Sports
76ers carry run of good form into New Year's clash with Kings
Dec 25, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (16) shoots over Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Two teams that liked what they saw at the end of 2024 hope a new year is nothing more than the changing of a calendar when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
The game matches two coaches with strong links to the Toronto Raptors — the 76ers’ Nick Nurse, who worked 10 years in the organization, five as its head coach; and Kings interim coach Doug Christie, a member of Toronto’s 2000 playoff team amid his four-plus seasons north of the border.
In his second year at the helm of the 76ers, Nurse has his club playing at a season-best level. They’ve won 10 of 13 since a 3-14 start, including having won four in a row overall, three straight on the road and two in succession to start a four-game Western swing.
Tyrese Maxey (30.0 points per game) and Joel Embiid (26.3) have been the headliners of the four-game winning streak, and Paul George has been a steady contributor in 31.3 minutes per game. However, Embiid (sprained left foot) will miss Wednesday’s game.
According to George, the biggest positive in the team’s recent run has been the play of Caleb Martin, whose return to health has coincided with the club’s upswing in outcomes.
“I had a sigh of relief for him,” George said after Martin buried a career-best seven 3-pointers in a Christmas Day win over the Boston Celtics. “Just to watch him battle and work and just put countless hours on getting his body together. He’s a warrior. It was eating away at him that he couldn’t be himself and he couldn’t be available for us. Again, he’s a warrior, so he’s ready when he’s called upon.”
Martin has averaged 11.8 points during the winning streak, making 56.7 percent of his shots overall and 12 of 18 from beyond the arc. He’s also totaled 15 rebounds, four steals and four blocks in the four games.
Martin posted a team-best plus-27 plus/minus in 38 minutes in the 76ers’ 125-103 win at Portland on Monday.
The result prompted far less of a celebration than the one in Sacramento, where the Kings snapped a six-game losing streak and delivered Christie a win in his first home game as interim coach with a 110-100 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks.
Christie moved over a seat on the bench when the Kings fired Mike Brown after their fifth straight defeat, 114-113 at home last Thursday against the Detroit Pistons. Christie then took over for a 132-122 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday in the Kings’ only road game of the losing streak.
The game plan against the Mavericks was tweaked only a bit from the ones Brown had used. Hearing it from a different voice and with a different emotion made the difference, Domantas Sabonis insisted.
“We’ve spent three summers now with him,” Sabonis said of Christie. “He works his butt off, and just to see him installing what he believes in the guys, and the guys reacting that quickly to it, is awesome.”
Among Brown’s accomplishments with the Kings was ending a 10-game losing streak in the all-time series with the 76ers last March. Sacramento hadn’t beaten the Eastern club since February 2019.
Sabonis had a triple-double (11 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) and Embiid sat out the 108-96 Kings win in the 76ers’ last visit to the California capital.
The Kings listed starting forward Keegan Murray (11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds per game) as doubtful for Wednesday with left ankle soreness.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green held off Auston Kim on Sunday to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore for the second time.
Green, the 2024 champion, balanced three birdies and three bogeys on an eventful back nine to finish with a 3-under 69 and a final score of 14-under at Sentosa Golf Club. The 2019 Women’s PGA Championship winner tapped in for bogey at the 18th for her seventh LPGA Tour title.
“When I did win Singapore two years ago, I went on to win two other tournaments that season and pretty much had my best season on tour,” said Green, 29. “So having a win so early in the season gives me a bit more flexibility with the tournaments that I can play. So I’m hoping that this puts me in good stead for the rest of the year.”
Green was at 16-under after birdies at the first, 11th and 13th holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. Her birdie at the par-3 15th helped her survive a bogey-bogey finish.
“I knew that I had enough of a lead to be able to get away with making mistakes coming down the stretch. But I think 15 was the real turning point,” she said.
First- and second-round leader Kim nearly chased down her first title, matching the low round of the day with a 67 to finish one shot behind Green in the 72-hole, no-cut tournament.
Kim carded six birdies and an eagle at No. 8, but a bogey at the par-3 15th proved costly for the 25-year-old American.
“Overall, I think it was a really solid week,” Kim said. “A great way to start the year. I hit a lot of bad shots but I also hit a lot of good ones, and it was really confidence boosting. I hit all these bad shots, and I didn’t feel like I had anything chose to my A game, but I was still able it pull off a result like this and play some really solid golf.”
Australia’s Minjee Lee (72 on Sunday), Angel Yin (71) and France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (68) tied for third place at 11-under with South Korea’s Haeran Ryu (72) another shot back in solo sixth.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand finished with a 73 and tied for 31st at 2-under, one shot behind defending champion Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
