Sports
Nuggets hope for better shooting vs. turnover-prone Raptors
Oct 26, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) attempts a shot as Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) defends in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images The Denver Nuggets will try to find their shooting stroke when they visit the short-handed and turnover-prone Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
The Nuggets shot 40.2 percent (35-for-87) from the field Saturday in a 109-104 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers despite 41 points from Nikola Jokic, who made a career-best seven 3-pointers.
That followed a 35.7 percent (35-for-98) shooting night in Denver’s 102-87 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder in Thursday’s season opener.
The Nuggets went 7-for-38 (18.4 percent) on 3-point attempts on Thursday. That improved to 40 percent (14-for-35) on Saturday, thanks to Jokic going 7-for-12 from beyond the arc.
“We’re going to miss and make shots,” said Jamal Murray, who scored 22 points Saturday on 7-for-14 shooting from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
“We can miss three in a throw. We can make three in a row. I think everybody’s seen everybody miss and seen everybody make. But it really just comes down to energy and effort, and how consistent we can be as a group on defense, and translating those turnovers that we force into fast break points.”
Denver committed just 10 turnovers while forcing 17 on Saturday, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone was concerned about when his team’s miscues occurred.
“We got really sloppy with the ball,” Malone said. “We only had 10 turnovers for the game, but in the fourth quarter, a game that’s going back and forth, we have three for seven points. You can’t have costly turnovers that led to just easy transition dunks for them. So I thought those were killers.”
Malone pointed out other mistakes.
“We continued to foul jump-shooters. Lack of discipline there,” Malone said. “That’s concerning because the same guys are making the same mistakes over and over.”
Toronto was again without RJ Barrett (shoulder), Immanuel Quickley (pelvic bruise), Bruce Brown (knee) and Kelly Olynyk (back) in its 112-101 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Brown and Olynyk are out Monday, while Quickley is doubtful and Barrett is questionable.
Gradey Dick scored a career-high 25 points for the Raptors against Minnesota, but Toronto committed 20 turnovers that led to 27 Timberwolves points.
The Raptors have tallied 66 giveaways over their first three games, including a 27-turnover performance in their 115-107 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
Scottie Barnes had 20 points against the Timberwolves but also committed a team-high six turnovers.
Despite Saturday’s loss, Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic commended his team for battling through its repeated mistakes.
“What I really liked about our guys is that they never quit during the game,” Rajakovic said. “When they had runs, we did not quit, we continued fighting and we found a way to keep the game close.”
Dick rebounded from a pair of sub-40-percent shooting nights to hit 9-of-16 shots (56.3 percent) against the Timberwolves. The second-year guard is second on the team with 16.3 points per game.
Dick said he simply takes what the defense gives him. He also credits Barnes for drawing attention that helps him get open. Barnes had six assists Saturday.
Ochai Agbaji contributed 19 points for the Raptors, who trailed 32-18 after the first quarter and 56-44 at halftime.
The Nuggets won both of their games against the Raptors last season, including a 125-119 final on March 11 at Denver when Murray scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets had trailed by 21 points in the third.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Orlando City logo is seen prior to a match against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Orlando City SC signed homegrown defender Bernardo Rhein to a first-team contract through the 2027-28 season.
The deal includes team options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 campaigns.
“Bernardo has earned this opportunity through his dedication, consistency and the progress he’s shown at every stage of our development pathway,” said Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira.
“Having started in futsal, Bernardo brings flair and intensity to our backline. From the Academy to OCB and now the First Team, he has embraced every challenge and continued to grow as a player and as a person. This signing reflects our commitment to developing talent from within, and we’re excited to support Bernardo as he takes the next step in his career with the Club.”
The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on April 22, 2026, against Charlotte FC. He becomes the 19th Orlando City Academy product to advance through the full development pathway.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With 318th homer, Royals' Salvador Perez sets club mark
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Salvador Perez, who hit the first home run of his career at Comerica Park in Detroit in 2011, set the Kansas City Royals’ all-time record with No. 318 on Saturday at the same venue.
In the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Tigers, Perez tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning with a 401-foot solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Perez’s blast broke a tie with Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 homers for Kansas City from 1973-93. Like Brett, Perez has played his entire career with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
The 36-year-old is batting .210 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games this season. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove catcher.
In 1,805 games with Kansas City, Perez has hit .261 with 748 runs and 1,060 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
