Sports
Fred VanVleet's return would be pleasant surprise for Rockets vs. Bucks
Feb 1, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Among the myriad factors contributing to the Houston Rockets’ downturn this month has been the absence of veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed his ninth consecutive game on Saturday when the Rockets fell to the Utah Jazz in the second game of a back-to-back.
Including a home loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 1 — during which VanVleet logged only 16 minutes before departing with a right ankle injury — the Rockets have dropped seven of 10 games.
On Tuesday, they attempt to right the ship when they host the Milwaukee Bucks to open a three-game homestand.
VanVleet practiced Monday and remains a game-time decision against Milwaukee.
The Rockets have distributed the offense-orchestration duties among several candidates to mixed results, with Jalen Green, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun mostly responsible for getting the Rockets into their sets or ensuring that optimal shot attempts are created in the halfcourt.
Green and Thompson have labored with ball security with VanVleet sidelined. And, in their 121-115 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves last Friday, Sengun committed a career-high eight turnovers attempting to score or pass when facing a second defender.
Sengun and VanVleet have established a strong working relationship over the past two seasons. If any player misses VanVleet the most, it’s Sengun.
“I think as other guys have grown into that role, they have to figure out what plays we like to get Alperen in (and) what shots we want to get him,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “But Fred does that pretty naturally.
“They have a good thing in their two-man game or, in general, Fred getting us into sets that benefit Alpi. I’d say Fred is crucial to our whole ecosystem of what we do because of his IQ and the headiness that he plays with. We’re missing some of that, but other guys are getting the opportunity to improve as well.”
The Bucks revamped their rotation at the trade deadline and the results have been wildly positive thus far. Milwaukee notched its fourth consecutive victory Monday with a 120-113 decision over the Miami Heat — rallying from a double-digit, first-quarter deficit in the process.
The additions of Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jericho Sims have provided the Bucks with needed depth and versatility, especially given the 25-game absence of suspended forward Bobby Portis Jr. Whereas the Bucks were previously vulnerable in their minutes without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the new additions offer abundant cover when their stars sit.
The Porter-Kuzma tandem is one to watch as Milwaukee pursues a favorable playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
“That’s where Scoot (Porter) comes in,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “That’s why we’re doing it. We believe Scoot and Kuz, just their athleticism, their length (is beneficial). It just gives us a lot of speed and we try to make sure we have one roller — and that’s Jericho — and two shooters around those guys, and I think it’s a good fit.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds go for series win vs. Cardinals in bid to close NL wild-card gap
Jul 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (21) delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds know they face a tough road to potentially get into the playoffs. They sit six games behind Arizona in the National League wild-card race, as the Diamondbacks hold the final spot, with five other teams between them.
But with three straight wins and five in seven games since the All-Star break, the Reds want to keep the good times rolling Saturday night in the second game of three contests against the host St. Louis Cardinals.
Cincinnati won 4-2 in the series opener on Friday, with Eugenio Suarez delivering a two-run home run in the seventh inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 advantage.
The Reds added an insurance run in the ninth.
“We want to win as many games as possible and see what kind of situation we can put ourselves in by the deadline,” said closer Emilio Pagan, who tossed a perfect ninth to earn the save. “From there, go on a run. We’re behind the eight-ball, but we also know what we can do if we play the game the right way.”
It’s the Reds’ first three-game winning streak since May 23-26, part of a run that saw the club emerge victorious five times in a seven-game stretch.
The hill to climb into playoff contention will be tough, but the Reds will have a chance to help control their destiny thanks to their schedule. Series against the Diamondbacks and each of the five teams in between them in the playoff race, including a five-gamer against the Cardinals, are on tap over the final two months of the season.
St. Louis trails Arizona by 2 1/2 games in the wild-card chase.
“Anything can happen in baseball, so we’ve just got to continue to show up, keep doing what we’re doing, and who knows what can happen?” Reds left-fielder JJ Bleday said. “We put ourselves in a good spot. … We’re playing some good baseball.”
Right-hander Hunter Greene (2-1, 6.06 ERA) will start for Cincinnati on Saturday. He is 2-4 with a 3.23 ERA in nine career starts against St. Louis.
The Cardinals head into the middle contest of the series looking to get their bats going. On Friday, they didn’t get their first hit until the fifth inning when, with Ivan Herrera (hit by pitch) and Nathan Church (walk) on, Blaze Jordan doubled to put his team ahead 2-1.
St. Louis would manage just one other hit the rest of the way — another double, from Jimmy Crooks in the eighth.
“We have to get back to just taking some really tough at-bats,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “Regardless of the result, just the style of the at-bat. We haven’t done that as of late, and it’s led to the score being what it is at the end of nine. So we need to get back to that quicker.”
The Cardinals have lost seven of their past nine games.
They got a solid outing from starter Dustin May on Friday, with May striking out eight while giving up just one run on seven hits. St. Louis will hope for more of the same from right-hander Andre Pallante (10-6, 4.02 ERA) on Saturday.
Pallante has fared well against the Reds in his career, going 7-4 with a 2.41 ERA in 20 career appearances (10 starts), including 52 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
RFA Cole Sillinger signs 3-year deal with Blue Jackets
Oct 13, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) walking the blue carpet greeting fans before the game on opening night against the New York Islanders at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images Restricted free-agent forward Cole Sillinger avoided arbitration by signing a three-year, $13.875 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The deal, announced Saturday, spans through the 2028-29 season.
The move comes one day after the Blue Jackets avoided arbitration by signing goaltender Jet Greaves to a three-year, $15 million contract.
“Cole is a hard-working, reliable two-way forward who plays the game the right way, has outstanding character and continues to grow and improve,” said Don Waddell, Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations and general manager.
“He has played a lot of games in this league at a very young age, and we are excited about his future and his contributions to our organization.”
Sillinger, 23, recorded 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) and a plus-2 rating in 81 games last season with the Blue Jackets. He was playing in the last season of a two-year, $4.5 million contract.
Sillinger has totaled 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) in 367 career games since being selected by Columbus with the 12th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Super Bowl-winner Jordan Devey dies at 38
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jordan Devey reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Jordan Devey, a retired NFL offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, died at age 38.
According to a GoFundMe page started to benefit his wife, Linsey, and their four young children, Devey “took his own life.” As of Saturday morning, the fund had collected more than $92,000 of its $200,000 goal.
Devey was the rare NFL player who didn’t play high school football, giving up the sport after junior high. Afflicted by a disease that causes knee inflammation and pain in children and teens, Devey played tuba in the school band.
After a two-year mission with the Church of Latter Day Saints, he enrolled in Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and played two years of football since his knee issue had lessened. He transferred to Memphis for his final two seasons, then signed with the Baltimore Ravens after being unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The Patriots signed the 6-foot-7 Devey to their practice squad that September and promoted him to the active roster in 2014 — the same season New England defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLIX.
He played with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, appearing in a career-high 15 games (nine starts), then followed with stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, then-Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills through the 2020 season. In all, he played in 44 NFL games (21 starts).
Following his career, he volunteered as a coach of his kids’ teams and coached high school football coach in Idaho.
In an interview with Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, Leslie Devey said she believed the brain injury CTE contributed to her son’s death on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
Reds go for series win vs. Cardinals in bid to close NL wild-card gap
RFA Cole Sillinger signs 3-year deal with Blue Jackets
