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Pacers seek seventh straight road win vs. red-hot Trail Blazers

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Utah JazzFeb 3, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) dunks the ball against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers are vying to match the longest road winning streak in franchise history, but Portland isn’t the ideal place to attempt this feat.

Not just because the red-hot Trail Blazers have won four straight games and eight of nine entering Tuesday’s matchup, but also because the Pacers have lost in 14 of their past 15 visits to Portland.

That lone victory during the span came on Jan. 14, 2021 when there were no fans in the stands due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

So it could be a challenge for the Pacers to match the franchise record of seven straight road wins, set at the outset of the 2003-04 season when Reggie Miller’s stellar career was nearing the finish line in Indy. It was also during Rick Carlisle’s first stint as Indiana’s coach.

The Pacers are only in position to match the mark due to a frantic comeback for a 112-111 road win over the Utah Jazz on Monday.

“It’s one of the best wins of the year considering the circumstances and how we shot the ball,” Carlisle said afterward.

Indiana trailed by 12 midway through the fourth quarter before going on a 14-1 spurt en route to overtaking the Jazz on a night the Pacers were outrebounded 60-37 and were just 10 of 42 from 3-point range.

“This speaks to the maturity and growth of our group,” said Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton, “because the last couple years, we don’t make shots, we get blown out.”

Pascal Siakam scored 10 of his 22 points in the final stanza, including a dunk with 5.1 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.

And suddenly, the Pacers had an unlikely victory.

“It was just hard to get to the hump throughout the game let alone get over the hump,” Carlisle said. “… If you’re watching the game as a Pacers fan you’re saying, ‘It’s not going to happen tonight.’ But our guys kept saying let’s hang around and give ourselves a chance.”

Indiana has won four straight games and 12 of its last 14 as it again tries to solve its troubles in Portland. The Pacers haven’t won in front of Trail Blazers fans since Nov. 28, 2007.

Portland also happens to be home to one of the hottest teams in the NBA. A squad that was 15 games below .500 two-plus weeks ago has registered five double-digit wins since that time.

On Monday, Portland delivered a 121-119 overtime victory over Phoenix to finish off a two-game sweep of the Suns. The Trail Blazers routed Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the rest of the Suns 127-108 on Saturday.

Nobody was happier to beat the Suns than Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick by Phoenix in 2018. Ayton averaged 24.5 points in the two games and collected a season-high 20 rebounds on Monday. Nine were on the offensive boards.

“When the shot goes up on our end, I had the chance to really chase these boards,” Ayton said after topping 20 points for the fifth straight game. “And let us have daggers and put us in position to win.”

Ayton made five of six free throws in the final 7.8 seconds of overtime.

“I think this might have been D.A.’s best all-around game,” Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “Everything, all across the board, and being able to close it out with the clutch free throws.”

Indiana center Myles Turner (ankle) sat out against Utah and the team said he is questionable for Portland.

The Pacers beat the visiting Trail Blazers 121-114 on Nov. 27. Siakam had 29 points for Indiana and Anfernee Simons had 30 for Portland.

–Field Level Media

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Timo Werner's brace propels San Jose past St. Louis City

MLS: Austin FC at San Jose EarthquakesApr 22, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Timo Werner (11) celebrates scoring the team’s second goal against Austin FC in the second half at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Timo Werner’s brace late in the second half Saturday night enabled the visiting San Jose Earthquakes to rally for a 3-2 win over St. Louis City SC.

San Jose (9-1-0, 27 points) trailed 2-1 when Werner went to work. After Conrad Wallem was called for a foul in the box, Werner went to the spot and wired his shot into the upper left corner past Roman Burki in the 69th minute.

Fourteen minutes later, Werner supplied the match-winner with Ousseni Bouda providing service to the left side of the box. Werner’s right-footed shot found the mark, enabling the Earthquakes to improve to 6-0-0 on the road and maintain MLS’ best record.

San Jose overcame an early injury to goalie Earl Edwards Jr., starting his first match of the year, that forced coach Bruce Arena to insert Daniel in the 24th minute. Edwards made two saves and Daniel finished with one.

