ramp area just after noon for reports of an assault.Authorities said a woman claimed she was assaulted by a man she knew.Guerdy Philistin, 36, of Montreal, is wanted on an assault charge.The suspect is described as six-foot-two and 165 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants.Philistin is known to operate a blue 2012 Chevrolet Cruz with an Ontario license plate FSF6660.

Alberta premier says she is limiting media questions in order to provide more answers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says there’s no question she welcomes media questions, but says she is imposing limits on those questions in order to provide more answers.Smith made the comments on her Corus radio call-in show a day after she announced the new policy for media as her United Conservative party ramps up for the May election campaign.Smith says she will still allow reporters to ask one question, but will not allow the traditional follow-up query.Such follow-up questions are considered vital to allow reporters to clarify the first answer if necessary and to hold politicians to account if they don’t answer the first question but instead deliver tangentially related talking points.But Smith says there will be heightened media interest in the election, set to begin May 1, and she wants to ensure as many reporters as possible get to ask questionsOpposition Leader Rachel Notley’s NDP has promised to take as many questions as possible, including follow-ups, adding i...

Hospital sues Missouri’s top prosecutor over trans care data

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City hospital is suing Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey over what it calls his “burdensome” requests for records on gender-affirming care.In a lawsuit filed Friday in Jackson County, attorneys for Children’s Mercy Hospital asked a judge to deny Bailey’s 54 investigative demands for records and testimony despite the hospital facing no allegations of wrongdoing, The Kansas City Star reported. Bailey has demanded that the hospital provide records on any prescriptions for hormone blockers as well as surgeries for transgender patients, the lawsuit said. He’s also asking for information on when the hospital has reported child abuse. Bailey’s spokeswoman, Madeline Sieren, did not immediately return a request for comment Saturday. In February, Bailey, a Republican who was appointed attorney general in November, announced he was investigating the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital after an ...

Corach Rambler wins Grand National after race delayed

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Corach Rambler, the 8-1 favorite, produced a strong finish to win the Grand National after the world-famous horse race was delayed for 15 minutes Saturday because animal rights activists scaled fences around the perimeter of the course and got onto the track.It gave trainer Lucinda Russell a second victory in the Grand National in its 175th edition.Corach Rambler and jockey Derek Fox jumped the last in front and came home in front of Vanillier. Gaillard Du Mesnil was third.The race took place after three people were arrested in connection with a plan by the activists to disrupt the race, which they succeeded in doing. All three were arrested on “suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance,” Merseyside Police said.With about 30 minutes to go until the scheduled start of 5:15 p.m. local time (1615 GMT), some of the activists from an estimated group of 300 climbed the high fences around Aintree racecourse and got onto the track. Some apparently attempted ...

Sportsnet releases schedule for first round of NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

The NHL’s playoff picture did not get locked in until the final game of the last night of the regular season.As the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Friday night, they clinched the top spot in the Central Division to set a best-of-seven matchup against the Seattle Kraken, thus solidifying all of the Stanley Cup Playoff’s first-round series.The playoffs start Monday with all games on Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW.The Edmonton Oilers are the first Canadian team to play as they host the Los Angeles Kings in a first-round rematch on Monday. The Toronto Maple Leafs open their series at home in a first-round rematch against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Winnipeg Jets are in Vegas to battle the Golden Knights on Tuesday.Here is the first-round schedule.Editor’s note: All times are Eastern. Times and television listings for the final three games of each series will be determined as they are finalized.Eastern ConferenceToronto Maple Lea...

Report finds democracy for Black Americans is under attack

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:48:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Extreme views adopted by some local, state and federal political leaders who try to limit what history can be taught in schools and seek to undermine how Black officials perform their jobs are among the top threats to democracy for Black Americans, the National Urban League says.Marc Morial, the former New Orleans mayor who leads the civil rights and urban advocacy organization, cited the most recent example: the vote this month by the Republican-controlled Tennessee House to oust two Black representatives for violating a legislative rule. The pair had participated in a gun control protest inside the chamber after the shooting that killed three students and three staff members at a Nashville school.“We have censorship and Black history suppression, and now this,” Morial said in an interview. “It’s another piece of fruit of the same poisonous tree, the effort to suppress and contain.”Both Tennessee lawmakers were quickly reinstated by leaders in their district...