Sports
Hawks hope to continue hot streak, get revenge vs. Nuggets
Dec 28, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks have had a streaky start to the first third of the season and are currently trending upward heading into a New Year’s Day road matchup with the Denver Nuggets.
Atlanta has won four in a row, the last one Sunday at Toronto to kick off a season-long six-game road trip, and Wednesday night brings a chance at payback against the Nuggets.
Denver won the first meeting between the teams, 141-111, on Dec. 8, which ended the Hawks’ six-game winning streak.
Atlanta was 7-11 after a loss to Dallas on Nov. 25 but has won 11 of 15 since. The Hawks will try to extend their winning streak without reserve forward Larry Nance Jr., who suffered a broken right hand against Miami on Saturday night and will have surgery on Thursday.
Nance has played in just 15 games and is averaging 9.5 points this season but has been the subject of trade rumors.
Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has missed four straight games with a lower-leg contusion and is doubtful for Wednesday.
Atlanta’s surge over the last five weeks has been fueled by Trae Young, who leads the team in scoring (22 points) and assists (12.1) per game. Jalen Johnson grabs a team-best 10.2 rebounds per game to complement his 19.9 scoring average.
De’Andre Hunter has been valuable off the bench for the Hawks, trailing only Young with 20.6 points per game.
“We need big moments from certain guys, and Dre has been doing great for us,” Young said. “That’s Sixth Man of the Year right there too. So, we got a couple of guys that can win some awards if we keep winning.”
Russell Westbrook could have a case to win the Sixth Man award. Injuries have pushed him into the starting lineup in 10 of the 31 games. A player has to come off the bench in more games than he starts to be eligible for the award.
Westbrook is averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds and is coming off his 201st career triple-double in a win at Utah on Monday night.
Westbrook scored 16 points on Monday without missing a shot from the field (7-of-7) or foul line (2-for-2) and had no turnovers in the game. He has struggled with his outside shooting at times, but his energy has been a catalyst for Denver.
“He came here for one reason, that’s to help us win a championship,” coach Michael Malone said. “And he hates to lose. And that’s what I also love about him, is that he’s built the right way. I’ll go to war with Russell Westbrook any day.”
Westbrook has started the last three games with Aaron Gordon sidelined with a right calf strain. He has proven his worth, but the Nuggets are led by Nikola Jokic, who notched his league-leading 13th triple-double of the season on Monday night. Jokic entered Tuesday tied for second in the NBA in scoring (31 points per game) and third in rebounds (12.9 per game) and assists (9.5 per game) as he makes a case for his fourth MVP.
Jamal Murray (19.8 points per game) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.7) are second and third in scoring for Denver.
–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
