Kiszla: How Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic redefined what it means to be basketball superheroes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Kiszla: How Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic redefined what it means to be basketball superheroes Nikola Jokic and Steph Curry are twin sons of an immaculate conception by basketball gods that got crazy and messed with conventional wisdom.What makes Curry and Jokic so special, said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, is how the Warriors point guard and Nuggets center are two old souls that have invented ways to disrupt the game with innovation capable of leaving everybody else in the NBA dumbfounded by their brilliance.“You see certain players that are throwback players, guys that could play in any era,” Malone said. “I think Steph and Nikola are two great examples of that.”In an early season game that didn’t require a custom-painted court or the contrivance of a made-for-TV tournament to be special, Jokic and Curry worked their magic on Wednesday night during a game between Denver and Golden State, with the four MVP trophies won between them as proof that maybe it’s time we redefine the meaning of athletic brilliance.Warriors coach Steve Kerr declared: “You’re talking about two of th...

Pacific storm system bringing moderate to heavy rainfall in SoCal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Pacific storm system bringing moderate to heavy rainfall in SoCal While most Southern Californians have been busy holding onto their hats due to the high winds, a Pacific storm system is moving into the region that could bring moderate to heavy rains across the Southland next week, the National Weather Service reported.  Gusty offshore winds, especially in the canyons and passes, are expected through Thursday and aside from a small temperature dip Friday, a general warming trend is forecast through this coming Sunday.   KTLA 5 Interactive Weather Radar Map As offshore winds start to break down Monday, the weather service said that SoCal is on tap for a “significant pattern shift” between Tuesday and Saturday next week.  (Courtesy: The National Weather Service)The forecast calls for one to two storms with a 90% chance of rain. Rain totals of 1 to 3 inches are the most likely.  However, NWS says that there’s also a 10% chance of a significant storm that could come with anywhere from 3 to more than 6 inches of rainfall, causing ...

Man found with over $8 million worth of fentanyl pills in Southern California

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Man found with over $8 million worth of fentanyl pills in Southern California A suspect was arrested after officers discovered over $8 million worth of fentanyl pills inside his truck.The suspect, who only identified as a 23-year-old man, was attempting to cross the border into the U.S. from Mexico on Nov. 3 at around 9:55 a.m.He was driving an older-model 1995 pickup truck to the Calexico West Port of Entry, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.His truck was moved to an inspection area where an imaging scan detected “irregularities” within the vehicle, authorities said. A K-9 was brought to the scene where officers received a “positive alert to the presence of narcotics.”While examining the man’s truck, officers found 41 packages concealed inside the vehicle’s spare tire and rear seat area.The packages contained around 840,000 blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl. A man was arrested after Southern California border patrol officers discovered over $8 million in fentanyl pills inside his truck at the U.S.-Mexico border on Nov. 3, 2023. (U.S....

Siakam, Raptors beats Doncic, Mavs 127-116 to finish 2-game sweep in Texas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Siakam, Raptors beats Doncic, Mavs 127-116 to finish 2-game sweep in Texas DALLAS (AP) — Pascal Siakam had 31 points and 12 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored 26 and the Toronto Raptors finished a two-game sweep in Texas with a 127-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.Three nights after Toronto rallied from 22 points down for a win at San Antonio, Siakam and Anunoby combined for all the points on an 11-0 run that broke a 73-all tie in the third quarter.Luka Doncic scored 31 points and Kyrie Irving had 22 for the Mavericks, who lost for the first time in four home games this season with Texan and two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs watching courtside with his wife, Brittany.Siakam finished with season highs in points and rebounds in what has been a sluggish start offensively for the two-time All-Star. He was 15 of 25 from the field and had five assists.The Mavericks were without rookie center Dereck Lively II for the first time due to a non-COVID-19 illness and got outrebounded 50-38 while matching a season high by...

Suns outlast Bulls 116-115 in OT in Bradley Beal’s season debut

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Suns outlast Bulls 116-115 in OT in Bradley Beal’s season debut CHICAGO (AP) — Jusuf Nurkic powered to the basket for a layup with 7.3 seconds left in overtime and Phoenix outlasted the Chicago Bulls 116-115 on Wednesday night in Bradley Beal’s Suns debut.Grayson Allen scored 26 points, hitting a career-high eight 3-pointers, and Kevin Durant added 25 points to help the Suns improve to 4-4 with their second straight straight victory. Nurkic had 20 points. He failed to iced it with a pair of free throws with 0.4 seconds left — missing the first, then missing the rim on the second when he was trying to miss.Beal had 13 points after sitting out the first seven games of the season because of a back injury. Acquired from Washington in June, the three-time All-Star guard played 23:33. The Suns still await Devin Booker’s return from a calf injury.Nikola Vucevic scored 26 points for Chicago, which used a pair of gritty comebacks to make it a contest. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRoza each had 22, and Alex Caruso came of the bench to add 19.Caruso, know...

