Sports
Nuggets, Timberwolves clash for first time since West semis
Oct 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15), point guard Jamal Murray (27) and guard Christian Braun (0) celebrate a play on the court against the Brooklyn Nets during overtime at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images The Denver Nuggets enjoyed a two-day break after working overtime to posting back-to-back victories earlier this week.
Now Denver will turn its attention to another Western Conference powerhouse, the Minnesota Timberwolves, when the teams tip off Friday night at Minneapolis.
The Nuggets’ OT wins both came on the road — 127-125 against the Toronto Raptors on Monday and 144-139 against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
“Obviously there’s still a lot we can clean up, but I’m proud of our guys for finding a way in back-to-back nights,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “(It was a result of the group) staying together, staying with it, believing in themselves and finding a way to get a win in overtime.
“I just hope we don’t go to overtime every game the rest of the season.”
Recent history suggests that the Nuggets could be in store for another close game when they take on the Timberwolves.
The Friday game is a rematch of last season’s Western Conference semifinals, which the Timberwolves won in seven games. Minnesota won the first two games, lost the next three and won the final two to advance to the Western finals.
Both teams made notable offseason roster moves. The Timberwolves traded longtime fan favorite Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in a deal that brought Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota. The Nuggets let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope depart via free agency and brought in veteran Russell Westbrook to add leadership on and off the court.
Amid the new faces, both teams maintain the same goal as last season. They both hope to finish near the top of the conference and make deep playoff runs, meaning another postseason series matchup is possible.
Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets, averaging a triple-double (31.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists) through the first four games. Jamal Murray is second in scoring with 18.8 and Aaron Gordon is third with 15.5.
“What more can you say about Nikola Jokic?” Malone said after his team’s latest win against Brooklyn. “I know it’s only four games, but what that guy does — 29 (points), 18 (rebounds) and 16 (assists) — he makes it look easy.”
The same could be said for Anthony Edwards, who leads the Timberwolves with an average of 30 points to go along with 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Edwards is shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point range, a noticeable jump from last season, when he shot 35.7 percent.
Randle is next with 23.3 points to go with 7.5 rebounds. Naz Reid is averaging 13.8 points and 7.5 rebounds, while Rudy Gobert is close to averaging a double-double with 9.5 points and a team-high 11.3 boards.
Minnesota is looking to bounce back from a 120-114 loss against the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
Edwards said he and his teammates needed to focus more on defense when they play the Nuggets and other opponents.
“They scored a lot in transition,” Edwards said of Dallas. “Just transition defense and rebounding, and we’ll be OK. I feel like we can beat anybody. If we can get back in transition and we rebound, and if I rebound, we’ll be good.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Giants planning to release LB Bobby Okereke
Nov 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) leaves the field after losing to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images The New York Giants are planning to cut inside linebacker Bobby Okereke in a cost-saving move, The Athletic reported Saturday.
Releasing the seven-year NFL veteran, who turns 30 in July, will save the Giants $9 million against the 2026 salary cap.
Okereke has led New York in tackles in two of his three seasons with the team, including 143 stops in 2025 and 149 in 2023.
Okereke added one sack, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in 17 games (all starts) for the Giants in 2025.
He has recorded 805 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven interceptions and 11 forced fumbles in 110 career games (95 starts) with the Colts (2019-22) and Giants. Indianapolis drafted him in the third round in 2019.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reddick starts bid for 3rd straight NASCAR Cup win with pole run
Feb 22, 2026; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick rounds the track at EchoPark Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images AUSTIN, Texas — One of the few things that wasn’t startling about Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Circuit of the Americas was Tyler Reddick’s run for the pole position.
Negotiating the 2.4-mile road course in 97.760 seconds (88.380 mph) in the second qualifying group, Reddick claimed his third Busch Light Pole Award in six attempts at the track. He will lead the field to green in Sunday’s DuraMAX Grand Prix Powered by Reladyne (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Of course, there’s more at stake for Reddick than simply a victory at COTA. In winning at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta last Sunday, the driver of the No. 45 Toyota became the sixth Cup competitor to start a season with two consecutive wins. No driver has ever won three straight to open a season.
The 23XI Racing driver acknowledged that the pole position, the 12th of his career, is a positive first step toward that goal.
“It helps the chances, certainly,” said Reddick, whose series-best average finish of 4.6 at COTA includes a victory in 2023. “I think starting up front is huge.”
Michael McDowell led the first qualifying group of 19 drivers with a lap at 88.031 mph but fell to sixth soon after the second group took to the track. Ultimately, Ross Chastain posted the second-fastest lap at 88.256 mph (97.897 seconds) and will start on the front row beside Reddick.
The shocker was not that Chastain, the 2022 COTA winner, fashioned an excellent lap. What was surprising was that his two Trackhouse Racing teammates, Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch — both vaunted road course racers — failed to crack the top 10 in qualifying.
Van Gisbergen was 13th fastest on his third lap. Zilisch could do no better than 25th. Van Gisbergen is seeking his sixth straight road course victory in the Cup Series, a mark that would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for most consecutive road course wins.
Chase Briscoe (88.242 mph) will start third, followed by Ryan Blaney (88.179 mph) and Chase Elliott (88.161 mph). Elliott leads active drivers with seven road course victories.
Behind McDowell in sixth, AJ Allmendinger qualified seventh, followed by defending race winner Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and William Byron.
“We’ll see how it gets going,” Reddick said. “Certainly, Ross, Shane, Ryan Blaney-there’s a number of good drivers who were really strong in practice today. We’ll try to understand what that all looks like and make our best decisions on the car and everything.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Warriors F Gui Santos signs multi-year extension
Feb 25, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) passes the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Javon Small (10) defends during the third quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos signed a multi-year contract extension on Saturday.
Specific terms were not disclosed by the Warriors. However, ESPN reported it was a three-year, $15 million contract extension with a player option in 2028-29. Santos was in line to become a restricted free agent prior to this extension.
Santos, 23, is posting career-best averages in points (6.6), rebounds (3.2) and assists (1.7) in 48 games (13 starts) this season.
He is contributing 4.9 points, 3.0 boards and 1.4 assists in 127 career games (15 starts) since being selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
–Field Level Media
Report: Giants planning to release LB Bobby Okereke
Tyler Reddick starts bid for 3rd straight NASCAR Cup win with pole run
