Sports
Suns quickly find their footing, while Sixers slide at season's start
Nov 2, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) slam dunks over Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) in the second half during a game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images The Phoenix Suns have started fast under new coach Mike Budenholzer.
The Suns have won their last four games and five of six overall entering Monday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers have dropped four of five to open the season while playing without stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, both out with knee injuries.
Phoenix had an up-and-down performance on Saturday when it recorded a 103-97 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
The Suns trailed by four points at halftime, outscored Portland 44-18 in the third quarter and led by 26 early in the fourth quarter before the Trail Blazers mounted an electric comeback.
Phoenix was 9 of 18 from the 3-point line in the third quarter, while Portland was 1 of 11.
“Yeah, the defense was good,” Budenholzer said. “I thought we were playing in a great rhythm offensively, kind of getting to everything, everybody was participating, allowed us to get great separation from them.
“We got to learn to play for 48 minutes,” the coach continued. “We’re not there, but I’m sure nobody is, so it’s good to put together stretches like the third quarter. We got to keep building on that.”
Devin Booker had 28 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the victory. Kevin Durant scored 21 points.
Grayson Allen contributed 18 points and made four 3-pointers off the bench.
“It was great for Grayson to have a night like he did,” Budenholzer said. “I think there was a little bit of pop defensively, the guys found him, the ball found him and he’s a great shooter. He just gives us a ton and he’s been through a little bit, but he’s going to be great for us.”
The 76ers are slipping behind as they wait for Embiid and George to get healthy.
Philadelphia lost a 124-107 home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
Tyrese Maxey had 23 points on a night the 76ers were outrebounded 52-33.
Embiid made noise after the game by shouting at a reporter in the locker room and eventually shoving him.
The target was Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes, who recently questioned Embiid’s professionalism and ability to stay in shape. He also drew Embiid’s ire for mentioning his son and late brother, both named Arthur.
“The next time you bring up my dead brother and my son again, you are going to see what I’m going to do to you and I’m going to have to … live with the consequences,” Embiid said to Hayes.
Embiid is still bothered by the left knee that he had surgery on Feb. 6. He said he is doing everything he can to get back on the court and is upset with people who hint otherwise.
“Everybody has been on the same page,” Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, said of his recovery plan. “If your body doesn’t react well, and if your body tells you one thing (sit out). I’ve done it. From what I can tell you, I’ve broken my face twice; I came back early with the risk of losing my vision. I have broken fingers. I still came back.
“When I see people say, ‘He doesn’t want to play,’ I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk, for people to be saying that.”
Meanwhile, George said he is close to making his Philadelphia debut. He signed a four-year, $212 million contract in free agency but suffered a bone bruise in the preseason. ESPN reported Sunday night that the nine-time All-Star forward would play against Phoenix “barring any setbacks.”
“I had a really good two days of finally being on court, practicing and running hard, being in live action,” George said. “The knee up to this point feels really good.”
The teams split their two meetings last season with the home team winning each time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets rack up 19 hits, 14 runs in demolition of Braves
Jul 27, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) hits a single against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Francisco Lindor hit two homers and drove in six runs as the New York Mets battered the visiting Atlanta Braves 14-3 on Monday.
Tyrone Taylor went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and Marcus Semien also had three hits and a homer for the Mets, who have won consecutive games for the first time since July 8-9.
Lindor, A.J. Ewing and Bo Bichette each added three of New York’s season-high-tying 19 hits.
Mets starter Zac Thornton (2-1) tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one.
Braves starter Martin Perez gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings. He fanned four and walked one.
Connor Thomas (0-1) was blasted for 11 runs on 10 hits across 2 2/3 innings, walking five and striking out two. Ozzie Albies homered, singled and drove in three for Atlanta, which had won four of its previous five games.
Albies drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single in the top of the first.
New York answered in the bottom of the first, as Ewing led off with a single and Lindor tripled to even the score.
In the third, Ewing and Lindor paced the New York offensive attack again. Ewing singled and stole second before Lindor launched a homer to left-center, giving the Mets a 3-1 lead.
