New York Knicks fans had a profane chant for Joel Embiid towards the end of Saturday’s Game 1 of the team’s Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Knicks were leading 107-102 and had the ball with around 40 seconds left in the game. The Sixers were desperate to foul New York to stop the clock. Embiid popped out to foul Mitchell Robinson, who had the ball. The Sixers big man also collided with Jalen Brunson, who fell to the ground.
Feeling protective of their top scorer in Brunson, Knicks fans began to chant “f–k Embiid!”
Though Embiid successfully stopped the clock, Robinson surprisingly made both free throws to extend the Knicks’ lead to seven points. The Knicks won the game 111-104.
Knicks fans are extra pumped this year. This is just the franchise’s second 50-win team since 2000. After winning a playoff series last season, Knicks are hoping the team can go even farther than the second round.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards began his 2024 playoff run with a bang that came at Kevin Durant’s expense.
Edwards erupted for a game-high 33 points in his team’s 120-95 Game 1 win over the Phoenix Suns at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
In the final minute of the third quarter, Edwards danced around Durant and drained a deep shot right in the Suns star’s face.
The shot gave the Timberwolves an 86-70 lead — their largest of the game to that point. The bucket also gave Edwards the confidence to talk some major trash at the former MVP.
Durant was not Edwards’ only victim. The T-Wolves guard did the same thing to Bradley Beal, who just weeks prior dominated Edwards in their previous matchup.
During his postgame press conference, Edwards spoke about the trash talk he dished out to Durant. Edwards called the moment “probably one of the best feelings ever.”
“I think everybody here knows that’s my favorite player of all-time,” said Edwards of Durant. “So that was probably one of the best feelings ever in my whole life, for sure.”
Durant was no slouch in the contest. He led the Suns with 31 points on 11/17 shooting. But Edwards simply got the better of him in Game 1.
Joel Embiid returned for the second half of Game 1 of his Philadelphia 76ers’ Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, N.Y. on Saturday despite suffering a knee injury in the first half.
Embiid had the ball with his Sixers down 49-44 in the second quarter. The Sixers center picked up his dribble around the free throw line, so he got creative. He tossed an alley-oop to himself off the backboard and dunked it:
The only problem is Embiid hurt his left knee in the process.
Embiid hobbled off the court, and there were immediate fears from 76ers fans that the center would be absent from yet another playoff series. But Embiid miraculously made his return just before the start of the second half.
Embiid is playing in just his sixth game since returning from a knee injury suffered in late January. He has not been on the same incredible tear he was on back in January, but there is no denying how much better of a team the Sixers are when Embiid is healthy.
Aug 23, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) runs to first base after hitting a single against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
It’s hard to imagine Yankees fans booing Aaron Judge, but it happened on Saturday.
Judge went 0-for-4 with 4 strikeouts in his Yankees’ 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. Judge swung and missed at 10 pitches, which tied the highest amount of pitches he’s ever whiffed at in a single game during his career.
Some fans booed Judge over his poor performance.
Apparently Judge doesn’t blame them. When asked after the game about the boos, Judge defended the fans.
“I’ve heard worse and I’d probably do the same thing in their situation,” Judge told reporters.
The 31-year-old Judge is batting .179 through 21 games this season. The good news is Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto have been slugging at the top of the lineup to keep the Yankees offense in business.
Judge’s poor start has some wondering whether the toe he injured last season during a collision at Dodger Stadium is still bothering him.
Sep 16, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; General view of Denver Broncos logo at midfield at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos have already traded one key offensive player this offseason, but they appear to be resisting the opportunity to move another.
Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has been the subject of multiple trade inquiries, but the team is refusing to trade him, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Sutton has notably been absent from the team’s voluntary minicamp as he seeks a new contract.
It is certainly plausible that some teams might be trying to take advantage of Sutton’s contract situation to see if the Broncos are willing to move the wide receiver. Those teams may have received further encouragement from Sutton’s apparent reaction to Denver trading Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland.
Sutton led the Broncos with ten touchdown receptions in 2023 to go along with 59 total catches for 772 yards. At this point, he is the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver in Denver, and even with a contract dispute ongoing, it does not make a ton of sense for them to trade him.
