Sports
NBA roundup: Pascal Siakam's 3 pushes Pacers past Celtics in OT
Oct 30, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrate Siakam’s game-winning three point basket against the Boston Celtics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images Pascal Siakam made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds remaining in overtime to help the Indiana Pacers defeat the Boston Celtics 135-132 on Wednesday night in Indianapolis.
Jaylen Brown missed a 3-point attempt that would have tied the game on Boston’s final possession. The defending NBA champion Celtics took their first defeat this season after four wins.
Siakam had 29 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Teammate Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench to score a team-high 30 points and grab 11 rebounds as Indiana ended a three-game losing streak.
Boston was down by 24 with 3:35 left in the third quarter and trailed by 21 with 8:55 remaining but tied the game on Jayson Tatum’s 3-pointer with 14.4 seconds to play. Tatum scored a game-high 37 points and Brown added 25, but they shot a combined 6-for-29 from 3-point range.
Cavaliers 134, Lakers 110
Los Angeles rookie Bronny James scored his first NBA basket, but Evan Mobley tallied 25 points and Donovan Mitchell added 24 points and seven assists as host Cleveland improved to 5-0 this season.
It is Cleveland’s best start since the 2016-17 season, when LeBron James was wearing No. 23 for the Cavs. Cleveland led by as many as 28 points and overcame a major foul disparity, committing 26 fouls to Los Angeles’ seven.
James’ father, LeBron James, 39, finished with 26 points, six rebounds and six turnovers. Teammate Anthony Davis, who entered the game leading the NBA in scoring at 32.8 points a game, finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Knicks 116, Heat 107
Karl-Anthony Towns enjoyed his best game with New York, scoring 44 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in defeating host Miami.
Towns, acquired in an offseason trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, made 17 of 25 shots from the floor, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, in 39 minutes. Jalen Brunson added 22 points and nine assists with just one turnover for the Knicks.
Tyler Herro led Miami with 34 points and seven assists. He made 12 of 20 shots, including 8 of 13 from beyond the arc. Terry Rozier scored 16 points. Miami was again without power forward Kevin Love (personal reasons).
Thunder 105, Spurs 93
Luguentz Dort scored 20 points as Oklahoma City remained undefeated by beating visiting San Antonio.
The showdown between the Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama never really materialized. Wembanyama limped to the locker room after appearing to injure his foot on a post-up during the second quarter and was a non-factor when he returned. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year finished with a career-low six points, going just 1-of-5 from the field, and grabbed eight rebounds.
Holmgren, who finished as runner-up for rookie honors, had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting with five boards and two blocks. He made all three of his 3-point tries as the Thunder made a season-high 17 from beyond the arc, including 13 before halftime.
Pistons 105, 76ers 95
Jaden Ivey scored 23 points and Cade Cunningham chipped in 22 as Detroit earned its first win of the season in five games, defeating host Philadelphia.
Detroit’s Tobias Harris, who spent the previous 5 1/2 seasons with Philadelphia, contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 32 points, but he shot just 2 of 10 from 3-point range as part of a teamwide 8-of-28 effort (28.6 percent) from long distance. The 76ers remain without stars Joel Embiid and Paul George due to knee injuries.
Trail Blazers 106, Clippers 105
Anfernee Simons scored 25 points and Deandre Ayton added 15 points and 12 rebounds as visiting Portland held on for a victory over Los Angeles at Inglewood, Calif.
Scoot Henderson had 14 points while Deni Avdija had 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Blazers won for the second time in their past three games and earned their first road victory in two tries.
Los Angeles’ Norman Powell scored 30 points and James Harden added 19 points with 10 assists. Ivica Zubac had 12 rebounds but was held to six points after he averaged 22.7 points over the first three games of the season. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 10 points for Los Angeles, which fell to 0-2 in the new $2 billion Intuit Dome.
Warriors 104, Pelicans 89
Buddy Hield had 21 points to lead six scorers in double figures, Brandin Podziemski nearly recorded a triple-double as Stephen Curry’s replacement, and Golden State pulled away from visiting New Orleans for a victory in San Francisco.
Podziemski, who hadn’t started any of Golden State’s first three games until Curry sprained his left ankle on Sunday, totaled 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. He had 19 points and five assists in his first start on Tuesday. Trayce Jackson-Davis added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jonathan Kuminga had 16 points, Draymond Green 14 and Kyle Anderson 10 for Golden State, which took the opener of the two-day, two-game series 124-106.
Jordan Hawkins put up a game-high 23 points for New Orleans, which completed a six-day, four-game western swing with a 1-3 record.
Wizards 133, Hawks 120
Bilal Coulibaly scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping Washington defeat visiting Atlanta for the second time in three days.
Jordan Poole added 24 points and a team-high nine assists for Washington, beat Atlanta by two points in Atlanta on Monday. Jonas Valanciunas and Corey Kispert put up 22 and 16 points, respectively, off the Wizards’ bench.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 35 points and 15 assists, while Jalen Johnson added 21 points and 17 rebounds. The Hawks have dropped three straight games.
