Sports
Clippers look to rebound at surging Pistons
Feb 23, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; LA Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff wants his team to gain a reputation for being physical on defense. Early foul trouble prevented the Pistons from playing that way in Atlanta on Sunday but that didn’t hinder them from keeping their winning streak alive.
They’ll try to add to their win streak when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
The Pistons emerged with a wild 148-143 victory over the Hawks to increase their winning streak to six games. Their last string of six-plus wins came in 2014-15, when they won seven in a row.
“I’m most pleased with our guys’ willingness to figure it out and tonight was going to be a night where we had to outscore people,” Bickerstaff said. “We did everything the right way to go out and do that.”
Detroit’s previous five victories were decided by double-digit margins, and it didn’t give up more than 112 points. The Pistons put on an offensive show in Atlanta, shooting 59.1 percent from the field.
As usual, All-Star guard Cade Cunningham was the leader of the pack. He poured in 38 points and dished out 12 assists. All of the other starters also reached double figures while Malik Beasley, a prime candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award, pumped in 24 points.
The X factor was veteran guard Dennis Schroder, who was acquired at the trade deadline earlier this month. Schroder contributed 16 points and seven assists in 22 minutes.
“To be able to have another ballhandler out there, who can make plays, who has no fear, takes a lot of pressure off of Cade and everybody else out there,” Bickerstaff said. “But you need a guy who has courage and this is what we envisioned when we made the trade for him, to get him in the (closing) lineup where he can help us finish and he rose to the occasion.”
The Clippers have lost both of their games since the All-Star break, including a 129-111 thumping at Indiana on Sunday. Los Angeles didn’t have two of its starters, as leading scorer Norman Powell (left knee soreness) and star forward Kawhi Leonard (left foot soreness) sat out.
The Pacers shot 54.8 percent from the field and never trailed, leading by as much as 22 points.
“Just our one-on-one defense, getting cracked off the dribble, really hurt us,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “They play fast, they have shooting bigs, they can go small. They were really able to use their speed and pace against us to create open looks and get to the paint and get 3s. We just didn’t do a good job containing those guys in transition.”
If Powell and Leonard have to miss Monday’s game, the Clippers will lean heavily on James Harden once again to generate offense. Harden had 31 points and 11 assists on Sunday.
“Practices are going great, understanding what we’re trying to accomplish but missing two of your best players, it makes it that much more difficult to win games,” Harden said. “We’ve just got to gut it out and find a way to win.”
This is the first meeting between the Clippers and Pistons. The rematch will be held in Los Angeles on March 5.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tour de France final stage rerouted due to wildfires
A firefighter works to battle wildfire near the A9 motorway near Beziers, France, July 3, 2026. Wildfires in southwest France have forced organizers of the Tour de France to reconfigure the final stage, set for Sunday.
The change is necessary because multiple first responders have been diverted to the fires. The new route will leave a smaller race footprint for local officials to secure.
“As numerous wildfires are currently affecting France, particularly the Gironde region, emergency services are fully mobilized to combat the blazes, while internal security forces are working to secure the affected areas and protect the population,” the Amaury Sport Organisation said in a statement.
“In light of this, the Ministry of Interior has decided to redeploy a portion of the internal security forces initially mobilized to ensure security for the final stage of the Tour de France, in order to reinforce the response efforts in the areas affected by the wildfires.”
The wildfires have led to the evacuations of about 200,000 people.
Stage 21 had been set as a 132.5-kilometer ride from Thoiry down the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
The re-imagined Stage 21 still will end along the famed road, just after a circuit on the Montmartre. But the run now will occur solely within the Paris boundaries and travel just 89 km. Cyclists will take two extra circuits along the Champs-Elysees before heading out for the Montmartre climb.
The Montmartre circuit has proven to be popular after it was used in the 2024 Paris Olympics and then added to the 2025 Tour de France. The area can accommodate large gatherings of fans, who turn the area into a party atmosphere.
Earlier in the Tour de France, fans were asked to stay away from the final 40 kilometers of Stage 3 because of wildfires and the need to deploy first responders to the area.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Robert Kraft: Patriots offered CB Christian Gonzalez record-setting deal
Jun 9, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (0) takes questions from the media at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team offered Christian Gonzalez a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.
“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.
“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”
Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie is currently the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, pocketing $31 million per season on his four-year, $131 million contract that he signed this offseason.
Gonzalez, 24, made the Pro Bowl last season after posting 69 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 starts. He has three interceptions, 24 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack and 145 tackles in 34 career games (all starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
49ers' Kyle Shanahan to be limited in camp after serious car crash
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan broke his nose, three ribs and his hand, needed over 40 stitches to his face and sustained a severe concussion after he was involved in a car accident last week, ESPN reported Saturday.
Per the network, the accident occurred on July 14 after Shanahan collided with an SUV near his northern California home.
The other driver was not injured, per Palo Alto lieutenant Nicholas Martinez. Martinez added that drugs and alcohol were not involved.
The 49ers said Shanahan will participate in team activities on a limited basis at the start of training camp, with ESPN reporting doctors will not clear Shanahan for all activities until concussion symptoms clear.
The team said assistant head coach Chris Foerster along with team coordinators will handle the head-coaching responsibilities during this time.
49ers general manager John Lynch is scheduled to hold a news conference at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The Niners are scheduled to hold their first practice of training camp Sunday morning and are set to open the season on Sept. 10 against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Shanahan, 46, will begin his 10th season as head coach in San Francisco. He owns an 82-67 record in the regular season. He has a 9-5 postseason record, guiding the 49ers to a pair of Super Bowl appearances — losing to the Kansas City Chiefs both times (2020, 2024).
–Field Level Media
Tour de France final stage rerouted due to wildfires
Robert Kraft: Patriots offered CB Christian Gonzalez record-setting deal
