Sports
Celtics, behind hot shooting, overwhelm Rockets
Jan 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) handles the ball against Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Derrick White and Jayson Tatum combined for 43 points and the visiting Boston Celtics rode a brilliant offensive first half to a 109-86 win over the injury-depleted Houston Rockets on Friday.
White scored 23 points and drilled six 3-pointers while Tatum scored 10 of his 20 points down the stretch of the first half to help the Celtics — who played without Jaylen Brown (shoulder) — cruise to victory.
Payton Pritchard and Jrue Holiday totaled six 3-pointers and chipped in 20 and 14 points, respectively, as Boston made 19 of 39 3-point attempts and overwhelmed the Rockets with offensive precision.
Houston could not keep pace while falling to 1-3 on its five-game homestand. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 27 points while Alperen Sengun added 14 points and seven rebounds. But Houston could not overcome the absences of Amen Thompson (suspension), Tari Eason (leg), and Jabari Smith Jr., who broke his left (non-shooting) hand during shootaround earlier Friday.
Smith is scheduled to undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for four to eight weeks.
Both teams were scorching early, shooting a combined 11 for 16 while Houston pushed to a 15-12 lead by the 7:29 mark of the first quarter. But the Celtics seized control with a 10-0 run out of a timeout, with Holiday nailing two 3-pointers and Luke Kornet adding a pair of dunks.
Boston extended to a 17-4 run and double-digit lead Houston shaved to 37-31 entering the second. Holiday scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting while Pritchard tallied 10 points off the bench in the first quarter. The Celtics shot 62.5 percent in the frame and made 7 of 12 3-pointers.
Green tallied 11 points during a 14-6 spurt that shaved another double-digit deficit to 53-51. That’s when Tatum took over, recording two dunks and two 3-pointers over the final 2:53 of the half.
Boston led 65-56 at the break. Pritchard, Tatum, White and Holiday combined for 51 points on 20-for-34 shooting including 11 of 20 from behind the arc. Boston committed one turnover in the first half. When Pitcher sank a 3-pointer with 8:43 remaining in the game, the Celtics led 93-72. Boston led by as many as 28 points in the final period.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Broncos sign GM George Paton to new 5-year deal
Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos general manager George Paton speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Denver Broncos signed general manager George Paton to a new five-year contract Friday that runs through the 2030 season.
Paton, 56, joined Denver as the GM in 2021 after 14 seasons in the Minnesota Vikings’ front office (2007-20).
“We are pleased to announce a new five-year contract for George Paton that reflects our confidence in his leadership, vision and the overall direction of our team,” owner and CEO Greg Penner said. “As our general manager, George has demonstrated a strong commitment toward building a winning roster while forming a collaborative and supportive partnership with Sean Payton.
“I’ve enjoyed working with George over the last four seasons and appreciate the alignment we share in positioning the Broncos for sustained success.”
Since Paton brought in head coach Payton ahead of the 2023 season, the Broncos have averaged 11 wins per season with back-to-back playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025.
Denver earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record last season before losing to the New England Patriots in the conference championship game.
Paton has aggressively worked to improve the Broncos through all avenues during his tenure, including 36 trades, 45 draft selections, 55 unrestricted free agent signings and 13 contract extensions, according to the team.
Paton’s biggest draft hits include 2021 first-round cornerback Patrick Surtain II — the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year — and 2024 first-round choice and franchise quarterback Bo Nix.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Iowa finalizing 6-year deal with coach Ben McCollum
Mar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Ben McCollum calls a timeout against the Florida Gators in the second half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Ben McCollum is finalizing a deal with Iowa that would keep him as the Hawkeyes basketball coach for the next six years, ESPN reported Friday.
McCollum is coming off his first season at the helm in Iowa, when he took the Hawkeyes on their deepest NCAA tournament run in almost 40 years.
Compiling a 24-13 record, the Storm Lake, Iowa, native led the No. 9 Hawkeyes on a run to the Elite Eight that included a 73-72 second-round upset win over top-seeded Florida and another win over No. 4 Nebraska before being eliminated by Illinois in the regional final.
McCollum, 45, came to Iowa last spring after one season at Drake, which he led to the NCAA Tournament after guiding the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley regular season and conference tournament titles in his first year with the program. Drake finished with a 31-4 record after falling to Texas Tech in the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament.
He previously spent 15 seasons with NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State University, helping his alma mater capture four national championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022).
During his 17-year coaching career, McCollum has amassed a record of 450-108.
McCollum was reportedly pursued by North Carolina in their search for a head coach to replace Hubert Davis, who was fired after five seasons. Former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ultimately hired to coach the Tar Heels.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao agree to rematch
May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Floyd Mayweather (right) talks with Manny Pacquiao as celebrates after his welterweight championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to terms on an amended deal for a proposed boxing match on Sept. 25 in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur told The Ring magazine on Friday that the sides reached terms to go ahead with the anticipated bout at T-Mobile Arena. The fight will stream live on Netflix.
The initial plan was for the bout to be held at The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 19, however that fell through. The rock band The Eagles are performing on that date as part of their residency at the venue.
Mayweather could be rather busy given that he has exhibition bouts lined up against Mike Tyson and Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis. The Tyson fight does not have a specific date or location, while the Zambidis bout is set for June 27 in Athens, Greece.
Mayweather, 49, and Pacquiao initially fought in 2015 after years of buildup, with the former winning by unanimous decision. That bout wound up being the highest grossing boxing event of all time.
Pacquiao, 47, retired from boxing in September 2021 as the only eight-division world champion in boxing history before coming out of retirement last year for a WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios, which ended in a majority draw.
Mayweather, who has a perfect 50-0 career record and won 15 world titles, hasn’t fought competitively since his highly controversial boxing match against UFC legend Conor McGregor in August of 2017.
–Field Level Media
Broncos sign GM George Paton to new 5-year deal
Reports: Iowa finalizing 6-year deal with coach Ben McCollum