Toledo beats Eastern Michigan 49-23 to clinch the MAC West Division title

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Toledo beats Eastern Michigan 49-23 to clinch the MAC West Division title TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Dequan Finn threw for 407 yards and three touchdowns, Peny Boone rushed for three touchdowns, and Toledo beat Eastern Michigan 49-23 on Wednesday night to clinch the Mid-American Conference West Division title.Toledo (9-1, 6-0) has won nine straight games, following a 30-28 loss at Illinois, for the first time in 40 years. The Rockets secured a return trip to the MAC championship game in Detroit on Dec. 2. Toledo was a co-West champion with Eastern Michigan last year but went to the MAC title game thanks to its win over the Eagles.Toledo led 35-3 at halftime behind Finn’s 275 yards passing and three touchdowns. Jacquez Stuart and Boone each had a touchdown run in the half, and Junior Vandeross III caught two touchdown passes. Finn’s third touchdown extended the Rockets’ lead to 49-9 with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter.Boone had 52 yards rushing on 11 carries and he also caught four passes for 116 yards. Newton added 108 yards receiving on six catche...

Israel-Hamas fighting heats up in Gaza City, accelerating the exodus of Palestinians to the south

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Israel-Hamas fighting heats up in Gaza City, accelerating the exodus of Palestinians to the south DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians living in the heart of Gaza’s largest city said Wednesday they could see and hear Israeli ground forces closing in from multiple directions, accelerating the exodus of thousands of civilians as food and water become scarce and urban fighting between Israel and Hamas heats up.The Israeli army has not given specifics on troop movements as it presses its ground assault, vowing to crush Hamas after its deadly Oct. 7 assault inside Israel. But residents said Israeli forces had moved into inner neighborhoods of Gaza City amid intense bombardment all around the surrounding north.Clashes took place within a kilometer (0.6 miles) of the territory’s largest hospital, Shifa, which has become a focal point in the war.The Israeli military says Hamas’ main command center is located in and under the hospital complex and that senior leaders of the group are hiding there, using the facility as a shield.Hamas and hospital staff deny the claim and sa...

Thomas scores 20, Northern Colorado beats Northern New Mexico 81-60

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Thomas scores 20, Northern Colorado beats Northern New Mexico 81-60 GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — Saint Thomas’ 20 points helped Northern Colorado defeat Northern New Mexico 81-60 on Wednesday night.Thomas also contributed 12 rebounds and six assists for the Bears (2-0). Brock Wisne shot 8 of 11 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line to add 19 points. Marcell McCreary was 5 of 9 shooting (2 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with 14 points.The Eagles were led in scoring by Eloy Medina, who finished with 29 points. Northern New Mexico also got five points from Malek Malual. In addition, Joziah Ramos finished with five points.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Eastern Illinois wins 91-45 against Monmouth (Illinois)

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Eastern Illinois wins 91-45 against Monmouth (Illinois) CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Kooper Jacobi scored 16 points as Eastern Illinois beat Monmouth (Illinois) 91-45 on Wednesday night.Jacobi added nine rebounds for the Panthers (1-1). Dan Luers was 5 of 12 shooting (3 for 7 from 3-point range) to add 13 points. Sincere Malone finished 4 of 7 from the field to finish with 11 points.Declan Flynn finished with 10 points for the Fighting Scots. David Williams added nine points. Brennen McNally had seven points.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Amos has 118 yards, 2 TDs, Miami blanks Akron 19-0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:50:03 GMT

Amos has 118 yards, 2 TDs, Miami blanks Akron 19-0 OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — Rashad Amos ran for for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Miami (Ohio) defeated Akron 19-0 on Wednesday night.The Redhawks (8-2, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) had trouble getting untracked on offense. They came in averaging 29.8 points and 357.6 yards — they finished with 236 total yards — but the defense was more than up to the task. In picking up their second shutout of the season they held the Zips (2-8, 1-5) to 212 yards.Amos carried six times on the game-opening 75-yard drive, including a 40-yard burst, and scored on a 1-yard plunge. He had a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.After Amos’ second touchdown, Akron blocked the point-after attempt, making the first miss of the season for Miami kicker Graham Nicholson. Nicholson made his first 29 PATs before that but he did improve to 19 of 19 on field goals with a 35-yarder in the second quarter and a 32-yarder in the fourth.Yahsyn McKee had 10 tackles for Miami and preserved the win with an end zone...