Aug 19, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during warmups for the Jets game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets may be preparing to take draft advice from Aaron Rodgers, at least according to one new report.
In an appearance on “SportsCenter” Saturday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Jets are viewed as a potential landing spot for tight end Brock Bowers. Fowler suggested the Jets might take a long-term view, but if Rodgers pushes them to draft a tight end, they may go all-in and select Bowers.
“A lot depends on the Jets because they’ve got Aaron Rodgers, they are all in for 2024,” Fowler said, via Adam Wells of Bleacher Report. “So, if they’re doing the long play they might take an offensive tackle or something that’s not as sexy and play for the long future but they’re all in now so if Rodgers wants a tight end, he might get his guy.”
Tyler Conklin was the Jets’ top receiving tight end in 2023 and remains on the roster. Bowers, however, might be viewed as an upgrade, especially if the Jets are determined to go all-in for 2024, which appears to be the case.
Rodgers has certainly influenced a number of player acquisitions since joining the Jets last year. Several of them simply did not work out. One could argue things may have been different had Rodgers not gotten hurt in Week 1, but the Jets might proceed with caution when it comes to their quarterback’s roster advice.
Justin Allgaier was knocked out of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway after crashing out at the end of Stage 1.
Allgaier was exiting turn 2 on lap 26 of the Ag-Pro 300 and made some contact with Riley Herbst. Allgaier lost control of his No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports, which slammed into a wall.
The hood of Allgaier’s car was completely busted up after the crash, but his window net was able to come down after he came to a stop.
Allgaier was treated and released from the infield care center after his crash.
The early crash for Allgaier ensured him a last-place finish in the race. Allgaier has had four top-10 finishes this season. He finished second in the Xfinity Series last season.
Dec 6, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A view of the Chicago Bulls logo on a pair of game shorts at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bulls are trying to figure out a path forward after a disappointing end to their season, and it sounds like major changes may be on the way.
Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas offered a fairly damning quote about the team’s roster when addressing the media on Saturday. Karnisovas bluntly said the current group, as constructed, “hasn’t worked.”
The Bulls attempted to build around a quartet of Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic. Ball and LaVine have battled with injuries and the team has only made the playoffs once, a campaign that ended with an early postseason exit in 2022.
The trouble for the Bulls is it isn’t obvious what big changes they can make. Ball hopes to come back from his long-term knee problems, while LaVine’s trade value was pretty much decimated by a season-ending injury just as his market seemed to be establishing itself. The team may have no choice but to look into a DeRozan trade, as he might be their most valuable asset at this point.
Though the Bulls did make the Play-In Tournament, they went just 39-43 and would not have been viewed as a contender to do much of anything even if they had made it into the postseason. Things are going to have to change, but that is easier said than done.
Nov 24, 2023; New York, New York, USA; General view of the in-season tournament court logo during warmups before a game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Knicks have pulled an unusual move with their game notes prior to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Saturday.
As part of their notes provided to the media, the Knicks released a referee breakdown that tracks the tendencies of the three officials slated to work Saturday’s Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The stats track how often referees call various violations, with Scott Foster ranking quite high in most categories.
Presumably, the Knicks track these things internally, but this is the first time they have made the data public. It is not something other teams do, either, and the timing — at the start of the playoffs — might raise some eyebrows as well.
The Knicks have been on the wrong end of some brutal calls this season, but most would argue they are no different from other teams in that regard. In fact, the Knicks have also benefitted from some questionable refereeing late in games.
This almost certainly will not have any impact on the series, but it certainly provides plenty of ammunition for fans that will want to pin any issues on Foster and his crew.
Justin Jefferson was in attendance for Game 1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff series against the Phoenix Suns at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. on Saturday, and you really couldn’t miss him.
The Vikings wide receiver was wearing a light blue jacket that was full of jewels and other sparkling decorations. Jefferson also had on a huge silver chain, some earrings, and sunglasses.
There’s no time for team-organized “white-outs” when you’re trying to show off your personal clothing style.
Jefferson’s status with the Vikings has been an ongoing story in the NFL. He was not present for the start of the team’s offseason workouts as he awaits a new contract. Jeferson is under contract to receive $19.7 million in the 2024 season before becoming a free agent. The terms of his next contract are expected to set a record.
