Sports
Hunter Dickinson, No. 7 Kansas pound host UCF
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights guard Jordan Ivy-Curry (0) defends Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) during the first half at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Hunter Dickinson dominated host UCF with 27 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as No. 7 Kansas trounced the Knights 99-48 on Sunday in Orlando, Fla., for the Jayhawks’ first win in the series.
Dickinson narrowly missed his fifth consecutive double-double, but it was more than enough to help Kansas (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) avoid an 0-2 start in conference play for the first time since the 1990-91 season.
Freshman Flory Bidunga added 12 points and a career-high six blocked shots — Kansas had 12 blocks total — as the Jayhawks evened the series at 1-1. The third meeting between the two teams is scheduled for Jan. 28 in Lawrence, Kansas.
Rylan Griffen came off the bench and scored 14 points, including 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range. KJ Adams had a solid all-around performance with nine rebounds, seven points, three assists and two blocks; Dajuan Harris Jr. added 11 points and six rebounds; and Zeke Mayo dished out eight of Kansas’ 30 assists.
The visit to Orlando clearly brought Kansas out of the doldrums that surfaced during a New Year’s Eve loss to visiting West Virginia, when the Jayhawks scored a season-low 61 points.
With Mississippi State transfer Shakeel Moore making his first start of the season, Kansas led 44-25 at halftime. Dickinson scored 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while the Jayhawks enjoyed a 36-4 advantage in points in the paint and a 29-14 edge on the boards.
Dickinson achieved a rare milestone midway through the first half, converting a putback to reach 2,400 points for his five-year college career that included three seasons at Michigan.
Kansas, which won its first true road game this season following losses at Creighton and Missouri in early December, finished with 62 points in the paint. The Jayhawks outrebounded the Knights 63-32 with 22 at the offensive end, while UCF shot 20.6 percent (14 of 68) from the floor.
Keyshawn Hall had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals for UCF (10-3, 1-1), which had its six-game winning streak snapped. The Knights also lost at Addition Financial Arena for the first time this season after an 8-0 start.
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'
May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) scores a three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers with 25 seconds to go in game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images It’s just a little more than 100 miles from Madison Square Garden in New York to Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia — a relatively short car ride or train trip for Knicks fans who wanted to see their team in action against the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-Pro selection in the 2022-23 season, wants no part of Knicks fans invading his team’s home arena.
In his postgame interview Saturday night after the Sixers stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of their series to advance, he put 76ers fans on notice.
Don’t sell your playoff tickets — especially not to Knicks fans.
New Yorkers overtook the Philadelphia arena two years ago when the No. 2-seeded Knicks eliminated the No. 7 Sixers in the opening round of the postseason. It has been presumed that Knicks fans bought their tickets from 76ers fans.
“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said Saturday night. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support.
“Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”
Embiid offered a solution, if need be.
“Knicks fans travel — they buy tickets,” he said. “There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”
The Eastern Conference semifinal between the teams begins Monday in New York, with Game 2 set for Wednesday. The series will move to Philadelphia on Friday for Game 3, followed by Game 4 on Saturday.
The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games to advance.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
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76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'