Hornets 138, Raptors 133
Tre Mann and Cody Martin combined for 52 points off the bench for Charlotte as the Hornets outlasted visiting Toronto.
Mann scored a team-high 27 points and Martin was right behind with 25 as Charlotte snapped a two-game losing streak. Nick Richards added 24 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, LaMelo Ball poured in 19 points with six assists and reserve Grant Williams had 17 points with five assists.
RJ Barrett racked up 31 points and eight assists, Gradey Dick had 30 points and Jakob Poeltl posted 20 points and 16 rebounds to pace the Raptors, who have lost three games in a row. Scottie Barnes, Toronto’s leading scorer (19.2 points per game) didn’t play due to a fractured orbital bone injury he sustained Monday night against Denver.
Bulls 102, Magic 99
A balanced scoring effort and overwhelming defense in the second half helped host Chicago overcome 31 points from Orlando’s Paolo.
The Bulls held the Magic to 12 points in the fourth quarter and 37 in the second half, helping Chicago rally from a 10-point halftime deficit. Coby White scored 21 points, Josh Giddey had 20 points and Nikola Vucevic finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds for the Bulls.
Jalen Suggs put up 17 points and Wendell Carter Jr. added 14 for the Magic, who shot 38.5 percent from the floor in the second half.
Nets 119, Grizzlies 106
Dennis Schroder scored a season-high 33 points and dished out eight assists to lead visiting Brooklyn past injury-plagued Memphis.
Cam Thomas put up 19 points, Cameron Johnson had 14 and Jalen Wilson finished with 12 for the Nets, who got their first road win in three tries this season. Brooklyn’s Ziaire Williams, who began his career with the Grizzlies, had 17 points, four steals and three assists in his return.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had 30 points for Memphis, which lost two starters during its second straight defeat. Marcus Smart departed in the closing seconds of the first quarter when he sprained his right ankle before Desmond Bane left after injuring his oblique early in the third.
–Field Level Media
Sports
White Sox playing hard to beat, face challenge from Rangers
Jul 19, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) reacts after his single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery summed up his team’s mentality in one word after their 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday: “Relentlessness.”
That attitude is serving the White Sox well, as they are currently one game up on the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central after winning five of their last six.
They will look to rely on that same mindset as they begin a three-game set against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, Texas.
Facing someone Montgomery called “a true competitor” in Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage on Sunday, the White Sox hitters were ready for a battle at the plate.
“We knew we had to be disciplined with our plan,” Montgomery said.
“We just tried to stay positive,” he added. “And I think we just pulled through.”
Montgomery was a vital part of the 3-0 victory, hitting his team-leading 24th home run off Yesavage in the sixth inning.
There’s no secret ingredient to the surprise turnaround by the White Sox, but Montgomery credits the youth of the team for their day-to-day camaraderie.
“We’re all young, we’re all pretty inexperienced,” he said, “so we’re all just staying together.”
Erick Fedde (5-6, 4.15 ERA) will start for Chicago in Monday’s opener. Fedde’s last appearance came in relief on July 11, but he picked up the win after throwing four shutout innings in a 1-0 win against the visiting Athletics.
Fedde is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) versus the Rangers.
Texas power-hitting outfielder Wyatt Langford, who homered in the team’s 8-5 road loss to Atlanta on Sunday, has been slowed down only by the injury bug in 2026.
Langford has played in only 47 of the Rangers’ 99 games this season due to quad and forearm injuries in April and a hamstring strain in late June, but he’s not allowed the stop-start nature of his availability to throw off his rhythm. Seven of Langford’s 10 homers this season have come in his last 16 games, over which time he’s hitting .368 (25-for-68) with 17 RBIs.
Texas comes home after dropping two of three to the Braves in their first series after the break.
The Rangers will turn to veteran Jacob deGrom (7-5, 3.49) on the mound. The right-hander is coming off a health scare, as he was scratched from his last scheduled start on July 12 with a glute injury. Fortunately for Texas, their ace will avoid a stint on the injured list as he gets ready to face Chicago.
Texas manager Skip Schumaker said he waited to make the decision to start deGrom until he threw a pain-free bullpen session over the weekend, saying, “You want to check every box.”
“His health is good after the break, which is great news,” the manager said.
The last time deGrom took the mound, he had a no-decision in the Rangers’ 8-3 win over the visiting Los Angeles Angels on July 7, giving up two runs and striking out seven in five innings.
The White Sox are one of just five teams that deGrom has not beaten in his 13-year career. A five-time All-Star and two-time winner of the National League Cy Young Award, he has a 0-0 record and 1.80 ERA in three previous starts against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reeling Marlins turn to Janson Junk in opener vs. Astros
May 20, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (26) throws in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The Miami Marlins’ 3-1 walk-off loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday served as a microcosm of their recent performances, with their season-worst six-game skid reflecting their quality of play.
Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks surrendered a three-run homer to the Brewers’ William Contreras while trying to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. Miami arrives in Houston for Monday’s opener of a three-game series against the Astros not only seeking an end to its losing ways, but a reversal of its current string of poor showings.
“I didn’t think it was a specific (stink); I thought it was an all-encompassing type of (stink),” Fairbanks said following the defeat. “So we’re going to try and rectify that. But for right now, I’m going to be pretty (angry) about it.”
The Marlins’ loss in the series finale followed an 8-6 defeat on Saturday that left Miami manager Clayton McCullough displeased. To make matters worse, the Marlins lost All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez to a right ring finger injury in the middle contest of that three-game set. Lopez did not play on Sunday, and his status against the Astros is unclear.
“There’s still some swelling there in the nail area,” McCullough said. “A day-to-day thing with how he responds over the next few days. Hopefully, some of that soreness gets out of there, and he’s able to ramp up some more baseball activity.”
Right-hander Janson Junk (4-5, 4.57 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Marlins on Monday.
Junk has won consecutive decisions after dropping three straight decisions in May. Junk beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on July 9, when he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts over five innings. That marked the first start for Junk in six weeks following a stint on the injured list.
Junk is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two career starts against the Astros. In his previous appearance against Houston on Aug. 6, 2025, Junk allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts across five innings in a 6-4 home victory.
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (3-4, 4.10 ERA in 2025) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut for the Astros on Monday. It will mark the first start for Blanco since May 17, 2025, when he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts across six innings in a 5-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Blanco underwent Tommy John surgery soon thereafter and missed the remainder of the season.
In five rehab appearances (four starts) across three levels this season, Blanco is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 17 innings.
The Astros remain in a desperate search for quality starting pitching and are hopeful that Blanco, who tossed a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays in his eighth career major league start and first in the 2024 campaign, can provide a boost to their fortunes.
“He feels good,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “His stuff looked really good in his outings. I’m excited to have him back.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Slugger Hunter Goodman, Rockies strive to slow down Nationals
Jul 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) swings the bat in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman was snubbed from last week’s Home Run Derby, but he already is making a case for next year’s event.
Goodman has a team-high 30 homers for the Rockies, who face the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game series on Monday in Denver.
Washington took two of three from the Athletics over the weekend to move two games back from the final National League wild-card spot.
“These guys in the clubhouse have done a lot to get to this point that we are at today,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “We still have a lot of work that needs to be done, but overall, I’m happy with the way these guys come out ready to play every single day.”
Despite owning the NL’s worst record (40-61), the Rockies have provided several reasons for optimism. The team boasts a promising young core led by Goodman, right fielder Troy Johnston and first baseman TJ Rumfield.
Goodman hit three home runs in a game for the second time this season and drove in five runs in the Rockies’ 9-6 loss to the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
“His body looks like it’s flowing right. He looks dangerous. He just looks in-sync,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “You can see the confidence seep out of him.”
The 26-year-old Goodman has five multi-homer games this season and is batting .257 with 56 RBIs.
Another player who could be considered for next year’s Home Run Derby is Washington shortstop CJ Abrams, who hit his career-high 21st homer in a 5-2 victory over the host Athletics on Sunday.
Abrams started at shortstop for the NL in the All-Star Game, but he said that wasn’t even his most memorable moment of the week.
“My favorite part was probably the Home Run Derby,” Abrams said. “It was fun to watch.”
The pitching matchup for the series opener features a pair of left-handers as Washington’s Andrew Alvarez (2-3, 4.04 ERA) faces Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (2-8, 7.36).
Alvarez, 27, is set to make his first career start against the Rockies. He has appeared in 13 games this season, including six as a starter.
Alvarez last pitched on July 12, when he replaced starter Cade Cavalli in the seventh inning and allowed three runs over two frames in a home loss to the New York Yankees.
Control has been an ongoing issue for Alvarez, who has walked 22 batters in 49 innings this season. He owns a 4.99 ERA in eight games (three starts) at home this season compared to a 2.45 mark in five games (three starts) away from Nationals Park.
The Rockies will counter with Freeland, who allowed four runs with nine strikeouts over six innings in a 4-2 road loss to the San Francisco Giants on July 11.
“Kyle was excellent,” Schaeffer said. “He was efficient. He attacked the strike zone. His fastball was really good. His changeup was really good. He just felt like he was in command of the game.”
Freeland, in his 10th major league – all with Colorado — is one win away from securing his 68th career victory, which would tie him with German Marquez for third in franchise history. Jorge De La Rosa (86) and Aaron Cook (72) sit atop the list.
Freeland, 33, is 5-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 10 career starts versus Washington.
–Field Level Media
White Sox playing hard to beat, face challenge from Rangers
Reeling Marlins turn to Janson Junk in opener vs. Astros
