Sports
After Karl-Anthony Towns' breakout game, Knicks head to Detroit
Oct 30, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basketball against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The New York Knicks made the biggest trade of the NBA offseason, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota. Towns put on an offensive show in his fourth game with the club.
They’ll now head to Detroit to face the Pistons on Friday night.
Towns exploded with 44 points against Miami on Wednesday while attempting 25 field goals. He averaged 15.3 points in the Knicks’ first three games, never attempting more than 11 field goals.
“I think we did a good job of just feeding the hot hand,” guard Jalen Brunson said after the 116-107 win. “He was hot and we were just playing through him. He was making the right reads and when they doubled he either got fouled or he made the right play. We trust him.”
In part due to injuries, Towns is playing center for the Knicks after serving mainly as a power forward for the Timberwolves. The Pistons’ combination of starter Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart will be assigned the task of keeping Towns under control.
The Heat had no answers for him.
“I love his approach because he’s not forcing anything,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He’s letting the game come to him. I want him to be assertive and everything, but I want him to let the game come to him. He’s a very gifted scorer, as you saw (Wednesday). … He can hurt you in a lot of different ways.”
Swingman Josh Hart showed grit by fighting off a shin injury and playing 42 minutes. He contributed 10 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
“That’s what you love about him,” Thibodeau said. “There’s no other agenda other than winning. So whatever you ask him to do he’s going to give you everything he has.”
New York has dominated the series against the Pistons in recent years. They have recorded 15 consecutive victories over Detroit, dating back to the 2019-20 season.
The Pistons notched their first victory under new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Wednesday, defeating Philadelphia 105-95. Detroit’s starting backcourt of Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham combined for 45 points.
“For the whole group, this is obviously something that, whether you say it or not, it has been weighing on us to get the first W,” forward Tobias Harris said.
Harris, who signed a two-year contract as a free agent after a lengthy stint with the Sixers, supplied 18 points and a team-high 14 rebounds. He got razzed by the Philadelphia fans but it didn’t affect his performance.
“I knew that it wasn’t gonna be like, a tearful moment. I can tell you that. I knew that coming in. This is a crowd that, they boo their own team, that’s just how it is,” Harris said. “My team really did a good job of keeping me on track of just understanding, ‘Hey, we need you. Don’t worry about that.’ I think it’s funny because for a lot of guys, they were looking at me like, ‘Yo, are you good?’ I’m like, ‘I’ve been doing this for a minute now, so I already know what it is.'”
–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
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