St. Louis (1-5-3, 6 points) controlled the ball most of the night, compiling a possession rate of 56.4%, and finished with a 17-10 advantage in shots. It converted those numbers into a second-half lead, thanks to Marcel Hartel.

In the 52nd minute, Hartel’s slick feed in the box teed up Sergio Cordova for his first goal to level the match. Hartel then put St. Louis ahead 2-1 when Simon Becher collected a turnover and fed him at the top of the box. Hartel’s curling shot slithered between Daniel and the right post.

It was precisely that kind of scoring St. Louis has lacked in struggling out of the gate. It came into the fixture with only seven goals. Hartel said on Thursday that finding ways to finish was a focus of the team during training this week.

St. Louis drove play early but the Earthquakes scored first. Striker Preston Judd turned Nick Fernandez’s pass into the middle of the box into his team-high sixth goal eight minutes into the match, a margin they carried into halftime.

The result was San Jose’s first victory in seven all-time meetings with St. Louis.

–Field Level Media

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Phillies snap 10-game skid with extra-inning defeat of Braves

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta BravesApr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) runs to third on an RBI triple against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning drove in two runs and sparked the visiting Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday to end their 10-game losing streak.

After Tyler Kinley (3-1) started the inning with a walk and left-hander Jose Suarez walked the first batter he faced, Harper, who was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, lined a sinker into left to drive in automatic runner Garrett Stubbs and Trea Turner. Brandon Marsh followed with a two-run single to widen the lead and help the Phillies win their first game since April 13.

Brady Keller (1-0) retired all four batters he faced, and Kyle Backhus pitched the 10th, allowing one run on two hits.

Philadelphia right-hander Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since August 15 of last year after missing time due to undergoing surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out six. He left after throwing 84 pitches.

Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder pitched seven innings, matching his season high, and allowed three runs on six hits and one walk, striking out two.

The Phillies scored a run in the first inning when Harper walked with two outs and scored when Adolis Garcia lined a ball to left field that Mike Yastrzemski missed on a dive for an RBI triple.

Philadelphia scored another run in the fourth inning when Bryson Stott smacked a triple off the right-field brick wall to score Brandon Marsh.

Atlanta tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Michael Harris II hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Austin Riley followed with an RBI double, knocking in the 500th run of his career.

The Phillies regained the lead in the fifth. Rafael Marchan singled and came around to score on Harper’s infield single which snapped Philadelphia’s 0-for-18 drought with runners in scoring position against the Braves this season.

The Braves took their first lead in the sixth, scoring twice against reliever Tanner Banks on an RBI double from Ozzie Albies and a run-scoring single from Harris.

The Phillies evened the game 4-4 in the eighth against Dylan Lee. Kyle Schwarber tripled when center fielder Eli White slipped on the wet turf and allowed the ball to get past him. He scored on Harper’s sacrifice fly.

–Field Level Media

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Timberwolves' Donte DiVincenzo (leg), Anthony Edwards (knee) exit early in win over Nuggets

NBA: Playoffs-Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver NuggetsApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo was ruled out after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter and was late joined on the sidelines by injured teammate Anthony Edwards in the first half of Saturday’s 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their playoff series in Minneapolis.

DiVincenzo sustained the injury on a non-contact play 79 seconds into the game. He planted his foot to go toward a loose ball, and he quickly went down as he grabbed toward the back of his right leg.

The team ruled out DiVincenzo before the end of the first quarter. ESPN reported that DiVincenzo, who left the arena at halftime in a wheelchair, hasa torn right Achilles.

Edwards, a four-time All-Star, appeared to hyperextend his left knee while leaping to defend Nuggets wing Cam Johnson’s drive to the basket with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. He landed awkwardly and grabbed his left knee. Edwards was helped to the locker room.

Minnesota ruled him out for the rest of the game just after halftime. Edwards, who had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes, is slated to get an MRI to determine the injury’s severity.

The Timberwolves lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 on Monday in Denver.

DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range during the regular season. He averaged 14.3 points in the first three games of the playoff series against the Nuggets.

-Field Level Media

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