Sports
No. 10 St. John's avoiding complacency as battle with DePaul looms
Feb 16, 2025; Queens, New York, USA; St. John’s Red Storm forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) celebrates in the second half against the Creighton Bluejays at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images No. 10 St. John’s has built a modest cushion atop the Big East standings, but it is far from satisfied.
Following another high-profile victory, the surging Red Storm look to maintain their focus while aiming for a 12th win in 13 games as they prepare to face DePaul on Wednesday night in Chicago.
St. John’s (22-4, 13-2 Big East) has stacked up its most wins in a single season since rattling off 25 during the 1999-2000 campaign. Thanks to a gritty 79-73 victory over then-No. 24 Creighton on Sunday, the Red Storm enter their meeting with the Blue Demons holding a two-game lead over the Bluejays in the conference standings.
Still, St. John’s can’t take its foot off the gas, as three of its final five games of the regular season come on the road, with one of those a meeting with No. 16 Marquette. The Red Storm also have to face two-time defending champion UConn at home before they can think about the postseason.
“We just have to keep playing the way we’ve been playing and move on to the next step,” Red Storm guard Kadary Richmond, who had 19 points, 10 rebounds and four steals on Sunday, told the New York Post. “We can’t have any slip-ups.”
Taking a step back against DePaul (11-15, 2-13) would certainly be one of those slip-ups, as the Blue Demons are last in the league and have dropped three consecutive games by a combined 37 points. St. John’s rolled to an 89-61 victory over DePaul on Dec. 17 in New York.
The Red Storm shot 55.2 percent from the field in that win — their best field-goal percentage against a conference foe this season — but their offense hasn’t been nearly as crisp as of late.
St. John’s has failed to top 40 percent from the floor in three of its past five games, but it still managed to go 4-1.
“I’ve never seen these type of statistics and this much winning — ever,” Red Storm coach Rick Pitino said. “It defies all statistical logic, but that tells you how good they are with effort.”
Pitino hopes the effort doesn’t wane vs. DePaul, which shot 39.2 percent overall and went 6-for-20 from 3-point range when it faced St. John’s earlier this season. The Blue Demons have dropped six of their past seven games, most recently falling 85-68 to Xavier on Saturday in Cincinnati.
“We have still missed some open shots that you’ve got to make at this point,” DePaul coach Chris Holtmann said. “Bottom line is you’ve got to make them at this point.”
CJ Gunn is averaging a team-high 12.2 points per game for the Blue Demons. He finished with 16 on 7-of-12 shooting in the setback against the Musketeers.
RJ Luis Jr. has been leading the way for St. John’s and ranks first on the team in points per game (17.6) and second in rebounds per game (7.2).
DePaul could be without forward NJ Benson on Wednesday night. He didn’t play against Xavier due to a hand injury.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves activate OF Ronald Acuna Jr. from injured list
Jul 4, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) during batting practice before a game against the New York Mets at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves reinstated star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday’s series opener against the host New York Mets.
The five-time All-Star is batting .251 with seven homers, 22 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 53 games during an injury-plagued campaign.
Acuna, 28, has not played with the Braves since June 9 due to a left hamstring strain, the same injury that kept him out for more than two weeks in May.
The 2023 National League MVP, Acuna is a career .287 hitter with 193 homers, 481 RBIs and 220 steals in 870 games since making his debut with Atlanta in 2018.
The Braves optioned outfielder Brewer Hicklen, 30, to Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move. He batted .368 (7-for-19) with four doubles and three RBIs in eight games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nashville SC acquire Senegalese M Famara Camara
Sep 18, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; General view of the MLS PRO logo on the side of a match ball in the match between Nashville SC and Chicago Fire at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Casey Gower-Imagn Images Nashville SC acquired midfielder Famara Camara from Norwegian side Ranheim Fotball on Monday.
The 21-year-old Senegal native is signed through June 2029 with an option through June 2030. He will occupy an international roster slot.
Camara recorded one goal and two assists in 39 appearances across all competitions with Ranheim from 2025-26.
Locking down the midfield for the long haul ?? pic.twitter.com/n1rsC6J2Ab
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) July 27, 2026
“Famara is a talented midfielder who has the ability to impact games on both sides of the ball,” Nashville president of soccer operations and general manager Mike Jacobs said. “He will join a talented midfield corps here in Nashville and complement that group really well.”
Midway through the season, Nashville (12-2-3) leads the MLS Supporters’ Shield race with 39 points.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: NBA to max out LeBron James, 76ers' national TV games
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Fans itching to watch LeBron James play in his new Philadelphia uniform should get plenty of opportunities this season as the 76ers are expected to get the NBA’s maximum of 34 national game telecasts/streams, Front Office Sports reported Monday.
That would more than double the 14 national games the Sixers were featured in last season, when the team led by Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey finished in a disappointing seventh place in the Eastern Conference at 45-37.
Now that the 41-year-old James has signed a two-year, $8 million contract to play in Philly, viewers can expect to see him featured prominently during tentpole league events like opening week and Christmas Day’s five-game slate.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on July 16 he was awaiting James’ decision before finalizing the schedule for the telecasts/streams across Disney’s ABC/ESPN, NBCUniversal’s NBC Sports/Peacock, and Amazon’s Prime Video. The league receives input from these partners before making the final schedule.
Four teams received the maximum 34 national games last season: the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks, who play in the league’s biggest market; the Los Angeles Lakers in the No. 2 market; the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder; and four-time champion Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors.
–Field Level Media
Braves activate OF Ronald Acuna Jr. from injured list
Nashville SC acquire Senegalese M Famara Camara
