Sports
High-scoring Wisconsin set for recharged Rutgers
Dec 14, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guards John Blackwell (25) and Kamari McGee (4) celebrate after a play during the second half against the Butler Bulldogs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images With sidekick Dylan Harper sidelined, fellow freshman Ace Bailey scored enough points for the two of them in Rutgers’ most recent game.
Now Harper is expected back from illness to team with co-star Bailey when Rutgers battles Wisconsin on Monday night in a Big Ten clash at Piscataway, N.J.
Bailey matched the school record of 39 points for a Rutgers freshman when the Scarlet Knights (8-6, 1-2 Big Ten) lost 84-74 to host Indiana on Thursday night. Corey Sanders also had 39 points in a 110-101 triple-overtime loss against Illinois on Feb. 3, 2016.
Bailey made 16 of 29 field-goal attempts and knocked down four 3-pointers. He also collected eight rebounds and four blocked shots in a scintillating performance.
“My teammates put me in positions and trusted me to make the shots that I make,” Bailey said. “All thanks to my teammates for rebounding, pushing the outlet, setting good screens, spacing the floor and all for me to get to work.”
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said the absence of Harper led to the heavy emphasis of relying on Bailey.
“You are always trying to get it to Ace,” Pikiell said. “He has a hot hand and was ready to play.”
Bailey raised his scoring average to 19.9 points per game. Harper has a team-leading 22.8 average and boasts outings of 37 points against Alabama and 36 against Notre Dame.
Pikell insisted that Harper will be on the court against the Badgers.
Rutgers is 7-0 at home this season as the Badgers (11-3, 1-2) arrive in search of their fourth consecutive victory.
Wisconsin is coming off a stellar 116-85 home win over Iowa on Friday. The point total was the most the Badgers have scored in a Big Ten contest.
Wisconsin also set a Big Ten record with 21 3-pointers. John Blackwell drained a career-best six of them while posting a career-high 32 points.
“I got a hot hand early,” Blackwell said. “They found me and we played the right basketball. We were hitting shots, and when you feel it, you just keep shooting.”
Badgers coach Greg Gard was pleased with Blackwell’s aggressiveness.
“He’s becoming more and more comfortable with the ball in his hands,” Gard said. “In the last three games he’s got 15 assists, two turnovers, so he’s seeing things faster, quicker, earlier. He’s getting more comfortable in that role.”
Blackwell is second on the Badgers with a 15.4 scoring average. John Tonje has a team-best 18.6 average.
The teams split two meetings last season. Rutgers posted a 78-56 home victory on Feb. 10 and the Badgers notched a 78-66 win on March 7.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram in walking boot ahead of Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram is listed as questionable to play in the game due to right heel inflammation.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'
May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) scores a three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers with 25 seconds to go in game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images It’s just a little more than 100 miles from Madison Square Garden in New York to Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia — a relatively short car ride or train trip for Knicks fans who wanted to see their team in action against the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-Pro selection in the 2022-23 season, wants no part of Knicks fans invading his team’s home arena.
In his postgame interview Saturday night after the Sixers stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of their series to advance, he put 76ers fans on notice.
Don’t sell your playoff tickets — especially not to Knicks fans.
New Yorkers overtook the Philadelphia arena two years ago when the No. 2-seeded Knicks eliminated the No. 7 Sixers in the opening round of the postseason. It has been presumed that Knicks fans bought their tickets from 76ers fans.
“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said Saturday night. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support.
“Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”
Embiid offered a solution, if need be.
“Knicks fans travel — they buy tickets,” he said. “There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”
The Eastern Conference semifinal between the teams begins Monday in New York, with Game 2 set for Wednesday. The series will move to Philadelphia on Friday for Game 3, followed by Game 4 on Saturday.
The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games to advance.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Raptors' Brandon Ingram in walking boot ahead of Game 7
Smutty Netflix Movie Has Women Dating Hairy Beasts For Kink And Comedy
