Sports
Kawhi Leonard 'easing' back into action as Clippers visit Wolves
Jan 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Kawhi Leonard will try to take another step forward in his second game of the season when the Los Angeles Clippers tip off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night in Minneapolis.
Leonard is coming off a cautious season debut in which he scored 12 points in 19 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks, whom Los Angeles beat 131-105. He is not certain how many minutes he will play against Minnesota, but Clippers coach Tyronn Lue likely will continue to bring him along slowly in his return from a right knee injury.
“We’re still easing me into the game,” Leonard said. “We’re on nobody’s timetable. Anybody watching that wants me to score 20 or 30 points or be aggressive, we are not on anyone’s timeframe. We know what’s ahead of us, and we have to keep building in the right direction. …
“(We treated my debut) like it was a preseason game. And we’ll keep moving the same way until I’m able to build up my minutes.”
The Timberwolves are not dealing with major injuries, but they are eager to correct their inconsistent performance that has plagued them for most of the season. Minnesota has lost three games in a row and six of its past nine to slip back to .500 on the season.
Timberwolves top scorer Anthony Edwards is coming off a career-high 53-point effort against the Detroit Pistons, but even that could not stop the team from its latest disappointing loss, 119-105 on the road.
“Right now, it’s just like an off timing with the way we’ve been playing,” veteran guard Mike Conley said. “We are inconsistent with the approach to the game. When we come out there, there’s one game we have a lot of energy, other games we don’t. One game we compete a bit more than others.
“We have to find a balance for that starting unit that allows us to start these games off the way we’re capable of starting them off. … A lot of it has to do, quite frankly, with our willingness to run for each other, space for each other and commit on the offensive end.”
Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 25.3 points per game, and Julius Randle is not far behind with 20.1 points to go along with seven rebounds per game. Naz Reid adds 12.5 points per game, and Rudy Gobert is averaging a double-double with 10.2 points and 10.3 rebounds.
The Clippers’ top three scorers consist of Norman Powell (23.5 points per game), James Harden (21.5) and Ivica Zubac (15.0). Then there is Leonard, who has 12 points in his only game but is capable of scoring much more as he gets into rhythm.
Clippers guard Terance Mann said Leonard’s knee injury did nothing to diminish his shot.
“His jump shot, he rarely missed during rehab,” Mann said. “(In his debut), his catch-and-shoot 3s, he rarely missed. So it’s good to see that 3-ball for him, and everything else will come naturally to him. It’s good to see where he’s at mentally with his jump shot.”
Minnesota is 2-0 against the Clippers this season and will go for a regular-season sweep on Monday. The Timberwolves won the first matchup 93-92 at home on Nov. 29, and they cruised to a 108-80 road win on Dec. 4.
–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
Smutty Netflix Movie Has Women Dating Hairy Beasts For Kink And Comedy
76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'