After Matt Olson’s walk opening the fourth, Albies connected on a 407-foot home run — his 18th of the season — to tie the game 3-3.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Perez allowed singles by Bichette and Luis Robert Jr. before walking Francisco Alvarez to load the bases. Through heavy rain, Perez struck out Jared Young to escape the jam.
Thomas relieved Perez in the sixth and immediately allowed Taylor’s single and Semien’s two-run homer to give the Mets a 5-3 lead. The long ball was Semien’s 12th.
Thomas remained in for the seventh, walking Alvarez before Young’s single and Taylor’s ninth home run of the year broke the game open, giving the Mets an 8-3 advantage.
Thomas then walked Semien, allowed Luis Torrens’ double and issued a one-out walk to Lindor, loading the bases. Bichette’s sacrifice fly made it 9-3 and stamped a four-run New York frame.
Torrens drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to give the Mets a 10-3 advantage. Ewing followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the margin. The beating continued for Thomas as Lindor launched his eighth homer of the year before Atlanta shortstop Jorge Mateo entered in relief. Bichette singled before Mateo struck out Robert to end the inning.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brandon Lowe’s heroics help Pirates down Diamondback in 10
Jul 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) receives a water bath after hitting an RBI single to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks in ten innings at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Brandon Lowe’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning scored Billy Cook and propelled the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.
The Pirates’ victory drew them even with the Diamondbacks for the final National League Wild Card spot, and dealt Arizona its third loss in a row.
Lowe’s game-winner off Diamondbacks reliever Taylor Clarke (2-2) was his third hit of the game and he finished with two RBIs after lining a ball off Diamondbacks’ first baseman Ildemaro Vargas.
Endy Rodriguez, who was activated from the 10-day injured list with a left glute strain, singled to right to open the 10th and put runners on the corners with no outs.
Jake Mangum grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Billy Cook was caught in a rundown between third and home. But Cook bought enough time and made it back to third just as Rodriguez did, resulting in one out, but ensuring the Pirates still had a runner at third.
Max Kepler had three hits, drove in the Diamondbacks’ two runs, and had a chance to give Arizona the lead in the top of the 10th. But with runners on second and third with two outs, Kepler lined out to center against reliever Mason Montgomery (4-3), who also struck out Gabriel Moreno two batters prior after Arizona had put runners on second and third with one out.
Bryan Reynolds knotted the game at 2 in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out RBI double to score Lowe, who doubled on the prior at-bat. The clutch hit came moments after Pirates manager Don Kelly was ejected by third base umpire Ben May after arguing a check swing call during Reynolds’ at-bat.
The teams were locked in a scoreless stalemate until Kepler’s two-run double with the bases loaded gave the Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth.
Mangum scored Pittsburgh’s first run on a single by Lowe to cut Arizona’s lead to 2-1.
Pittsburgh’s hot-hitting rookie Esmerlyn Valdez was hit by a 91.4 mph fastball from Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly on his left hand and left the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Valdez has 14 home runs in his first 38 career at-bats.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Vikings agree to deal with veteran LB/S Jamal Adams
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker/safety Jamal Adams is headed to his sixth NFL team after agreeing to terms with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.
The 30-year-old veteran confirmed his decision with a post on X that said “Year 10 #skol”.
Adams spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, amassing 45 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in 17 games (four starts) as a linebacker.
Adams also previously played for the New York Jets (2017-19), Seattle Seahawks (2020-23), Tennessee Titans (2024) and Detroit Lions (2024). Adams earned his Pro Bowl appearances as a safety from 2018-20.
It remains to be seen which position the versatile Adams will play for the Vikings. However, his addition comes as safety Harrison Smith mulls retirement.
Overall during his pro career, Adams has tallied 546 tackles, 22.5 sacks, four interceptions, 36 passes defended, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
Adams is joining a stingy Vikings defense that ranked third in the NFL in yards allowed per game last season (282.6).
–Field Level Media
